Brief History of Louisbourg Although French fishermen had been coming to Cape Breton since the 16th century, the island was only permanently settled by the French after 1713. The French established Louisbourg as the capital of the colony of Ile Royale and by 1717 they began to construct the fortifications at Louisbourg, the largest of its type in North America. The French fishery in Cape Breton became highly successful. As the capital and commercial centre of the colony, Louisbourg had an economy which depended on the fishery, the military and trade. By the 1740s, Louisbourg was selling up to 40,000 quintals of cod per year in the West Indies, particularly in Saint Domingue. The colony also became a market for Caribbean products. Shiploads of sugar, molasses and rum were brought to Cape Breton and re-exported, primarily to the British American colonies. New England traded extensively with Louisbourg, providing foodstuffs and building materials and returning with cod, French manufactures and molasses. Foodstuffs and manufactured goods were also imported from France. Louisbourg's other trading partners included Quebec and Acadia (mainland Nova Scotia). Louisbourg's permanent population was 633 in 1720, 813 in 1724, 1463 in 1737 and 2960 in 1752. These figures do not include totals for the garrison, fishermen or other transients who were in the colony on a seasonal basis. By the late 1750s, Cape Breton's population, including soldiers, approached 10,000 people. Louisbourg's massive fortifications, based on the geometic style of Sebastian Le Prestre de Vauban (1633-1707), was intended to resist attack from the sea. Louisbourg, however, was twice attacked from the rear where it defences were vulnerable. Louisbourg surrendered to 4,000 New Englanders in 1745 and was returned to the French in 1749. Nine years later, Louisbourg again surrendered to a combined British force of 27,000 men in 1758. In both sieges, Louisbourg put up a spirited defence against superior forces during a six-week period. Louisbourg held out as long as Vauban had calculated that his fortresses could withstand a massive assault. Ultimately, whoever controlled the seas and supply lines would gain victory in siege warfare. After capturing the fortress town in 1758, the British blew up the fortifications in 1760 and abandoned the town in 1768. In 1961, almost 200 years later, the Canadian government began the reconstruction of the Fortress of Louisbourg. The reconstructed buildings represent roughly one-quarter of the buildings that existed within the walls of Louisbourg during the 18th century. The reconstructed buildings have been built on their original sites to reflect the 18th-century buildings as closely as possible. Approximately 60 buildings were reconstructed on their original foundations, including the King's Storehouse, one of the most impressive in the reconstruction. Known by several names in the 18th century, the storehouse was called the magazin aux vivres, the magazin général and the magazin du roi. The last designation is the one most commonly used today, but regardless of its name the function was always the same: it was the main storage area for the wide a variety of royal supplies that came to Louisbourg. This was the King's storehouse where the greatest amount of supplies could be stored safely and without worry about space or theft. Be sure to visit this site's curatorial section to learn more about the process of how the King's storehouse and other buildings were reconstructed. Finally, knowledgeable staff members animate the buildings with costumes based on styles of clothing worn in France during the 1740's. Dedicated researchers and interpreters with a passion for promoting our history have accomplished all of this for you to enjoy. We hope this voyage through time has stimulated your interest in the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. It is a remarkable part of our heritage that deserves a visit. The history of Louisbourg, the natural beauty and the friendly staff of Parks Canada are waiting for you!
Aerial view of the fortress in 1978.
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