Louisbourg, << LOO ihs `burg` or LOO ee `burg,` >> Nova Scotia, was the site of an important French fortress in the 1700’s. British and French forces fought two battles over the fort during the mid-1700’s. Today, Louisbourg is a historic landmark and a small fish-processing center. It lies on the east coast of Cape Breton Island.
The French founded Louisbourg in 1713 and named it for King Louis XIV. The settlement benefited from its location along trade routes and near rich cod-fishing waters. The French began building a fortress at Louisbourg in 1719 to assert their power in the region. Louisbourg developed into a strong trade and fishery center. Its civilian population grew to about 4,000.
The First Battle of Louisbourg occurred in 1745, during King George’s War (1744-1748) between Britain and France. British colonists from New England attacked Louisbourg with the support of British naval forces. The French fortress surrendered less than seven weeks later. In 1748, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle returned Louisbourg to the French.
During the next 10 years, the French rebuilt the town and its fortress. Louisbourg regained its strength as a trade and fishery center. In 1758, during the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763), the British attacked again and won the Second Battle of Louisbourg. Two years later, the British demolished Louisbourg to prevent another French return.
The site remained in ruins for almost two centuries. The Canadian government established the Fortress of Louisbourg as a national historic site in 1928. It restored some of the ruins and built a museum to house relics in 1935 and 1936. Then in 1961, the Canadian government began the reconstruction of the town of Louisbourg. Today, visitors can see the fortress, streets, and homes of Louisbourg as they were in the 1700’s.
