Fort De La Boulaye, French colonial fort in Plaquemines Parish, United States
Fort De La Boulaye is a French colonial fort built on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish. The structure was designed with defensive bastions positioned at its corners and armed with cannons for protection.
Brothers Pierre d'Iberville and Jean-Baptiste de Bienville built this fort between 1699 and 1700 to secure French control of the Mississippi Valley. It was among the earliest European settlements in the region and served as a strategic stronghold.
This location served as an early meeting point where French colonists and local Native American groups interacted and traded. The site remains significant today as a place where different peoples first came together in this region.
The site is located south of New Orleans near Phoenix and is now an archaeological area marked with commemorative signs. Visitors should know that only foundation remnants and markers are visible, so some background reading beforehand is helpful.
Archaeological excavations in the 20th century uncovered French cannons and structural remains from the site. These discoveries confirmed the exact location of the fort after centuries of obscurity.
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