Fort Sainte Anne (Nova Scotia)

Fort Sainte Anne was a French fort located in present-day Englishtown, Nova Scotia. It was established in 1629 by Charles de Saint-Étienne de la Tour after his father, Claude de la Tour, was forced to cede Port Royal to the English. The fort served as a trading post and a base of operations for La Tour's fur trading activities and his efforts to maintain French influence in Acadia.

The fort's strategic location on St. Ann's Bay allowed La Tour to control access to the interior of Cape Breton Island and its resources. It also provided a haven for French ships and a point of contact with the Mi'kmaq, who were important allies in the ongoing power struggle with the English.

Fort Sainte Anne was relatively short-lived. In 1629, Isaac de Razilly arrived in Acadia and was appointed Governor, superseding La Tour. Razilly established his headquarters at La Hève, and Fort Sainte Anne gradually declined in importance. While the exact date is unknown, it is believed that the fort was abandoned or dismantled sometime in the 1630s, as La Tour eventually moved his primary operations back to the mainland and focused on building up Fort La Tour (near present-day Saint John, New Brunswick).

Today, little remains of Fort Sainte Anne. Archaeological investigations have been conducted at the site, but conclusive evidence of the fort's exact location and extent is still sought. It represents an important, albeit brief, chapter in the early history of Acadia and the contest for control of North America between France and England.