This small town in the Mississippi bottomlands contains the remains of Fort de Chartres, the French seat of government in colonial Illinois and the last French possession surrendered to the British after the French and Indian War. The fort has been partially reconstructed to its 1750s appearance and includes a small museum on the French colony in Illinois.
The village itself, founded around 1722, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in Illinois, with streets and some buildings that still reflect its French colonial origins. The Mississippi bottomlands stretching west to the river are excellent for birdwatching during migration seasons. A quiet, atmospheric stop for anyone interested in early American history or the French colonial era in the Midwest.