Quick Facts
About Annapolis Royal
Annapolis Royal is a tiny, history-saturated town on the Annapolis River that served as the capital of Acadia and Nova Scotia under both French and British rule, making it one of the oldest continuous European settlements in North America. Fort Anne — a star-shaped Vauban-style earthwork overlooking the basin — was the first site administered as a National Historic Site of Canada, and the tree-lined streets hold more designated heritage buildings per capita than anywhere else in the country.
History
Established as Port Royal by French colonists under Samuel de Champlain and Sieur de Poutrincourt in 1605, the settlement is the birthplace of enduring European habitation in Canada, though it was burned and rebuilt more than once before the British took it in 1713 and renamed it Annapolis Royal for Queen Anne. It served as the capital of Nova Scotia until the founding of Halifax in 1749, and the surrounding Annapolis Valley farmlands — first dyked by Acadian settlers — still feed the province today.
Getting There
Distance from Halifax: 155 km (130 minutes)
Route: NS-101 W to Exit 23
Top Attractions
- 🏰Fort Anne National Historic Site
- 🏰Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens
- 🏰O'Dell House Museum
- 🏰Port-Royal National Historic Site (Habitation, 10 min away)
Best For
Annual Events
- 📅Annapolis Royal Natal Day (August)
- 📅Historic Gardens evening lantern walks (summer)
Explore Nearby
🗼 Lighthouses
Where to Stay in Annapolis Royal
Find hotels, B&Bs, and vacation rentals in Annapolis Royal and the surrounding Annapolis Valley area.