After two initial voyages to Canada, between 1535 and 1536, French navigator Jacques Cartier set out in 1541 to found a permanent French colony in Canada. He was aided in this venture by Jean-François de la Roque de Roberval. The two navigators and some 1,500 colonists settled at Cap-Rouge, now a suburb of Québec City. After two disastrous winters of deep freeze, hunger and conflict with Indigenous Peoples, the colony was abandoned in 1543. Browse these many images to discover Charlesbourg-Royal, the first and then abandoned French colony in Québec City.
Cannon shot found in Cartier-Roberval archaeological dig
Émilie Deschênes
This cast-iron cannon shot was made in Europe in the early 16th century. Of small calibre, it was used as ammunition for a small artillery piece. Charlesbourg-Royal was split into two sets of fortified buildings, one at the bottom and the other at the top of Cap-Rouge hill. The cannon shot was found in the upper site, indicating its use in defence.
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