About Louisbourg300

What is Louisbourg300?

In 2013, Parks Canada celebrates the 300th anniversary of the founding of Île Royale and the settlement of Louisbourg, which would become its capital. This summer, Louisbourg300 brings Parks Canada together with community, historical and cultural associations to host an unforgettable celebration of the people and stories that shaped Canada's future.

A Shared Story

In 1713, a group of displaced French colonists landed on the desolate shores of Île Royale (Cape Breton) with the goal of building a better life. Facing harsh conditions and the barren wilderness, they worked in harmony to overcome the immense challenge of establishing a strong community for their families. This community was Louisbourg, a thriving Fortress town that over the course of fifty years became a new-world hot spot for commerce and culture alike.

Louisbourg was a vibrant place, buzzing with energy and action as cultures from all over the world came together to start a life in the land of opportunity. This meeting of cultures – and the dramatic actions of war between the French and the English – set the course for our region and the entire world, shaping the centuries that followed and life as we know it today.