Welcome to New Orleans’s French Quarter; infamous for its ruckus parties, haunted buildings, and Creole and Cajun cuisine.
The French Quarter is a 7 x 13 block neighborhood, with the streets of Canal, Rampart, and Esplanade making up the defining boundaries of the Quarter. The fourth boundary side runs along the Mississippi River.
In 1706, the land along a particularly sharp bend in the Mississippi River was laid claim to by two French-Canadian brothers, Iberville and Bienville. But it was not until 1718, when Bienville returned to the land, charged with raising a settlement by the Regent of France, that a settlement began to take shape. The town was named La Nouvelle-Orleans, in honor of the Regent, Duke d’Orleans.
The French Quarter changed hands many times during its history, from French to Spanish, back to French, before being sold to the US in the Louisiana Purchase. An extra special celebration can be expected in 2018, when the French Quarter celebrates its tri-centennial.
In addition to the settlers of the Quarter, the Acadians also came down the Mississippi River; prompted to escape persecution in French Canada and displacement by British expansion, the Acadians are today known as “Cajuns.” Choosing to settle in areas outside of the new settlement, they relied on their skills as hunters and trappers. The name Cajun is believed to have come from a misunderstanding in the annunciation of “acadians,” consequently becoming “a cajun.”
The French Quarter suffered two major fires in 1788 and 1794. After the last one, in 1794, residences were required to have a fountain in their courtyards that would be filled with water at all times. The architectural style of the second fire’s reconstruction is what defines the area to this day; brick townhouses with balconies and galleries, decorative iron rails, and courtyards with fountains. It is a decidedly Spanish style, even though the neighborhood is referred to as the “French Quarter.”
For a more in-depth look at the history of New Orleans and the French Quarter, a museum on Royal Street, the Historic New Orleans Museum, offers a permanent exhibit of the city’s history, from founding to present-day. The museum is free, but docent guided tours are also offered for $5.
If you are looking for tours with supernatural or paranormal elements, you’ve come to the right city. New Orleans boasts that it is the most haunted city in the US (though, Savannah would disagree). Tour topics range from voodoo to vampires to history, with a side of ghost stories and haunted dwellings. A couple of restaurants in the Quarter even claim to have spirits wandering around.
St Louis Cathedral, the oldest running cathedral in the US, is also one of the most recognized landmarks in New Orleans. In front of the cathedral is a small park, Jackson Square, surrounded by tall wrought iron gates, with a statue of Andrew Jackson at the center. Part of the original settlement area, some of the oldest apartments of the Quarter still stand on either side of the square. While their initial use was for government offices, most are now primarily store fronts.
Cafe Du Monde, the famed place for beignets and chicory coffee, is easily within view of Jackson Square, riverside. While the cafe is 24/7, there are often lines, both for a table and at the pedestrian to-go window. Remember to bring cash for your beignets and coffee, credit cards are not accepted. (There is an atm nearby though.)
Bourbon St, a few blocks over from the cathedral, is the bar lined street with colorful characters everyone is always talking about. During busy times, like sporting events and parade season, the street can get pretty packed and the atmosphere a little aromatic. But during the “off-season,” you can take a more leisurely stroll down the French Quarter’s “sin city” street.
The French Market is located a few blocks up from Cafe Du Monde. The Market hosts an array of local handicrafts and local cuisine samplers. It is a fun place for souvenirs, but some of the items like the masquerade masks are mass produced.
On a nice day, the Riverwalk, a park along the riverside of the Quarter, is a nice place for a stroll. Jazz and folk musicians typically can be found in this area, playing known and original pieces. And if you time it right, you can watch one of the local riverboats set sail for an afternoon cruise.
Fun fact: Tennessee Williams, a former resident of the Quarter, wrote the celebrated Streetcar Named Desire, based off the trolleys that ran through the city.