Overview:

: Port Royal National Historic Site - Nova Scotia was the location of the first permanent European settlement in North America. Located in the Annapolis Valley, the site features a re-creation of a fortified habitation as it would have looked in 1605, when the French explorer Samuel de Champlain first explored the region. Visitors can explore the replica structures, tour archaeological excavations, and visit the artifact displays. There are also interactive displays about the history of the area, nature walks, and special presentations by staff. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Canada
Prominent Features:

- Fort Charles: The star-shaped British fort overlooking Halifax Harbour, built in 1835 - Buildings: Many restored warehouses and public buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries - Samuel de Champlain Monument: A 900 square foot monument honouring the French explorer, erected in 1916 - Governor's House: Constructed in the 1740s and the home of numerous British colonial governors over the years - Royal Artillery Park: Established at the site in 1777 as an important British military base - Point Pleasant Park: An 85 hectare urban park off the coast of Halifax with centuries-old trees and nature trails - Statue of Cornwallis: An 8 foot bronze statue of Edward Cornwallis, founder of Halifax, located at the entrance of the park - Visitor Centre: A modern interpretive centre with artifacts and information about the site's history and heritage This national monument of Canada portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Port Royal National Historic Site is a Canadian national historic site in Nova Scotia, Canada. Located in the community of Annapolis Royal, it is a former settlement and trading post that was developed by Nicolas Denys in 1654. Port Royal was the capital of the French colony of Acadia until its destruction in the year 1710. Port Royal was first discovered by French explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1605, who named the area Paptiquid and built a fort, which was later abandoned in 1607. Following this brief attempt by the French to settle the area, it was re-discovered in 1632 by a group of French soldiers. Initially the area was used in a commercial venture as the first fur trading posts from Quebec, leading to the first permanent French settlement in 1654 with its establishment by Nicolas Denys, a French adventurer. The settlement grew steadily over the next few decades, consisting mostly of a few fortified buildings, farm-steads, a church and a military garrison. In 1667 the Treaty of Breda handed the area over to the British, who occupied Port Royal until it was destroyed in 1710 and then burned by the French garrison in a show of power. Following the French and Indian War of 1754-1763, Port Royal returned to British rule until the American Revolutionary War when it was captured and held by American troops from 1779-1783. Following the American Revolutionary War, the area was established as a provisional British colony under the name Hotel de Ville de lOie and then later changed to Annapolis Royal in 1784. By the late nineteenth century, Port Royal was largely drifted away and forgotten, but after the First World War the Historic Sites and Monuments Board established the area around the historic settlement as Port Royal National Historic Site in 1923. In 1992, a multi-year archeological excavation was conducted to attempt to research the early settlement, helping to create a better understanding of the area's rich history. In 2001, the site was redesignated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The archeological excavations revealed the remains of the original buildings, giving visitors a glimpse into the structures of more than 350 years ago. Today, Port Royal National Historic Site remains a popular tourist destination within Nova Scotia. Visitors can explore the grounds and learn about the history of the area through guided tours and interpretive displays. Nova Scotia Power also operates a hydroelectric generating station in Port Royal since first generating power sometime before 1940. The generating station is fed by a gravity fed canal and generates up to 12 megawatts. You must visit one of these historical places in Canada on your Canada tour

Interesting facts:

1. Port Royal was Canada’s first permanent European settlement. In 1605, nearly 400 years ago, Port Royal made history as the first European settlement in Canada. The French explorer, Samuel de Champlain, established the settlement on the north bank of the Annapolis River basin. He set up a town with defensive walls and a church, and it became the capital for French Acadia until its destruction by the British in 1710. 2. The site was an important trading centre. Port Royal was the hub of the fur and fish trading business in Acadia. The river was an important trading route and ships from Europe sailed into the harbour to collect goods and trade with the Mi'kmaq people. 3. The site lays claim to the Habitation, the 17th-century replica of the original settlement. the Habitation at Port-Royal, constructed 250 km from the original settlement of Port Royal, is based on the plan of the first European outpost in North America. It was built in 1939 to commemorate the settlement of Acadia. Visitors can wander through the rooms of this 17th-century replica to see what life was like for settlers in those early days. 4. The site is home to multiple buildings of historical importance. The Habitation is joined by a replica of the church destroyed by the British during the siege of 1710. Nearby, a reconstruction of an Acadian farmhouse from 1730 stands tall, and a display of a fur trade post from the 1700s can also be seen. 5. After its initial destruction, the site was excavated and it yielded some remarkable discoveries. The excavation of the site of Port Royal in 1960 gave archaeologists a unique insight into how the settlement was first constructed. As a result of their findings, the National Historic Site of Canada now includes 18th-century French fortifications and a 19th-century British battery. Visit one of the famous monuments of Canada with your friends and family.