You're looking at a genuine British military fortress, whose tour, available in French, will take you back to the War of 1812 between the British and the United States, in the region known as Upper Canada!
The current fort was built between 1832 and 1837 to protect the St. Lawrence River, the Rideau Canal and supplies to Kingston and the rest of Upper Canada. At the time, an entire defensive system was planned for Kingston, but guess what, budget overruns during the construction of the Rideau Canal limited its construction. Only four towers and one fort were built, but they still represented the most important defensive system west of Quebec City.
The fort was always under threat of American attack, but in the end, it never suffered any. The British army abandoned the fort in 1870, shortly after the birth of Canadian Confederation. And you're standing on the birthplace of the Royal Canadian Artillery (Royal Canadian Horse Artillery), one of the first units of the Canadian army!
After becoming a prisoner-of-war camp during the First and Second World Wars and then being abandoned, it was completely restored in the 1930s. Today, it's a living museum and a major tourist attraction in the region! It's even a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the Rideau Canal.
Don't miss the Royal Guard demonstrations in period uniforms, bringing to life the military life of the soldiers occupying the fort. Take part in the historical re-enactment of maneuvers and tactics, the garrison parade and the Wednesday ceremony (in July and August), where maneuvers, music and artillery will thrill you. A show not to be missed! And if you like to be scared, the guided haunted tour is at your own risk (not recommended for young children)!