477 St George St, Annapolis Royal, NS

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity. The de Gannes-Cosby House is the oldest wood-framed building in Canada and the world’s oldest existing building in the Acadian architectural style. Built in 1708 and continuously occupied ever since, this remarkable property carries more than three centuries of stories within its walls. Originally constructed for French officer Louis de Gannes de Falaise with funds provided by King Louis XIV, the house later served as the residence of British officer Alexander Cosby, lieutenant-governor of the Fort and town of Annapolis Royal — making it a tangible symbol of the sweeping history that shaped this nation. Carefully restored by Jim and Pauline How this home retains an extraordinary number of original features, including post and beam framing, sections of wattle and daub infill, massive original floorboards, fine pine paneling, and a fieldstone foundation. The planks and beams are believed to have been cut in 1707, and one standout plank in the parlour runs a full 20 feet in length and measures 31 inches wide. Walking through this home is, truly, like stepping into another century. The property offers three bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms across a one-and-a-half-storey layout with an ell, a gambrel roof with dormers, and a painted clapboard exterior. The home also features a barn, and the grounds — just under an acre — are graced with mature trees and bushes surrounding the property, with a shared drive leading to a carriage house at the rear.