2015 Activity Guide

2015 Activity Guide Where the Past Comes to Life How To Reach Us Welcome to Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

The mists of time roll back and the Fortress of Louisbourg 259 Park Service Rd stands proudly before us. Its size is impressive; no mere Louisbourg, NS fort, our destination is a forti ed town, alive with citizens, B1C 2L2 Canada soldiers and sailors from the four corners of the world, where visitors are invited to touch, feel, smell and see Tel: 902-733-3552 glimpses of life as it was lived 300 years ago. Fax: 902-733-2362 Email: [email protected] On Cape Breton’s rocky shoreline east of Sydney, Nova Visit Our Websites Scotia, the Fortress of Louisbourg brings you back into www.parkscanada.gc.ca/louisbourg one of North America’s busiest 18th-century seaports. www.fortressoflouisbourg.ca Founded by the French in 1713, it fell under siege twice to the British before being demolished in the 1760s. Follow Us Reconstruction began in the 1960s, rebuilding twitter.com/ one-quarter of the original French town and forti cations. ParksCanada_NS Today, the reconstructed Fortress of Louisbourg is the largest - and best - of its kind in North America, offering a facebook.com/ wealth of experiences for visitors to enjoy. FortressOfLouisbourgNHS Plan for a visit of four hours or more! facebook.com/ ParksCanada

youtube.com/ user/ParksCanadaAgency

Hours of Operation May 18 to October 12, 2015 Daily - 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

October 13, 2015 to May 22, 2016 Monday to Friday - 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. excluding holidays

The shoulder season (May 18 to June 30 and September 8 to October 12, 2015) is your opportunity to enjoy, at a low price, an inspiring setting as you stand on our history-laden grounds. Enhance your visit with special programs and guided tours. Several buildings with exhibits are open for you to explore.

The peak season (July 1 to September 7, 2015) brings a different kind of magic as costumed animators add life to the streets. Louisbourg’s inhabitants can be found working the forge, tending the gardens and running the kitchens. Children are busy at play while the guard at the gate challenges those who wish to enter the town. Each hour offers something unique. Special Events 2015

June 11-14 Roots to Boots: a festival of hiking, music and stories 12 Louisbourg Celebrates: International Students 20 Louisbourg Celebrates: Mi’kmaw Heritage Day 27-28 Learn to Camp

July 1 Canada Day 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, Louisbourg Live Performing Arts (evening) 22, 29, 30 18 Parks Day 24-26 CultureFête and 18th-century Camping 26 Grand Phare Bicycle Ride

August 2 Storm the Fortress: motorcyclists invade the Fortress at dusk! 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, Louisbourg Live Performing Arts (evening) 20, 26, 27 15 Louisbourg Celebrates: Pride Day 15 Fab Forts 15 Race Through Time 22-23 SuperFête de Saint-Louis - a traditional feast with a new twist 22 LouisRocks Concert (evening) 23 LouisRocks Concert (afternoon) 29-30 18th-century Camping 30 Louisbourg Celebrates: Acadian Day

September 2-3 Louisbourg Live Performing Arts (evening) 5 Hammer In - Blacksmithing festival 10 Katharine McLennan Award 19 Louisbourg Live: Fortress Feast 23, 30 Haunted Louisbourg Tour (evening)

October 7, 14, 21, 28 Haunted Louisbourg Tour (evening) Lots to do! 10 Ride into the Past - Bicycle Tour 11 Celtic Colours - Step into the Past While in the area, take the time 16 Celtic Colours - Music of the Night to explore the scenic coastal

community of Louisbourg. November 8 Louisbourg Celebrates: Remembrance Day Visitor Information Centre: December 7336 Main St. 902-733-2321 6 Louisbourg Celebrates: The Holidays Louisbourg.ca For more information on all special events, visit our website and Facebook page.

Walking Trails (see map) The Ruins Walk – 2.3-kilometre (1.43-mile) trail through the remains of the original 18th-century town Simon’s Point Trail – 804-metre (0.5-mile) walk to the mouth of Freshwater Brook and the ocean, travelling through the area once used by attackers in both sieges Old Town Trail – 2.25-kilometre (1.4-mile) walk along the shore with the Fortress in view and the story of Old Town, from 300 years ago to present day, waiting to be discovered Royal Battery Trail – 678-metre (0.42-mile) looped walk that skirts the outline of a major French defence work and offers a spectacular view Mi’kmaw Trail – 351-metre (0.22-mile) wooded walk, located across from the Parks Canada Visitor Centre Wolfe’s Redoubt Trail – 178-metre (0.11-mile) accessible trail that leads to an earthen-work redoubt built under the command of General James Wolfe during the second siege Lighthouse Trail – 2.05-kilometre (1.28-mile) trail along the coastline with unsurpassed vistas and interpretive panels 22 2

