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 thousands of years before the arrival of theEuropeansettlers. 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 R o y a l a n d b u i l t t h e Habitation as a center for operationsinAcadia. In 1606 this creative group formed the “Order of G o o d C h e e r, ” N o r t h 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, conservationandlifestyle. 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 h o s t o f e c o - t o u r i s m 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 andBayofFundy,thecolourful Annapolis Royal Area makes the perfect weekend getaway orvacationdestination. ExploreAnnapolisRoyal travel books about his experiencesinPort-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 atPort-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 fortsonthesitethatisnowFort Anne. The Scots erected the first fort (Charles Fort) on the sitein1629. Annapolis Royal In 1710 the British captured Port-Royal and renamed itAnnapolis Royal to honour Queen Anne. It remained the capital until Halifax was started in 1749. T h e s t a r - s h a p e d fortifications are among t h e c o u n t r y ’ s b e s t e x a m p l e s o f 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 inheritagepreservation. Port-Royal & Fort Anne NationalHistoricSites FortAnne opened in 1917 and is the oldest continuously- operatedNationalHistoricSite 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 ofthepast400 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 HistoricSiteinCanada. A Timeless Treasure TodayAnnapolis 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 Fort Anne NHS (Dan Froese/Parks Canada) Port-Royal Habitation NHS (Chris Reardon/Parks Canada )