Louisbourg NS (Cape Breton Island Canada)

Louisbourg is a port town in Nova Scotia (Canada). The port is located on Cape Breton Island's eastern coast, approx 23 mi (37 km) to the southeast of Sydney NS. The small town has population around 1,000.

The town was founded in 1713 as French military Fortress (named Havre a l'Anglois / English Port). Its fortified seaport was built on the harbour's southwestern part. The harbour had been used by Europeans since the late 16th century as a fishing port. In the 18th century, Louisburg was ranked North America's 3rd largest port - following Boston MA and Philadelphia PA. The port was mainly used for exporting fish, and seafood products (like cod-liver oil). During that time, the fishing industry was for France more lucrative than the fur trade.

The harbour started to grow as a major commercial seaport with the construction of the Lighthouse in 1842. The first railway Sydney-Louisbourg was opened in 1877, but soon abandoned after a major forest fire. In 1894 was opened the second Sydney-Louisburg railway, allowing the winter ice-free port to be used for coal exports. In 1912, Louisburg harbour was used to land dead bodies from RMS Titanic. In April 1966, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly officially changed the town's name from Louisburg to Louisbourg.

Louisbourg's economy is based mainly on the seasonal tourism industry and fish processing. In the 1960s-1970s, Parks Canada (national park service agency) completed a partial reconstruction (North America's largest reconstruction project) of the Louisbourg Fortress, designated National Historic Site. This open-air museum is the town's biggest tourist attraction that employs many local residents and attracts thousands of visitors to the town.

Another popular attraction is the Railway Museum housed in downtown's restored railway station. A popular annual event is the Louisbourg Crab Fest. Near the town are located a large golf course and residential resort.

The small cruise line One Ocean Expeditions had scheduled for 2018 a golf-themed cruise roundtrip from Louisbourg NS (7-night itinerary In 2018 (June 27 - July 4) on the chartered Russian icebreakerAkademik Ioffe.

The voyage (themed as "Canada's East Coast Golf Expedition") offered playing on 6 different golf courses around Canada's maritime provinces. Along with land golfing, the company offered wildlife- and photography-themed daily zodiac excursions and guided hiking along East Coast Canada. The list of golf courses included Cabot Links. The itinerary included as ports of call Prince Edward Island (having 25+ courses), Madeleine/Magdalen Islands, Inverness (Cape Breton Island's west coast), Ingonish (Cape Breton Island's northeast coast), Sable Island (horses, bird sanctuary). Cruise prices started from USD 3400 pp (double occupancy rates).

Louisbourg NS tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

Fortress of Louisbourg