If you’ve made your way to the ends of Cape Breton in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, do not miss out on the Louisbourg Lighthouse. Most travelers will find themselves at the Fortress of Louisbourg when visiting this semi-remote part of the world. The fort is worth the price of admission.
But, when you’re touring back through the quaint fishing town of Louisbourg, don’t forget to take that right turn before the highway takes you back to Sydney. Especially if you’ve got a camera and tripod on hand, you simply cannot afford to miss the Louisbourg Lighthouse and the surrounding natural beauty.
Located down a short but twisting gravel road at the opposite end of the town site as the fortress, you’ll most likely pleasantly met by sparse crowds. Even on a clear, calm day (as it was when we visited), the crashing waves on the rocky shoreline will impress. It will become very apparent why a lighthouse of some form has stood at this site since 1734.
See below for more information on the lighthouse, the town and the fortress. We’ve also included a video showing clips of the crashing waves.
Louisbourg Lighthouse Image Gallery
We’ve included a mix of photos taken of the lighthouse and the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Some images are long exposures at 13 to 15 seconds.
High resolution versions of these images and other photos from the same day are available at Dreamstime. Want to earn cash from your own photos? Why not sign up for free with Dreamstime and start submitting now: Become a paid photographer!
Louisbourg Lighthouse
The lighthouse currently standing, and shown in the photos in the images gallery, is the fourth to stand on this site. It was built in 1923 and automated in 1990. The current lighthouse is in need of renovations with some of the concrete crumbling enough for warning to be posted at the bottom to be on the look out for falling chunks.
Named a Federal Heritage Building of Canada, the structure stands 16.8 metres or 55 feet in height. The light can be seen from 16 nautical miles or thirty kilometres away.
The first beacon on the site was built in 1734 and was the first lighthouse erected in Canada. Remnants of this and the other two that followed can be found at the park.
The site is free to visit with just a gravel parking lot and no other facilities. Along with views of the Atlantic Ocean, you can also see across the bay at the Fortress of Louisbourg and the town itself.
Louisbourg, Nova Scotia
Louisbourg dates back to 1769 when it was established as an English settlement. In 1901, it was incorporated as a town. In 1995, Louisbourg was amalgamated into the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Just over 1,000 residents call the town home, about half what the population was in 1960.
The town is a peaceful 35 kilometre drive from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton’s main centre. Formerly a fishing village, some of the industry remains but the main money maker these days is definitely tourism. We camped just the other side of Sydney, on the Great Bras D’Or lake at the North Sydney / Cape Breton KOA. If you’re traveling in an RV, trust me, you will not be disappointed with this campground. We’ll be featuring more on that KOA in an upcoming article.
Fortress of Louisbourg
The Fortress of Louisbourg was built by France between 1713 and 1740. It was last captured by the British in 1758 with British troops remaining on site until 1768. In 1752, the fortress reached its maximum population of over 4,000.
In 1920, the fort was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Most of what you see when visiting today is part of a reconstruction project that began in 1961. However, some original buildings and remnants remain. This is known as the largest reconstruction project in North America.
Our visit came in the nick of time. Starting in October, 2018, the sea wall is being reconstructed. The fortress will remain open but the orange construction signs and modern excavating equipment will certainly take away from the perceived authentic experience.
Shoreline Video
The following video was taken the same day as the images above and shows why swimming in these waters might not be such a great idea. If you like what you see, please give it a ‘Thumb’s Up’ in YouTube. If you love what you see, please consider subscribing to our YouTube Channel!
A driving tour video from the fortress to the lighthouse will be published on the channel soon. We’ll link that up here once it’s gone live – stay tuned!
