Port Royal, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia

Port Royal is a Canadian rural community located in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.

It is situated on the north bank of the Annapolis River at its discharge point into the Annapolis Basin, approximately 8 km downstream from the town of Annapolis Royal.

Predominantly a farming community, Port Royal is also a significant tourist destination in Nova Scotia due to being the location of a historic French colonial settlement, commemorated by the Port-Royal National Historic Site of Canada which was established in 1925. A replica of the original settlement was constructed by the Government of Canada in 1939-41.

The name Port Royal was officially established for the community by the Geographical Names Board of Canada on March 2, 1950.



French settlement
The original French settlement and capital of the colony of Acadia was named Port-Royal. It was located in the present-day community of Port Royal from 1605 until its destruction by British military forces in 1613. This settlement was rebuilt as a historic replica in 1939-41 by the Government of Canada and is called the Port-Royal National Historic Site of Canada. After 1613, France moved the settlement/capital of Port-Royal approximately 8 km upstream to the south bank of the Annapolis River at present-day Annapolis Royal. This second settlement was seized by British military forces in 1710 as part of the conquest of Acadia and was renamed Annapolis Royal in honour of Queen Anne.