Ste. Anne was an early settlement (founded 1629) on the east coast of Île Royale (present-day Cape Breton Island) in the 1600s. After the Treaty of Utrecht gave Acadia to England, France still retained control of Île Royale. To fortify their position in the area, the French began building Port Dauphin at the old Ste. Anne site; but the location proved to be unsuitable. So they moved several miles up the coast and began work on a fortified town in 1719 to be named Louisbourg. It wasn't completed until 1745.

Louisbourg, 1746 by Gridley [full map] Click on map for larger view

After a short seige, the English captured the fort on June 16, 1745. It was returned to French control after the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in October 1748. Another seige in 1758 that ended on July 26 meant the end of French control of Acadian lands. In addition to deporting the French and Acadians on Île Royale, the English took the opportunity to finish the 1755 deportations to send the Ile St. Jean Acadians to France.

Louisbourg, 1755 by Mitchell Click on map for larger view      In 1961, a historical reconstruction of the Louisbourg complex was begun. Today, it is a national historic site of Canada.