History All Around You / Quand l’histoire vous entoure

English: , With Island history as your backdrop, you're looking out at Charlottetown Harbour, the Hillsborough River, Governors Island, and the bluffs of Keppoch. In the summertime, this waterway hosts an abundance of international cruise ships and local pleasure craft. Here, you might even spy a seal as its head rises above the water's surface. Your standing point is also in the vicinity of Port-la-Joye , Fort Amherst, a National Historic Site of Canada that was not only the first capital of the province, but that also illustrates the French-English struggle for sovereignty of Prince Edward Island. Its grounds are open in the summer through early fall, and are a must-see for visitors and for anyone with an interest in history. While in the area, you'll also have plenty of opportunities to golf one of the Island's renowned courses., Port-la-Joye , Port-la-Joye was chosen as the capital of Île Saint-Jean primarily for two reasons: 1) Its sheltered harbour and narrow entrance made it easier to defend than many other Island ports, and 2) It was seen as an agricultural region that could supply Île Royale (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia)., Fort Amherst , In 1758, the English built Fort Amherst close to the site that had recently been Port-la-Joye. The new fort was not large, however, it was protected by18 cannons and a waterless ditch running around its circumference. Entrance was gained through a drawbridge. In 1762, a mutiny amongst the soldiers was discovered and put down , an indication of conditions at the fort. When Charlottetown was named the new provincial capital in 1768, the military moved to Fort Edward, and Fort Amherst was torn down. Today, grass-covered ruins are all that remain., The Acadians , The Acadians (Acadiens) are descendants of settlers from France who came primarily to Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Maine in the 17th Century. At the time, this area was known as Acadia (L'Acadie)., The Acadian Deportation , England and France had been fighting The Seven Years War since 1754. By 1758, Île Saint-Jean was surrendered to Great Britain. Within weeks, the English began rounding up all French and Acadian people on the Island. 13 ships arrived to carry more than 3,000 people across the sea to France, with another 1,600 escaping to other parts of the Island, New Brunswick or Quebec. The late fall sea voyage was dangerous with stormy seas, shipwrecks, and illness spreading among the deportees. In all, almost 900 French and Acadians died during the Expulsion of the Acadians., Did you know that? , The French named Port-la-Joye capital of Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island) in 1720. Though soldiers and settlers arrived, by the time France declared war on England in 1744, the port was almost deserted. During the conflict, the fort was destroyed and when the war ended in 1745, the Island was in British hands. Île Saint-Jean would later be returned to the French, only to eventually fall under British rule again. In 1758, the English carried out the Expulsion of the French, and built Fort Amherst close to the site of Port-la-Joye. After the capital of the province was moved to Charlottetown in 1768, Fort Amherst was demolished., Along the Drive , Going west, be sure to visit picturesque Victoria-by-the-Sea and the Argyle Shore Provincial Park. If you’re heading north, pull off into our lay-by in West River for a spectacular view., Central Coastal Drive , One Drive, Two Shores , Combining Red Sands Shore Drive and Green Gables Shore Drive, the Central Coastal Drive gives you the best that the core of PEI has to offer. Travel this loop around the heart of PEI and discover Charlottetown , the capital of the province, Cavendish , the birthplace of author L.M Montgomery and her greatest creation, Anne of Green Gables, Port-la-Joye , Fort Amherst National Historic Site, and countless beach, golf, culinary and cultural experiences that reveal the essence of our Island., For more information on the Central Coastal Drive and all it has to offer you to see and do, please visit www.centralcoastaldrive.com,