One of the oldest permanent
European settlements in
Canada, Annapolis Royal is
also one of the country’s
largest National Historic
Districts. It was a Mi’kmaw
encampment site 3,600 years
before the arrival of the
Europeans settlers.
Port-Royal
In 1605 the area was
settled by a small group of
French explorers two years
before Jamestown, Virginia,
three years before the
founding of Quebec, and
fifteen years before the
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth,
Massachusetts. Led by
Samuel de Champlain and
Sieur de Mons, the French
named the new land Port
Royal and built the
Habitation as a center for
operations in Acadia.
In 1606 this creative
group formed the “Order of
Good Cheer,” North
America’s first social club.
For entertainment, a young
Parisian lawyer, Marc
Lescarbot, wrote and
produced “The Theatre of
Neptune”, the first European
drama in North America. He
also wrote one of the first
America’s only tidal power
generating station. The Town
has won numerous prestigious
awards for beauty, heritage
preservation, ecology,
conservation and lifestyle.
Enjoy a delightful blend
of panoramic scenery and
culture as you stroll through
over 400 years of history.
Festivals and special events,
King’s Theatre, Artsplace,
the O’Dell House and
Sinclair Inn Museums plus a
host of eco-tourism
adventures offer fun-filled
entertainment options for all
ages. Unique waterfront
shopping with its scenic
boardwalk and historic
lighthouse, delicious dining
and gracious accommodations
await you. From the Farmers’
and Traders’ Market, boat
haul-up and Fort Anne, to the
Historic Gardens, Port-Royal
Habitation, Tidal Power Plant
and Bay of Fundy, the colourful
Annapolis Royal Area makes
the perfect weekend getaway
or vacation destination.
Explore Annapolis Royal
travel books about his
experiences in Port-Royal.
In 1607, the settlers built
North America’s first water-
powered grist mill. Many
other very important “firsts”
in the country also took place
at Port-Royal.
The Struggle
During the 105 year
struggle for control of the
continent, the area changed
hands between the French
and English seven times. In
the 1640s the French
constructed the first of four
forts on the site that is now Fort
Anne. The Scots erected the
first fort (Charles Fort) on the
site in 1629.
Annapolis Royal
In 1710 the British
captured Port-Royal and
renamed it Annapolis Royal
to honour Queen Anne. It
remained the capital until
Halifax was started in 1749.
The star-shaped
fortifications are among
the country’s best
examples of Vauban
earthenworks. As the seat of
government for both French
and British regimes, the area
holds an important place in
Canada’s early history. It
continues to be a leader today
in heritage preservation.
Port-Royal & Fort Anne
National Historic Sites
Fort Anne opened in 1917
and is the oldest continuously-
operated National Historic Site
in Canada. The exquisite Fort
Anne Heritage Tapestry, on
display in the Officers’
Quarters Museum, was
stitched by over 100
volunteers during a four year
period. This large mural
tapestry features highlights
of the past 400 years.
The original Habitation
at Port-Royal was burned
down by the British in 1613.
It was reconstructed in 1939
using Champlain’s original
drawings. It is the first
reconstruction of a National
Historic Site in Canada.
A Timeless
Treasure
Today Annapolis Royal is
the quietly dignified home of
about 481 people and
Canada’s 2015 Garden of the
Year. It is also the site of North
Page 12,
EXPLORER,
2016 Official Visitors Guide
Port-Royal Habitation NHS (Chris Reardon/Parks Canada )
Stroll Through the Centuries
Stroll Through the Centuries
VIDEO
Fort Anne NHS (Dan Froeze/Parks Canada)