Louisbourg II: Sun 25 Jul - Fortress of Louisbourg and J.P.

TOURISM IN THE DAYTIME

The quintessential Louisbourg tourist experience is a visit to Fortress of Louisbourg, a national historic site of Canada. The purpose of the fortress and its surrounding grounds is to provide the visitor the experience of living for a single day in the year 1744.


The fortress was originally a fortified French town that was twice captured by the British, the French having first arrived in 1713. Various French kings including Louis XV built the fortress to protect France's commercial interests against the British. The current replica fortress represents a massive investment by the government of Canada over decades. It is one of the premier tourist destinations in the country.

Each summer costumed interpreters paint a picture of life as lived in 1744. The sights and sounds of the 18th century come alive in period homes, busy street scenes, and theme centers.

TOURISM AT NIGHT

A short walk from the wharf leads to the Louisbourg Playhouse, a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theater (http://www.louisbourgplayhouse.com/), where on Sunday evening I treated myself to a performance by one of Cape Breton's premier musicians and entertainers, J. P. Cormier (http://www.jp-cormier.com/).

To say he knocked me over is to understate his impact, his instrumental technique, and his stage presence. A great performance in a stellar location.