Toronto Star

While numerous British fortifications exist in Canada, the New France of the past lingers on only as a memory; no longer is it something that one can see, touch or feel. Even the historical Quebec city, with all its Gallic charm, possesses fortifications that were rebuilt by the British — to British specifications. Yet a handsome French fort was completely restored in 1983 by Parks Canada, just 30 km southeast of Montreal. This is Fort Chambly, a large stone structure built in 1709 to delay English expeditions descending the mighty Richelieu River from their bases south of Lake Champlain in present day New York State. In the early 1700s, Fort Chambly was Albany's arch-enemy. Originally, two wooden forts were built in Chambly before 1709. The first one in 1665. But with the advance of gun power, such forts were obsolete by the early 1700s.