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Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
Louisbourg in the 1700s
The First Days
In 1713, a group of displaced French colonists landed on the desolate shores of Ile Royale (Cape
Breton) with the goal of building a better life. Perched between the forest and the rocky shore,
they worked in harmony to overcome the immense challenge of establishing a strong
community for their families. This community was Louisbourg, a thriving Fortress town that
over the course of fifty years became a new-world hot spot for commerce and culture alike.
Cultures at Louisbourg
Although Louisbourg was primarily a French fortress, the community was home to a diverse
group of cultural influences. In addition to French, Acadian and Irish settlers, the Fortress also
housed Swiss soldiers, Spanish and Portuguese fisherman, and visiting merchants from trading
vessels based in both the French West Indies and Asia. In times of peace, the Fortress would
also often host British sailors and officers.
Economic Prosperity
The cod fishery was the reason for most of Louisbourg’s prosperity. High demand was driven by
France’s strict Roman Catholic society, which observed more than 150 religious feast days each
year when no meat was consumed. Millions of pounds were caught, salted and dried each year
before being shipped back to France in exchange for cloth, grain, dried vegetables and other
items needed for survival.
War with Britain
Even though the Fortress of Louisbourg was a heavily fortified community, it was still captured
two times by the British: once in 1745 and again in 1758. After its first defeat, the town’s
residents dispersed to Quebec and France only to come back to the Fortress after it was returned
to the French in 1748 as part of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chappelle. After falling again in 1758, the
Fortress was inhabited by British soldiers until they deserted in 1760. Determined that
Louisbourg would never again become a fortified French base, the British demolished the
fortress walls.
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Louisbourg in modern times
The Reconstruction
In 1961 the Government of Canada began a $25 million project aimed at reconstructing
approximately one-quarter of the original town and fortifications. Within this area the buildings,
yards, gardens and streets are recreated like they were in the 1740s, immediately before
Louisbourg's first siege.
The work at Louisbourg required an inter-disciplinary research effort. Archaeological excavation
has yielded millions of artefacts as well as the original ruins of fortifications and buildings. Some
750,000 pages of documents and 500 maps and plans used to reconstruct the Fortress were
copied from archives in Europe, the United States and Canada.
Louisbourg300
Get ready for a celebration three centuries in the making! Join
us in 2013 for Louisbourg300, a grand fête marking the 300th
anniversary of the founding of Ile Royale – modern day Cape
Breton Island – with Louisbourg as its capital.
Next year, be here when Louisbourg again comes alive: celebrate 300 years of triumph and
survival through special activities and new events. Join us as vibrant cultures meet diverse
heritage and awe-inspiring vistas in a celebration of sea and stories, music and military,
community and cuisine.
It's the Fortress of Louisbourg like you've never experienced it before.
To learn more about Louisbourg300 celebrations, visit www.pc.gc.ca/Louisbourg300