Port-Royal, Fort Anne and Gardens

Port-Royal National Historical Site is a reconstruction of a 17th century French compound and was one of the earliest settlements in North America. In 1603 France tried to start a colony near hear but a severe winter and short supplies led to death for almost all of them.  For two more years more men were sent and they settled on the protected cove where Port Royal now sits.

The reconstruction was done in 1938-1941 and replacements of roofs and a few other walls or floors has been done over the years but always using the same tools and materials available to the colonist in the 1600’s. The settlement looks like a fort but it was built this way to provide more protection from nature than from attacks. Rooms included the dining area with kitchen & bakery, a forge, chapel, and artisans quarters as well as residences for the general population and for the gentlemen who stayed.  They also had a root cellar/store room and a wine cellar to keep the wine from freezing.  There may also have been a trading room.  The Mi’kmaq would have camped outside the settlement and helped the settlers with farming and fishing.

One unexpected thing we saw were wooden shoes like we normally see on the Dutch.  These shoes worn by the Frenchmen were called ‘sabo’.  Later, during the industrial revolution, French workers were not happy with the machines taking over their jobs so they would put their wooden shoe in the gears to stop them.  This became known as ‘sabotage’.

In the town of Annapolis Royal was the Fort Anne National Historic Site.  The fort was a star shaped, earthen works structure with the buildings for the soldiers in the very center.  Most of the buildings have burned down except for the Officer’s Quarters which serves as the museum and offices.  A powder magazine and black hole are still visible.

Nearby is the Historic Gardens of Annapolis Royal.  John’s tour of the gardens took 10 minutes while in the 45 minutes allowed I only saw part of the whole area!  There are many beautiful roses, hydrangea, lilies and hostas, and flowers too numerous to count. Lilly ponds, pine forest, marsh lands and fountains.  All on 17 acres.  Very pretty.