Maritimes - Fortress Louisbourg - Inside the Fortress

The inside of Fortress Louisbourg is very nicely made. Although there were other barracks nearby, they are still ruins so the main building is doing triple duty: Barracks for men and officers, Chapel and Governor's quarters.

Here is the typical uniform of a French garrison soldier in the 1740's.

This is the back of the main building.

This paddock is for the Governor himself. It would have animals, stored food and wine as well as a small garden.

Here is the main inner area of the fortress, with ramps to the upper defencive wall.

At points in the town are guard posts for the soldiers keeping an eye on the populace and for possible invaders

Maritimes - Fortress Louisbourg - Outside the Fortress

Here is a view of the fortified causeway entrance. This is also the main entrance to the fort turing the main part of tourist season.Note the low lying areas that could be filled with water to act as a moat, if the defenders have enough time.

Here is the series of defendable lines that soldiers could be positioned at to repluse attackers. Because of the stepped nature of these defenses, they are useless to the attacker if they take them.

This is a view of the rise on the other side of the depression tot eh middle of the fortress. Cannon can and were placed to bombard and beseige the fortress.

The walls are high and several feet thick.

Cannon were situated to either give supporting fire or aimed together to give barraging fire.

One of the last defenses are these sniper nests. You could aim at distant or nearby attackers or scouts with secure comfort.

Maritimes - Fortress Louisbourg - Introduction

Fortress Louisbourg was built by the French government in order to have an ice free harbour to protect thier fishing industry. Originally called Havre à l'Anglois, it was established in 1713. This habitation quickly grew with more buildings, fortified walls and a garrison. This Fortress was to be the most expensive one, for the time, in North America by its heyday in the mid 1740's.

Unfortunatly it was built surrounded by higher ground and the main defensive consideration was defending against sea based assaults. This was a factor in its surrender to the British in 1745. When it was given back in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, the British built a fortified port in Chebucto Bay and called Halifax in 1749 (for more about Fort George in Halifax, click on my blog article here)

In order to stop the British Colonists moving Westward, the French and its Indian allies tried to stop them which led to the French Indian War in 1754 which led to the larger Seven Years War in 1756.

In 1757, Fortress Louisbourg suffered a failed attack by the Britsh but the French Navy helped to repluse it. Without the Navy's help, it fell under a new British assault in 1758.

This fortress was used in an assault on Quebec the next year that was the last gasp of French control of North America.

Engineers systematically demolished the walls and fortifications in 1760 to make reuse by the French impossible. In 1961 a rebuilding of the Fortress and town was done for use in a historic park, which was expanded and still in use today.

Maritimes - Fort Edward

Fort Edward is located in Windsor, Nova Scotia. It was an important British fort and was built to withstand Mi'kaq, Acadian and French attacks. In 1750, the British failed to take the Acadian settlements of Chignecto (the ithsmus between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) and ordered the local Acadians to burn down thier Catholic church so a fort could be built on the strategically positioned land.

After the Battle of Fort Beausejour in 1755 (go here for my post), Fort Edward was the central point where local Acadians were rounded up during the Bay of Fundy campaign. More than 7000 Acadians were sent away during this event. During the expulsion there were Acadian and Mi'kmaq raids on the fort, which did damage a warehouse. These raids were for nought.

During the American Revolution and the War of 1812, the fort was garrisoned and used to house privateer prisoners of war.

During WW1, the fort was used as a training base. In particular it was the site used to train the Jewish Legion. They were to be used to free the Palastinian area from the Ottoman Empire and they participated in the Jordanian Valley actions in 1918.

In 1920 the fort became a national historic site. In 1992 the blockhouse was designated a federal heritage building and is the oldest surviving blockhouse in North America. Here is a look at the inner architecture of the blockhouse.

Maritimes - Fort Beausejour/Fort Cumberland

Near Aulac New Brunswick, just before you get to Nova Scotia, is Fort Beausejour or Fort Cumberland (depending on who you ask).

