Louisbourg Attractions

Fortress video

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The Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

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Calendar of Events

The Fortress is our major attraction. This is Canada's most amibitious historical reconstruction of a part of the 18th-century French fortified town of Louisbourg. In the early 1700s the French colony was home to 2100 civilians and a garrison of 700 soldiers. Louisbourg was important because of the fishery and as a hub for international trade between the France, the West Indies, Quebec, Acadia and New England. In addition to massive stone fortification walls there are over 60 reconstructed buildings interpreted by staff wearing costumes appropriate to the year 1744.

The Louisbourg Lighthouse

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The Louisbourg lighthouse is located at the entrance of the harbour. It is perched on a volcanically formed outcrop of rock. Nearby are the ruins of the 18th-century French lighthouse and a 19th century lighthouse. From the lighthouse there are excellent vistas along the coastline, out into the Atlantic ocean and across the harbour to the Fortress.

The Stationhouse Go Carts & Mini- Golf

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Right in the heart of Louisbourg overlooking the Harbour . Go-Carts and Mini-Golf and the restaurant too

Louisbourg Marine Museum

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Louisbourg Marine Museum

Opening in 2003 through the generosity of a local businessman, are displays featuring recovered artifacts from 18th-century sunken ships. Model ships. Many artifacts (c. 1650 -1950) pertaining to the local history of the North Atlantic fisheries on the Grand Banks, including a dory, with complete fishing gear. Display on swordfishing. Lenses from the Louisbourg Lighthouse. An aquarium (a 300-gallon tank) with various saltwater marine species. The present collection essentially stems from that of Alex Storm, the famous diver and adventurer who discovered Le Chameau and other sunken treasures. Many of these artifacts were originally shown at his Atlantic Statiquarium Marine Museum (1960s - late 1980s) in Louisbourg. Today it has grown to include displays on 19th. century local businesses and a wonderful statue and display on Beryl Markham (1936), due in part to the generosity of the Ladies of ISA+21

Kennington Cove

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Our Beaches
A 10 minute drive will take you to Kennington Cove and its wonderful sandy beaches. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the entire day.

Louisbourg Harbour

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Louisbourg Harbour has been a haven for hundreds of years. The first recorded visit by a European was on July 7, 1597, when Captain Charles Leigh in the Chancewell sailed into the English port .
The Boardwalk
Located on Louisbourg's waterfront the boardwalk is a pleasant place to spend an evening. There is a wharf where visiting sailing vessels dock and it is just a few minutes walk from the large government wharf where fishing boats, cruise ships and coast guard vessels dock. You can fish mackerel right from the dock no license is required.

The Louisbourg Playhouse

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The Louisbourg Playhouse is located in the centre of town. It began life as 17th century "bear pit" on the set of the Walt Disney movie Squanto: A Warrior's Tale. A number of conveniences have been added by the Playhouse Society but the interior still retains the rustic and rough hewn character of the original. Throughout the summer and fall the Playhouse features a variety of entertainments at 8PM each evening.

The Sydney & Louisburg Railway Museum

2009-10-12T19:36:00.001-03:00

The Sydney & Louisburg Railway Museum consists of an 1895 station and freight shed, both designated Provincial Heritage Properties. In the museum there are artifacts and exhibits relating to the history of the S&L railway. In the freight shed there is a model of the S&L line as it existed in the 1940/60 period. A modern "round house" which is nearby is used to store rolling stock in the winter. In the summer it houses and exhibit of quilts, a Marconi wireless exhibit and hosts evenings of local entertainment.

Lighthouse Trail

2009-10-12T12:39:00.000-03:00

Directions
From the Sydney Bypass (route 125) take exit 8 toward Louisbourg. Drive about twenty minutes until you come to the town of Louisbourg. Just past the S&L Railway Museum, turn left onto Havenside Road. Follow this road (keeping to the right) until you come to the Louisbourg lighthouse and parking lot. The trail starts on the far side of the parking lot.

Trail Info
Level: 5/5
Type: Coastal, Historical
Activities: Coastal hike following a route traveled since the early 1700's.
Trail Length: The hike to Big Lorraine is 14 km (return).
Facilities: There are stores in the town of Louisboug.

You will never find a more historical hike then the Lighthouse Trail. The present day lighthouse is actually the fourth to be built on this point, the original being the first built in Canada, in 1734. Lighthouse point was the sight of the English attack on Battery Island which guards the entrance to Louisbourg Harbour. Battery point was a first deference for the Fortress of Louisbourg, the largest historical reconstruction in North America. About one hour down the trail you will find Wolfe's cove, the actual site where the English landed with their canons. As you walk, think of the English troops dragging six cannons along these cliffs and bogs to the lighthouse.

The trail starts at the Louisbourg lighthouse and continues on to Big Lorraine, located about 7 km away. Lorraine Head, the sight of a 1900's Irish immigrant shipwreck, The Astrea, is located two hours into the trail. We found that this was far enough to go for the day. But then again it was about 26 degrees that day, with very little shade on the coast. You should be careful on this hike, there are many areas near cliffs and spots where the trail disappears and you are forced to follow the rugged coast.

You will find many quaint coves and knolls on this hike. You will also notice many bogs and sinkholes along the way (careful around these, I sunk up to my knee in one). There are many opportunities to take pictures along the way and you will find much plant life and wildlife to keep you interested. One of the most unusual things about the plant life is the spongy feeling you get underfoot as you walk. These areas are all rock, with very little drainage; the vegetation grows on top of this terrain and therefore forms almost a waterbed affect.

CAUTION: The weather in this area, like most of Cape Breton, can change quickly. The rocks can become very slippery when the weather gets bad.