Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, Nova Scotia, Canada

4.5 (2.178 reviews) Saturday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Spent Ranking #1 in Nova Scotia Speciality Museums • Historic Sites

Amazing Place to Visit

Welcome to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, a magical place on the edge of a continent where past and present come together to celebrate Canada’s diverse heritage. Please note that we have three seasons throughout the year: Low season Opportunities to experience the Fortress of Louisbourg's quiet streets during the low season allow visitors to imagine life in the toughest of conditions almost 300 years ago. While there are no services available, a low season visit may provide the best opportunity for visitors to experience the stillness of the streets, take in the beauty of the exterior architecture of the buildings, or simply enjoy the treasures that life's quietest moments may bring. For a new way to experience the site in the low season, try our Explora app. Through sound, video, photos, quizzes and text, you will hold stories about Louisbourg in your hands as you walk through both the reconstructed town and the fortress's ruins. Explora is available to download for free at the App Store and through Google Play. Shoulder season For those seeking quiet opportunities and some on-site services, visiting during the shoulder season is recommended. Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy an inspiring setting with beautiful visuals as they stand on our history-laden grounds. Several buildings with exhibits are open for you to discover. Explore the site on your own or embark on an Explora tour of the grounds. To enhance your visit you may purchase a guided tour or participate in the Time Travel program. Accessible guided tours are available as well. We recommend reserving a place on these tours in advance. By the end of June, the site will begin to fill with costumed interpreters as we ramp up for peak season. After Labour Day, the Fortress of Louisbourg winds down once again with costumed animators interpreting some buildings into September. No matter the season, be sure to find out from reception what activities and experiences may be o...
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Address

259 Park Service Rd, Louisbourg, Nova Scotia B1C 2L2 Canada

Mobile

+1 902-733-3552

Website

http://www.pc.gc.ca/en/lhn-nhs/ns/louisbourg

Email

[email protected]

Working hours

Monday : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday : 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Current local date and time now

Saturday, May 11, 2024, 1:39

User Ratings

4.5 based on (2.178 reviews)

Excellent

76%

Good

19%

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Reviews

4DeanMurphy2020 5:00 PM Sep 27, 2022
French colonial village and fortress
This National Historic Site at the northern tip of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia [Latin for New Scotland] is only 25 percent reconstructed. Originally settled in 1713 [a decade after the founding of Russia’s Saint Petersburg], and was initially called Havre à l'Anglois, a small fishing village. Fortifications were constructed and eventually surrounded the village. By the 1740s, it was dubbed Louisbourg, after France’s Louis XIV [14th] and the most expensive/expansive European fortifications in North America. Militarily, it was in a poor location: on low-lying ground surrounded by mountains away from the sea. The Brits captured it in 1758 during the Seven Years War, but destroyed the garrisons and pulled out a decade later. Partial reconstruction began in the 1960s and ’70s. The site is operated by Parks Canada as a living history museum, much like the restoration of Williamsburg, Virginia. As part of a guided tour group of 46 members, a worse day could not have been chosen. Having lived in Florida for 40 years, temperatures below 60ºF, for me, are frigid. The high temp that day was 54, cold sleet-like rain, and blustery winds. Holding a worthless umbrella, I felt like Mary Poppins. In the cathedral, the historian dressed in period garb didn’t use a microphone. Echoes in the cavernous vaulted ceiling reverberated. I heard only dates and tidbits of information. The recitation at the beginning of this review is from research performed at home. I’m sure the experience would be educational—on a warm, dry day.
4TravellinDaveHead 5:00 PM Sep 23, 2021
Worth the short drive from Sydney!
Very interesting attraction, with very friendly and informative staff dressed in period garb telling stories of life as it was at the time this fort was in use. While it’s a shame that not much is original, it’s been reconstructed nicely and definitely still worth a visit. We spent maybe 3 hours there, but you could easily spend longer if time allows and you want to learn all that you can. I highly recommend checking out the lighthouse afterwards, which you will see across the water from the Fort. It’s about a 15-20 minute drive away. While I certainly would not come to Cape Breton just for Louisbourg, it’s definitely worth the short drive from Sydney.