The Site is located south of Sydney on Route 22, just beyond the modern town of Louisbourg. Take exit 8 near Sydney. Driving time is 30 minutes. An alternate route is the scenic and coastal Marconi Trail, Route 255, from Glace Bay. Driving time is one hour.
If you're driving from the Canso Causeway, take Route 4, the Fleur-de-Lis Trail, or TransCanada Highway 104 to Sydney. Or follow TransCanada Highway 105 through Baddeck to North Sydney and take Highway 125 to Sydney. Then take Exit 8 near Sydney to Route 22. Driving time for either route is 2.5 hours
What to See and Do
The Reconstructed Fortress: Living, Working Community
Each summer the Fortress springs to life. Dozens of costumed animators become the town's residents of the summer of 1744. Period homes, exhibits and theme centres line the central streets of Rue Toulouse and Rue Royale, as well as along the busy waterfront.
Men, women and children enact the full range of society from the leisurely activities of the rich to the hard physical
labour of the poor. You'll see engineers, musicians, soldiers, merchants, street vendors, bakers, servants and fishermen.
The "residents" will surprise and delight you with stories, dances, music, nailmaking, cooking, sewing, gardening and animal care.
At the elegant home of Étienne Verrier, the King's engineer, meet Claude Verrier. Find out about the layout of the town, its fortifications and the engineer's activities at the time of the siege.
At the Ordonnateur's Residence, watch impromptu minuets and hear harpsichord music. Experience the family life of a military officer of the Compagnies Franches de la Marine. Visit the home of Captain and Madame DeGannes. Discover some tricks of open-hearth cooking and the skill of lace making.
King's Bastion
Surrounded by ramparts, the King's Bastion is a fort within a fortress. The King's Bastion Barracks is the largest building on site and in its day was one of the largest buildings in North America.
At Carrerot House, discover period building techniques. Visit the Museum and see a scale model of the Fortress and some of the Site's earliest artifacts.
Dining in the Fortress
Costumed staff in three period restaurants prepare and serve delicious food and beverages based on 18th-century tradition and recipes. The restaurants observe the church calendar. So don't plan on eating meat dishes on days of abstinence (Fridays and Saturdays)!
At the Hôtel de la Marine and the Grandchamps enjoy a full meal or a light lunch. Here the townspeople and off-duty soldiers would have eaten, drank, gambled and gossiped. Plan on sharing a knife, as you'll get only large spoon as your eating utensil!
Experience fine dining and New World ambiance at L'Épée Royale. Here you can show off your proper breeding and eat with a full set of cutlery. Visit the King's Bakery and buy a soldier's daily ration of bread!
The restaurants and bakery are open from June 1 to September 30. Inquire about reservations for groups during this period, for daytime or special night time events. Call (902) 733-3230 June to September; (902) 733-3548 October to June; FAX (902) 733-3046. These concessions, along with the gift boutique, 
are operated by the Fortress of Louisbourg Volunteer Association.
For further information on our organization, contact:
Fortress of Louisbourg Volunteer Association265 Park Service Road
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
B1C 2L2
Phone: (902) 733-2280
Fax: (902) 733-3046
The Feast of St. Louis
Held each year in late August to commemorate King Louis IX (1214-1270), once patron saint of the french military France. Enjoy the recreation of this 18th-century celebration with cannon salutes, musket firings, dancing, gambling, children's games, music and a TeDeum sung in the chapel. Festivities conclude with a bonfire.
Be Careful
The Fortress of Louisbourg is a faithful reproduction of an 18th-century town. Many areas require caution when visiting. Some cobblestone walking areas are uneven and buildings dimly lit. Ramparts and walls are unprotected by guard rails, or barricades. You may see both domestic and wild animals on-site; do not try to pet or feed them.
The Park Environment
Ruins Walk
Walk through the 18th-century ruins of buildings and fortifications. A self-guiding brochure and exhibit panels describe the ruins. The walk begins near the Museum.
