French Quarter and Jackson Square
The original city, laid out in 1718: Jackson Square with St. Louis Cathedral, street musicians and artists, and blocks of balconied houses.
- Open
- Always open; the cathedral welcomes visitors outside services
- Price
- Free
- Time Needed
- Half a day
- Address
- Jackson Square, 701 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116Google MapsApple Maps
- Getting There
- Walk from most downtown hotels, or the Riverfront streetcar.
Why Go
The Vieux Carré is a grid of narrow streets lined with Creole townhouses and iron-lace balconies, mostly built under Spanish rule after fires in the 1700s. Jackson Square, framed by St. Louis Cathedral (the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the US), the Cabildo and the Pontalba Buildings, is its heart, with painters, fortune tellers and brass bands around the iron fence.
Tips
- Royal Street is the quieter, artier parallel to Bourbon Street, with galleries and antiques; it's closed to cars during the day.
Nearby
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Traveler Reviews
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