Annapolis << uh NAP uh lihs, >> Royal, Nova Scotia (pop. 530), is one of the oldest communities in North America. It lies along the Annapolis Basin, an inlet of the Bay of Fundy. French colonists founded the settlement of Port-Royal near what is now Annapolis Royal in 1605. English raiders captured and burned the colony in 1613. In the 1630’s, the French reestablished the settlement at the present site of Annapolis Royal. Port-Royal became a military outpost and often changed hands during continual fighting between French and English forces in the area.
In 1710, the British captured the settlement and renamed it Annapolis Royal. The town served as the capital of Nova Scotia until Halifax became the capital in 1749. Annapolis Royal prospered as a shipping center during the 1800’s. Today, Annapolis Royal is a popular tourist resort. The nearby Port-Royal National Historic Site features a replica of the original French settlement.
