Louisbourg History

The French founded Louisbourg in 1713 on Île Royale, known today as Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. With its ready access to an abundant fishery and links to colonies in the French West Indies, North America and France, the settlement quickly became a thriving town and seaport. Between 1713 and 1758, Louisbourg commanded the approaches to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This fortified town was also the capital of the colony of Île Royale and one of the most significant fishing and commercial ports in North America. By 1750, Louisbourg was the second largest settlement in New France after Québec.

Louisbourg's harbour was among the most heavily fortified places in North America, protected by massive stone walls and large detached batteries. Louisbourg's massive fortifications, based on the geometric style of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707), were designed to resist attack from the sea. [Has accent]

Unfortunately, Louisbourg was vulnerable to attack by land. Between 1745 and 1758, the settlement was captured twice by enemy forces attacking from the rear. Louisbourg surrendered to 4,000 New Englanders in 1745. Returned to the French in 1749, it surrendered again nine years later, this time to a combined British force of 27,000 men. After capturing the fortress town, the British blew up the fortifications in 1760. They abandoned the town in 1768.

The fortress of Louisbourg became a National Historic Site in 1928. In 1961, Parks Canada began reconstruction of approximately 25 percent of the fortified town. Today, Louisbourg protects hundreds of significant unexcavated cultural resources and is a major tourist attraction. It is also the site of one of Canada's best-known 18th-century battlefields.