Picnic Areas
- Picnic near the site of the oldest lighthouse in Canada or at landing areas of siege forces.
- Watch for harbour seals, pothead whales and boats.
- Walk to the ruins near the Royal Battery parking lot.
- At the Marconi picnic area, find outside cooking shelters and a view of Louisbourg harbour and the Fortress.
- Oceanside picnicking is available at Kennington Cove until September 30.
- Picnic tables are also available on the reconstructed site in the King's Garden.
Beaches
There are two beautiful ocean beaches offering supervised and non-supervised swimming at nearby Kennington Cove and Anson's Cove, accessible until September 30.
Fishing
Choose from a number of streams, brooks and lakes. You'll find speckled trout in accessible waters. Relax by one of three brooks: Kennington Cove, Landing Cove or Gerratt. Or hike the Old French Road walking trail to enjoy angling at one of the more remote lakes.
Some fishing areas are not clearly marked, so check at the Visitor Reception Centre for specific directions and conditions. Bring your valid national park or provincial fishing license with you. Neither is available for sale at the Site.
Cross-country Skiing
The groomed trail at Kennington Cove Road is great for the novice skier and offers a shelter at the halfway point. A beautiful ocean view awaits you at the end of the trail, serviced with pit toilets.
Intermediate skiers will be challenged by the partially-groomed trail at the Old French Road. This trail runs through mixed hardwoods and balsam fir with a few steep sections and no facilities. Skilled skiers can continue on to either the Kennington Cove Road or on the Old French Road, but there are no facilities and the trail is ungroomed.
Wardens regularly patrol groomed sections of the trails during the ski season and are available to answer your questions on the Site's natural resources. For up-to-date information on trail conditions, call (902) 733-2280.
Organized Groups
Special presentations and guided tours are available for school groups, bus tours and other special interest groups. By booking in advance, presentations can be tailored to meet specific needs.
Conveniences
Public washrooms and telephones are available in the Visitor Reception Centre and in select buildings at the Fortress. For details, check the site map or ask a guide.
Services for Visitors with Disabilities
If you have a disability, you can arrange for a pass at the Visitor Reception Centre to drive your own vehicle to the Fortress. Wheelchairs are available upon request. Fortress streets are wheelchair-accessible, with assistance. Portable ramps are available to provide access to most buildings. For assistance, ask at the Visitor Reception Centre. Fortress Busses are wheelchair accessible and wheelchair lifts are available at the Visitor Centre and the Beausèjour House on-site.
Pets
Pets are not allowed in the fortress. You may want to consider kenneling your pet in Sydney or nearby Catalone, since there are no kennels nearby. Pet sitting services, however, are available in the town of Louisbourg. Guide dogs and hearing-ear dogs are permitted in the Fortress.
Local Services
Inquire at the Information Centre about deep-sea fishing, diving tours and guided walking tours of the town's waterfront. A full range of dining, accommodations, camping, local museums and other services is available.
For more information:
Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic SiteP.O. Box 160
259 Parks Service Rd.
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
B1C 2L2
Phone: (902) 733-2280 or (902) 733-3607 (TDD)
Recommended Visiting Time
One full day. Plan a minimum of four hours to see selected buildings and exhibits. Allow plenty of time to stop and talk with the "residents" of the Fortress. If you have more time, visit Lighthouse Point and Kennington Cove.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Your first stop is the Visitor Reception Centre, just beyond the modern town of Louisbourg. Ample free parking is available. You'll take a 7-10-minute bus ride from the Visitor Centre to the Fortress. Remember to bring your camera, film, warm clothing, and so on (it's time consuming to return for something you forget.)
At the Visitor's Reception Centre:
- Purchase your admission ticket.
- Buy the Fortress of Louisbourg Guide for detailed information.
- Visit the boutique for gifts, souvenir and fine reproductions.