Frommer's Review
The historic French village of Louisbourg has had three lives. The first was early in the 18th century, when the French first colonized this area -- aggressively -- in a bid to stake their claim in the New World. They built an imposing fortress of stone. Imposing but not impregnable, as the British were to prove when they captured the fort in 1745. The fortress had a second, if short-lived, heyday after it was returned to the French following negotiations in Europe. War soon broke out again, however, and the British recaptured it in 1758; this time they blew it up for good measure. The final resurrection came during the 1960s, when the Canadian government decided to rebuild one-fourth of the stone-walled town -- virtually creating from whole cloth a settlement from some grass hummocks and a few scattered documents about what once had been. The park was built to re-create life as it looked in 1744, when this was an important French military capital and seaport; visitors today arrive at the site after walking through an interpretive center and boarding a bus for the short ride to the site. (Keeping cars at a distance does much to enhance the historic flavor.)
You will wander through the impressive gatehouse -- perhaps being challenged by a costumed guard on the lookout for English spies -- and then begin wandering the narrow lanes and poking around the faux-historic buildings, some of which contain informative exhibits, others of which are restored and furnished with convincingly worn reproductions. Chicken, geese, and other barnyard animals peck and cluck as vendors hawk freshly baked bread out of wood-fired ovens.
To make the most of your visit, ask about the free guided tours. And don't hesitate to question the costumed interpreters, who are as knowledgeable as they are friendly. Allow at least 4 hours to explore. It's an extraordinary destination, as picturesque as it is historic.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
