
The French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana
Home to shops, museums, churches, hotels, and a
plethora of notable buildings,
Known to many locals as simply “The Quarter”, this
neighborhood has a somewhat deceiving name. Though it was originally settled
by the French and once included a ton of French-inspired buildings, most of
what visitors now see in the French Quarter is Spanish-style architecture.
Much of the original French Quarter burned down in the late 1700s and its
wonderful French Colonial buildings were consumed by two different fires.
What went up in their place were buildings that were built by the Spanish
during
Nonetheless, the French Quarter is a joy to explore and there’s so much to see that tourists usually need to spend more than one day wandering through this area, which measures about 78 square blocks. Start by visiting some of the beautiful buildings here which include the Town Hall, known as the “Cabildo” and the Presbytere, which is similar in style and built to compliment the town hall. The Cabildo is quite historic because was the site of The Louisiana Purchase.
Also of note is the St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest
continually active Roman Catholic cathedral in the
Visitors should be sure to also make a stop at The French Market. The oldest continuously operating market of its kind in the nation, this market has sat at the same location since 1791. Today, it includes dozens of stalls that offer everything from standard farmer’s market fare like fruit, vegetables, meat, and poultry to crafts, fine art, clothing, candles, gifts, and much more.
Family-friendly fare in The French Quarter includes the
Audubon Aquarium of the
Another popular attraction is the
If you want to stay in the thick of all the action,
you’ll find a ton of hotels and B&Bs located within the French Quarter,
ranging from luxury chain hotels set in historic buildings, to
independently-owned gems and less expensive offerings.
Shops in the French Quarter:
Restaurants in the French Quarter:
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