Louisbourg

Louisbourg's harbour had been used by European mariners since at least the 1590s (as English Port, Havre à l'Anglois); the Fortress of Louisbourg was built by France in 1713, captured by England in 1758 and demolished in 1760. A small fishing village across the harbour from the abandoned fortress accommodated Loyalist settlers in the 1780s. In 1894, the Sydney and Louisburg Railway brought winter coal exports to Louisbourg Harbour's ice-free port. The Town of Louisbourg was incorporated in 1901 and merged into a single tier regional municipality in 1995; the efforts to restore the historic fortress as a pioneer village museum date to the 1960s.

Louisbourg is 40 km from Sydney along Highway 22, which is the main road in and out of town.
The nearest airport is in Sydney.
The railway no longer runs here.

• Fortress of Louisbourg

  phone: +1 902 733-2280
  address: 259 Park Service Rd
  Louisbourg. This is a reconstruction of the 18th-century fortified French town whose presence plagued the British colonies of New England. Its busy harbour was once one of France's most signifiant economic and military assets in North America. If you enjoy the colonial restoration at Williamsburg in the United States, don't miss Louisbourg.

• Louisbourg Playhouse

  phone: +1 902 733-2996
  address: 11 Aberdeen St
  Local entertainment venue with nightly shows (theatre, music, comedy) throughout the summer.

• S&L Railway Museum

  phone: +1 902 733-2720
  address: Louisburg Station, 7330 Main St
  Small museum includes an 1895 Sydney & Louisbourg Railway station and engine house, visitor information, quilt displays, vintage passenger and freight cars. Coal used to be hauled here by rail, then transferred to ships.

• Louisbourg Lighthouse

  address: 555 Havenside Road
  The first lighthouse in Canada was built here in 1734. This is the fourth one. There is a trail for walking along the picturesque, rocky coastline. Dress for wind.

• Louisbourg Boardwalk Park

  address: 30 Harbourfront Cres, near the Louisbourg Harbur
  Great view of the harbour, panels about the history of Louisbourg.

• Kennington Cove BeachClean, sandy beach. Not crowded. Be careful of currents.

• Lobster Kettle Restaurant

  phone: +1 902 733-2723
  address: 41 Strathcona St
  Serves lobster, crab and all things seafood (and a few non-fish items too).

• Beggar's Banquet

  address: 15 Commercial Street Extension, Point of View Suites
  Lobster, snow crab, halibut, roasted chicken. 18th-century theme. Reservations required by 5PM.

• Foggy Hermit Cafe

  phone: +1 902 733-2325
  address: 7551 Main St
  Fish and chips, ham or turkey dinners.

• Cranberry Cove Inn

  phone: +1 902 733-2171
  address: 12 Wolfe St
  B&B-style inn with a front veranda that overlooks Louisbourg harbour.

• Louisbourg Harbour Inn

  phone: +1 902-733-3222
  address: 9 Lower Warren St
  Century-old bed and breakfast home with eight rooms, guest balcony overlooking the harbour. Under common ownership with Louisbourg Heritage House (7544 Main St), a similar B&B establishment nearby.

• Fortress Inn Louisbourg

  phone: +1 902 733-2844
  address: 7464 Main St
  A pet-friendly drive-in motel. Rooms are all non-smoking, and have air conditioning. Continental breakfast and gift shop available.