Samuel de Champlain’s Voyages

On these years of celebrating Samuel de Champlain’s exploration of New France, many want to see a map of where he actually traveled. And because we could not find a good one on the internet, we have chosen to create one - a really nice and complete one! Why? you may ask. After all, we have the mission of bringing interesting news to travelers, and a map of Samuel de Champlain’s voyages looks more like history than travel! Well, the answer is that we will be talking a lot about Samuel de Champlain’s discovery of Lake Champlain next year, as Vermont will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the event. And we simply thought this was nice background information to launch the celebrations - here at Travel-Vermont.net!
It is actually amazing to realize how extensively Samuel de Champlain traveled in these regions from 1603 to 1636, 12 voyages all together… from Nova Scotia to Cape Cod and all the way west to Lake Ontario and Lake Huron! And in Vermont, may you ask? Well, Samuel de Champlain traveled down the Richelieu River to Lake Champlain in July 1609. He first landed on Isle La Motte, at the North of the lake and then traveled down all the way to either Crown Point or Ticonderoga (historians are not sure), where he fought against the Iroquois, at the end of July 1609. Later, the surroundings of the lake would see French settlements… but that’s another story!
To see the full size map, click here.
And if you are interested in the history of this region and period, see our Summer 2009 Historic Tour, “When this land was called New France” - a 6-day historic tour to Quebec City, the Richelieu River and Lake Champlain (Vermont/NY) and discover 150 years of little-known history!
You can also learn more about the first contacts between native Americans and Europeans, by attending the September 25th 2008 conference on this subject, at the Vergennes Opera House.

Related posts:
Celebrating Champlain
Lake Champlain… New France

Lake Champlain… New France

Are you surprised to see Lake Champlain associated with New France? Well, Lake Champlain was indeed part of New France for more than 150 years. And this week-end, Travel-Vermont.net was discovering what is left of such a heritage - in preparation of our Summer 2009 historic tour “When this land was called New France“.
As the 400th anniversary of Lake Champlain and its discovery by Samuel de Champlain in 1609 approach, we thought it was a good time to make such a voyage into the past.
Such trip took us all around Lake Champlain, on both the Vermont and the New York sides of the lake and all the way North into the Richelieu River, in Quebec.
The story starts in Isle La Motte, where Samuel de Champlain is said to have put foot in early July 1609.  (At the end of July, he would fight the Iroquois in the area of Ticonderoga). On Isle La Motte, you can see one of the statues of Samuel de Champlain, with his Indian traveler companion. You will also learn that Isle La Motte is actually the first European settlement in Vermont (we did not know!)… a French settlement naturally, as Captain Pierre La Motte and its Carignan-Salieres regiment built Fort Sainte-Anne there in 1666.
Today, there is no trace of the wooden fort of Fort Sainte-Anne but the site is a nice place for a picnic… with grass, trees and a nice view of the lake… and definitely a superb place for a wedding, with its outdoors church (St-Anne’s Shrine)… what a setting!
At time passed, the French moved down the lake and built various forts to protect themselves (and their fur trade in Montreal) against the Indians first and then the British from the South.
At Crown Point (on the New York side, but accessible by a bridge from Chimney Point, VT), you can still see the ruins of the first stone fort built by the French (1731) which they called Fort Saint-Frederic. You will also see the ruins of the larger British fort of Crown Point, built later, with the British flag still standing high in the sky. Once again, a very nice setting with a great dominating view of the lake. Crossing the bridge to Chimney Point, you’ll also learn about the French settlements there at the first half of the 18th century.
As we drive down the lake on the New York side, you’ll come across Fort Ticonderoga, majestic stone star-shape fort with a rich history from the time of the French and Indian War (mid-1700s) and the American Revolution. Built by the French in 1755-1757, they had named it Fort Carillon. Its star-shape is highly characteristic of French military architecture of the time, and you may have seen other examples of it if you visited La Citadelle (1820) in Quebec City, Fort McHenry (1796-1803) in Baltimore or Fort Warren (1833) on George’s Island in Boston harbor. They are all designed according to a defense system developed by a 17th century French military engineer named Sébastien de Vauban.
Fort Ticonderoga definitely saw a lot of military action, captured successively by the British, the Americans (Ethan Allen and its Green Mountain Boys) and again by the British. Allow two to three hours for a visit and take the ferry to admire a great view of the fort, from the hills of Mount Independence historic site.
Our trip was not over yet, and the next day we discovered the 1750 Fort Chambly in Quebec, remarkably renovated and with a spectacular exhibit on the history of the whole region all the way from Quebec City to Albany, NY. But that will be for one of our upcoming articles!