1 20 Ruins Walk King’s Garden

3 19

23 King’s Bastion 18 King’s Entrance 21 Bastion 26 Louisbourg Cross 17 36 25 24 35 15 Icehouse 34 27 16 12 11 28 13 10 29 33 31 Quay 32 14 Woodlot Louisbourg Harbour Iron Collar 9 30 8 Frédéric Gate 1 Desroches House 19 Military Chapel 7 2 Powder Magazine 20 Quay Route 22 Governor’s Apartments Lime Kiln Louisbourg (Sydney 35 km) 3 Barracks 21 King’s Bastion Barracks 4 Postern Tunnel 22 McLennan Centre 6 5 Embrasures at Lartigue 23 De la Plagne House Period Areas 6 Lartigue House 24 De la Vallière House Exhibit/Services Areas 5 7 Artillery Storehouse 25 De la Vallière Storehouse Year-round Parking 8 Artillery Forge 26 De la Vallière Storehouse 1 6 5 9 King’s Bakery 27 Carrerot House Seasonal Parking 3 4 7 10 Visitor Centre Duhaget House 28 Benoist Boutique Year-round Washrooms Administration 11 De la Perelle House 29 L’Épée Royale Café Seasonal Washrooms 12 De la Perelle Storehouse 30 King’s Storehouse 3 4 13 Engineer’s Residence 31 Hôtel de la Marine Information Harbour 14 Laundry and Stables 32 Grandchamp House Administration/Maintenance Areas 15 Rodrigue House 33 Petit Grandchamp House Gate 1 Dauphin 16 Rodrigue Storehouse 34 Ordonnateur’s Residence Demi-Bastion 1 17 De Gannes House 35 Bigot Theatre 3 Fortress 18 Guardhouse 36 Stables Gate 2 2 Kennington Cove Road Dauphin Gate

2 Atlantic Ocean

Dauphin Gate

180 m 1 The Ruins Walk (2.3 km) 6 Wolfe’s Redoubt Trail (178 m) 2 Simon’s Point Trail (804 m) 7 Lighthouse Trail (2.05 km) 3 Old Town Trail (2.25 km) Louisbourg Lighthouse Point 1 4 Royal Battery Trail (678 m) Kennington Cove Beaches 1 5 Mi’kmaw Trail (351 m) 22 2

1 20 Ruins Walk King’s Garden

3 19

2 Atlantic Ocean

Dauphin Gate

During the peak season, immerse yourself in an 18th-century dining experience. Two period restaurants serve up hearty, authentic fare such as pea soup, beef stew, sh and meat pies.

• Enjoy a full meal at the upper-class Hôtel de la Marine. • Try the working-class Grandchamp Tavern, where everything is eaten with only a spoon. • L’Épée Royale Café offers a cozy spot to enjoy hot and cold beverages and a variety of pastries. • Don’t forget to drop in to the King’s Bakery to get your delicious soldier’s bread, freshly baked every morning.

Top 5 Fun Spring & Fall Favourites Top 5 Fun Summer Favourites (May 18 to June 30 and September 8 to October 12, 2015) (July 1 to September 7, 2015)

1. Take in the Time Travel experience and savour a 1. Taste FortressTM Rum, a colonial tradition worth HERITAGETM hot chocolate protecting 2. Roam the ruins, the unreconstructed portions of the 2. Have a Blast becoming a cannoneer original site 3. Feast on Fortress food; enjoy our 18th-century fare 3. Take time for the Touching History Tour 4. Relax on the pristine sandy beaches at Kennington 4. Walk in wonder on the Old Town Trail Cove and Anson’s Cove 5. See the sights along the Lighthouse Trail, at the site 5. Lose yourself in a Louisbourg Live performance of Canada’s first lighthouse (1734)

The RED Chair Challenge Fun for the Whole Family! Find your Red Chair moment • Delve into the life of an 18th-century child with Playing Hooky Children’s Tour Seek out our red chairs and revel in a magical (ages 5-10) moment. Take the time to slow down, relax and • Become a Parks Canada Xplorer; ask enjoy some majestic views. Snap a photo, share your experience on Facebook and tag our page. for your free discovery booklet and start facebook.com/FortressOfLouisbourgNHS exploring (ages 6-11) #ShareTheChair #TimeToConnect • Join Club Parka: try fun activities on site or online (ages 3-6) • Have fun playing street games, dancing and singing during the Children’s Dance • Hunt for caches and learn fascinating facts about Louisbourg through geocaching • Find the hidden children’s room in the King’s Bastion • Enjoy a lively performance of folk and fairy tales at the Children’s Theatre • Try your hand at writing with quill and ink in the De la Vallière House Schedule of Daily Activities