There were many skirmishes that took place near here.The fort started to be constructed in 1751 because after minor conflict in the area the previous year, an English fort was built nearby (Fort Lawrence). This key land route from Fort Louisbourg to Quebec was important enough for the French to build several forts, Fort Beausejour being one of them. A wiki article on the fort is here.

It was unfinished when it was attacked and taken over by the British in 1755. It was then that it was renamed Fort Cumberland. This was the beginning of the end of French influence in North America.

When the English won, most of the Acadians (French Colonists) in the area were told to swear loyalty to the British Crown. They refused as they feared retaliation from both sides. The British them burned the homes of the French Acadians and ejected them from the area. This process carried on throughout the Atlantic provinces as it meant English colonists could take thier land and the British could be safer from the possibility of reprisals. This was the start of the expulsion of Acadians in the Atlantic provinces to other parts of the world: Louisianna, New England, South America, Carribian and France. Some hid from the British to avoid expulsion and eked out a life in remote areas. Many came back and set up communities where they originally were or new ones. It is these people that make up the lovely Acadian French areas of the Atlantic Provinces.

Fort Cumberland was attacked during the American Revolutionary war by American revolutionaries who recruited Acadians and British citizens. If the fort had fallen, many historians believe Nova Scotia would have joined the American side due to British weakness in the area. Instead it solidified the crowns rule.

Today the site is open all year round and there are renactors and a museum available during peak tourist season.

France - Brittany Day 3 - St Malo

 During the middle ages St Malo was a fortified town. It was the home of pirates and French corsairs, mainly because of the independent attitude of the inhabitants.

 On the landward side, these gates provide entrance to the town.

 Once inside, there are many ways to get to the ramparts and walk around the town and take in the seaside. Parking is free off season on the North Eastern side of the walls.

 There are a few forts nearby, built to add to the defenses of St Malo. This one is accessible during low tide.

 The inner town is a mix of old and new buildings. They have kept consistency by ensuring that new buildings are in the old style.

 There is a maison du Quebec here. This is a club where those from the Canadian province of Quebec can meet or locals can get information about this province for travel of business. That's because of...

 ...this man. Jacques Cartier. He is the first recorded European explorer of the Saint Lawrence and the founder of Stadacona which became l'habitation which became Quebec city, founded in 1608. He also explored a lot of what is now Eastern Canada. He was born here in St Malo and also sailed from here.

 A very original street name, which translates as "the cat who danced".

 An inner defensive structure in case the outer walls were breached. It has been turned into a park.

 A boat launch.

 This pool fills up with sea water and warms itself as the tide goes out and sun shines onto it.

 Another view of the inner streets at night. Property looks expensive here.

The view of the main gate from the inside of the walls.

All and all a very enjoyable quick visit. They have an explorer's museum that I'd like to visit the next time I'm by.

France - Brittany Day 03 - Mont Saint-Michel

 Since the 8th century, the presence of the Catholic church has been present here and before that it was an important defensive position. The cathedral/monastery/convent dominates the top part of the little island.

 The front gate is very imposing and illustrates the fact it was a defensive island first.

 There are many, many, many tourist shops as you make your way to the top. Look for a stairway once you go past the second gate and you will get this view. Not only that but...

 ...you will be able to walk the ramparts on your way to the top, free of tourist shops and crowds. There is still a few shops and restaurants but it is a better view.

 A class of students are attempting to walk around the island at low tide.

 There are steep parts so this island is not recommended for those who have trouble with stairs.

 These are the first flight of stairs at the base of the cathedral.

 The buildings adjoining and connected to the cathedral are massive.

 The inside is sparse but impressive.

 These gardens are a nice bit of tranquility amongst the stone.

 Here is the main eating hall.

 This is a meeting room for members of nobility and clergy.

 There was randomly assorted decorative tile here and there.

 This wheel helped to lift supplies to the cathedral and was human powered. It was the only way up or down when it was a prison during the French Revolution.

 Here is another of the great halls.

When we decended the cathedral stairs, this friendly cat was waiting for us.