Fort Chambly, French colonial fort in Chambly, Canada
Fort Chambly is a square stone fortress with bastions at each corner, rising along the Richelieu River in Quebec. The tall outer walls enclose an inner courtyard containing stone buildings that once served military purposes.
Jacques de Chambly built a wooden fort in 1665 to defend against Iroquois raids, which was then rebuilt in stone between 1709 and 1711. After the British took control, they continued to use the stone structure as a military garrison.
The fort displays how French colonists built their defenses and how the British later adapted the space for their own purposes. Visitors can see the layout of rooms designed for both protection and daily operations.
The site is open year-round, though tours and exhibits vary by season. Plan time to explore the courtyard and stone buildings, which display different aspects of military life and colonial operations.
The stone fortress is one of the few surviving examples of 18th-century French military architecture in Canada, showing the typical features of French colonial defense. Its square design with corner bastions was a preferred style for French fortifications of that era.
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