Shoulder Seasons (May 18 to June 30 and September 8 to October 12, 2015) Time Activity Location (see map) 10:30 * Guided Tour: Get the full story of Louisbourg - from its past to its present (60 minutes), $3.90 De la Plagne (#23) Time Travel: Rub shoulders with “authentic” Louisbourg residents as you explore what life was like 11:30 * Guardhouse (#18) 300 years ago. (60 minutes), $7.30 12:00 * Accessible Guided Tour: Get the full story of Louisbourg on wheels - from its past to its present De la Plagne (#23) (English) (45 minutes), $7.30 (Limited to 7 people per tour) 1:00 * Guided Tour: Get the full story of Louisbourg - from its past to its present (60 minutes), $3.90 De la Plagne (#23) Time Travel: Rub shoulders with “authentic” Louisbourg residents as you explore what life was like 2:00 * Guardhouse (#18) 300 years ago. (60 minutes), $7.30 2:15 * Accessible Guided Tour: Get the full story of Louisbourg on wheels - from its past to its present De la Plagne (#23) (French) (45 minutes), $7.30 (Limited to 7 people per tour) 3:30 * Touching History - A Hands-On Tour: Handle objects as old as the Fortress (60 minutes), $7.30 De la Plagne (#23) *Additional fees apply - Purchase your activities at De la Plagne (#23) - the yellow house For more information on all tours and programs, visit our website: parkscanada.gc.ca/louisbourg - activities

Peak Season (July 1 to September 7, 2015) Time Activity Location (see map) 10:30 * Guided Tour: Get the full story of Louisbourg - from its past to its present (60 minutes), $3.90 De la Plagne (#23) Have a Blast at Louisbourg! Become a Cannoneer and re a real cannon 10:45 * De la Plagne (#23) (45 minutes) $55.20 11:00 Life of a Soldier: Listen to his story and watch a musket ring Guardhouse (#18) 11:30 Children’s Dance: Join in the circle and enjoy 18th-century folk music Grandchamp (#32) 11:30 Military Pageantry: Be amazed by the fes, drums and cannon ring King’s Bastion Healing Gardener - Garden Tour: Discover Louisbourg’s 18th-century plants and their uses 12:15 * De la Plagne (#23) (60 minutes), $7.30 Playing Hooky - Children’s Tour: Delve into the life of an 18th-century child 1:15 * De la Plagne (#23) (60 minutes), $7.30 - Recommended for families with children ages 5 to 10. 1:30 Life of a Soldier: Listen to his story and watch a musket ring Guardhouse (#18) 1:30 * Guided Tour: Get the full story of Louisbourg - from its past to its present (60 minutes), $3.90 De la Plagne (#23) 1:30 Children’s Dance: Join in the circle and enjoy 18th-century folk music Grandchamp (#32) Guardhouse (#18) to 2:15 Public Punishment: Follow the crowd to the iron collar Frédéric Gate 2:30 Children’s Theatre: Enjoy a lively performance of folk and fairy tales Bigot Theatre (#35) 3:00 * FortressTM Rum Tasting: Be part of a colonial tradition worth protecting King’s Storehouse (English) (35 minutes), $10.80 - You must be 19 years of age or older. (#30) 3:10 Artillery Firing: Experience the big boom of 18th-century artillery King’s Bastion Hiking Through History - Guided Tour: Discover the art and science of defending a fortress 3:30 * De la Plagne (#23) as you walk around the forti cations (60 minutes), $3.90 3:30 * FortressTM Rum Tasting: Be part of a colonial tradition worth protecting King’s Storehouse (French) (35 minutes), $10.80 - You must be 19 years of age or older. (#30) Engineer’s 3:45 Upper-class Dance: Join the elite as they practise their steps at an afternoon ball Residence (#13) Secure the Fortress - Evening gun and retreat: Finish your visit with a bang - the last blast Embrasures at 4:30 of the day Lartigue (#5) *Additional fees apply - Purchase your activities at De la Plagne (#23) - the yellow house For more information on all tours and programs, visit our website: parkscanada.gc.ca/louisbourg - activities