The fort is designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.

The forts were built in order to protect travellers on the river from the Iroquois.

The fort was established at the mouth of the Richelieu River, near the modern city of Sorel-Tracy, in 1641.

It was built by Charles Huault de Montmagny, first Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of New France, and named in honour of Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister to Louis XIII.

In 1665, the Carignan-Salières Regiment, under the direction of Pierre de Saurel, rebuilt the fort on the same site.