multiple old buildings including a yellow tower above a stone wall

This National Historic Site is an excellent recreation of the fortress that existed on the same site almost 400 years ago. Costumed re-enactors help you understand the history and make you want to learn more about it.

soldier in costume explaining the operation of a musket

The photo above shows one of the characters demonstrating his musket. He explained the operation and loading of the powder and ball and then fired it after donning modern safety glasses and earplugs. A count of three warned everyone of the explosive noise to come.

smoke from the barrel of a musket. tourists in front taking photos

soldiers walking in front of a large stone building. there is a wooden building on the left

This long building is used for multiple purposes, including a chapel, armoury and housing for the soldiers.

wide bunkbeds

These bunkbeds are for the regular soldiers. There were 8 bunk beds packed into each room. Each bed slept 2 soldiers per level and a soldier would sleep with a different partner each night. Since soldiers worked for one 24 hour day out of three, there were three rotations of 12 soldiers each using every room so it was fully occupied every night. Of course, cloting was not washed very often and food was also traded among the soldiers.

red, canopy-covered bed with a steamer trunk at its foot. pink and white curtains hang on the tall windows

The other end of the building housed the governor who treated himself very well. He had rooms for entertaining and eating as well as a private study.

kitchen display of equipment from the 1700's

Like many rooms, the kitchen was used to display food-prpeparation equipment from the era.

wooden horse made with wide lumber joined at a sharp angle on top

This horse was used to punish deserters and other criminal. The perpetrator would have to sit on top of the horse for hours at a time with heavy weights hanging from their ankles. Naturally, the horse was positioned just outside the entrance to the grand hall so everyone coming and going would be deterred from committing any crime.

two motorhomes in an otherwise empty, large parking lot

Sadly, this was the scene outside many of the sites we have visited on this trip. While there were other parking lots for the fortress, there were many, many empty spaces. Tour buses were few and far between and no cruise ships have visited for two consecutive years. We were fortunate to have lots of space for ourselves and contact with the animators but so many people are missing out on the opportunity to visit such a wonderful place.