More information:
- The characteristics and advantages of Vauban’s fort designs
- Fort Ticonderoga site
- Crown Point site
- Fort Chambly site

Related posts:
- Sunset on Historic Chimney Point
- Mount Independence Reenactment
- Samuel de Champlain’s Voyages
- Celebrating Champlain

Things to do in Vermont - August 8-10

Photo courtesy of Adam Frehm

New this week!

- 7th Annual Lake Champlain Bluegrass Festival - August 8-10, in Alburgh - If you like bluegrass music, this is your week-end. Pray for good weather so you can enjoy all the outdoors concerts. And if you are not familiar with the event, take a minute and look here on the Vermont Life Magazine website, at this slideshow with music (scroll down the page and be patient, it takes a little while to load) … Looks and sounds like lots of fun.
More information at: www.lakechamplainmusic.com
- 51st Annual Antique & Classic Car Show - August 8-10, in Stowe - It’s the big and famous antique car event of the summer at Stowe with around 850 antique, classic and collector cars expected.
More information at: www.vtauto.org
- The schooner Lois McClure is coming back home to Burlington - Saturday August 5, Perkins Pier, Lake Champlain, Burlington, 5PM. You may have heard that the Lois McClure has been traveling to Quebec city (and other places on its way down the Saint-Laurent and the Richelieu river) early July to represent Vermont at the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec city by Samuel de Champlain. It’s back home and invites you to bring your picnic and enjoy dessert this Saturday early evening.
- Bicycle Film Series at the Savoy Theater, Montpelier - For the cyclists discouraged by the rain! Saturday August 9: The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di biciclette) (1948) – director: Vittorio De Sica (view the trailer) and Sunday August 10: Jour de Fête (1949) - writer and director: Jacques Tati. On your way, you can even admire some modern sculptures inspired by cycling, in front of several Montpelier buildings or inns!
- And finally, if you really enjoy wine tasting and want to offer yourself a very special treat, there is a very special wine week-end cruise - one-and-half day with an overnight - on the beautiful Moonlight Lady, hosted by Dellie Rex, senior Wine Instructor at New England Culinary Institute. The cost is $399 per person.
More information at: www.vtwinecruise.com

And for continuing events:
- Les Miserables musical is playing in Vermont… from July 31 to August 23 in Weston. We’ll try to go and check this production in the next few weeks and tell you what we thought. We are not expecting the kind of production you can see in New York or London, but we’ll see…
More information at: www.westonplayhouse.org
- Vermont Summer Festival Horseshow – 5th week-end of competition at East Dorset; Photographers: remember you can participate to a digital photography contest (see previous posting);
Related post: Vermont Summer Festival Horseshow
- And more chamber music at Marlboro Music, Marlboro College – Friday August 8 and Saturday August 9 at 8:30PM and Sunday afternoon August 10 at 2:30PM. It is worth the drive there and you can find nice romantic inns to stay at, in the area. Time Magazine says it’s “the most exciting chamber music in the U.S.”, the NY Times says “extraordinary rising stars and musical legends play side-by-side”.
More information at: Marlboro Music
Also, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment on one of these events if you have a chance to attend!