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City Guide - New Orleans - Key Attractions | ||
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Key Attractions French Quarter Also known as the Vieux Carré (Old Square), the French Quarter covers a grid of some 98 square blocks stretching back from Decatur Street, which parallels the Mississippi River. Dating from 1718, it is one of the most historic districts in the country, with superb eighteenth- and nineteenth-century architecture. Apart from the Ursuline Convent, which dates from 1745, the early French buildings were destroyed in two devastating fires in 1788 and 1794. The handsome buildings erected after this time, with their arches, fanlights and filigreed wrought-iron balconies, are actually Spanish in character. The focal point of the French Quarter is Jackson Square, arguably the loveliest square in America, with its Louis XIV-style garden landscaping and the symmetry of the stately buildings flanking the square - the Pontalba Buildings, St Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo and Presbytère (see separate entries below). Buskers, mimers, artists and tourists make for a lively scene. The other famous spot in the French Quarter is just north of Jackson Square - Bourbon Street, famous for its jazz clubs, bars and novelty shops. Other highlights to look out for in the French Quarter include the historic tavern LaFitte's Blacksmith Shop at 941 Bourbon Street and Madame John's Legacy, a colonial house dating from 1788, at 632 Dumaine Street (website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us). Between Decatur Street and North Rampart Street (north to south) and between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue (east to west) Transport: Riverfront Streetcar. Ursuline Convent 1114 Chartres Street Tel: (504) 529 3040. Opening hours: Guided tours at 1000, 1100, 1300, 1400, 1500 Tues-Fri, 1115, 1300, 1400 Sat and Sun. Admission: US$5. Cabildo Built between 1795 and 1799, this handsome building takes its name from the Spanish council, or cabildo, which met here in colonial times. It is a fine example of the Spanish colonial style and its wrought-iron balcony railing is arguably the most outstanding work from that period in the city. In 1803, in a room called the Sala Capitular on the second floor, France signed the Louisiana Purchase, which ceded a huge territory west of the Mississippi, including New Orleans, to the United States. Today, the Cabildo houses a museum of Louisiana history. Among the exhibits are the colony's founding stone and Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask. Jackson Square Tel: (504) 568 6968. Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us Transport: Riverfront Streetcar. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700. Admission: US$5. 1850 House Set in one of the Pontalba Buildings - the twin rows of mid-nineteenth-century brick townhouses lining opposite sides of Jackson Square - the 1850 House has been restored to depict a typical New Orleans residence of that era. It comprises a central court and rooms on three storeys, which are filled with authentic period furnishings. Of particular note are the decorative cast-iron railings, which superseded the traditional hand-worked wrought iron of the French Quarter. Look for the initials A and P in the design, which signifies the family names of Madame Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, the wealthy heiress who erected the Pontalba Buildings and made other improvements around Jackson Square. 525 St Ann Street Tel: (504) 568 6968. Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us Transport: Riverfront Streetcar. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700. Admission: US$3. St Louis Cathedral The simple yet elegant façade of St Louis Cathedral is a focal point of Jackson Square. Named after the former king of France, this is the oldest cathedral in the United States. It is the third church built on this site; the first was destroyed by a hurricane in 1722 and the second by fire in 1788. The present building, dedicated as a cathedral in 1794, was extensively remodelled in 1849-51 to the specifications of architect, J N B de Pouilly. When Pope Paul VI visited in 1964, he designated it a minor basilica. 615 Père Antoine Alley Tel: (504) 523 6479. Website: www.saintlouiscathedral.org Transport: Riverfront Streetcar. Opening hours: Tours Mon-Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1300-1700. Admission: Free. Presbytère Designed in 1791 as a rectory for the priests of St Louis Cathedral, the Presbytère was finally completed in 1813. By then, New Orleans had become part of the United States and the church rented the building to the city for use as a courthouse; it was then sold to the city in 1853. Today, the landmark property houses part of the Louisiana State Museum, with exhibits on the city, its residents, local art and decorative arts. The highlight is the extensive range of Mardi Gras memorabilia, from masks and costumes to videos and interactive displays about the history of the event. 751 Chartres Street Tel: (504) 568 6968. Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us Transport: Riverfront Streetcar. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700. Admission: US$5. Hermann-Grima House Built in 1831 for Samuel Hermann, a wealthy merchant, and later sold to attorney Felix Grima, this Federal-style house is among the best examples of American architecture in the Vieux Carré. The highlight is the Creole kitchen, where cooking demonstrations take place over the open hearth, all day on Thursdays from October to May. There is also a restored stable and period rooms. 820 St Louis Street Tel: (504) 525 5661. Website: www.gnofn.org Transport: St Charles Streetcar; Riverfront Streetcar; bus 3. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 1000-1530. Admission: US$6. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum Haitian slaves brought voodoo to the New World and it still thrives in New Orleans, in both legend and as an occult religious practice. This museum has information and displays on the history of voodoo and a large, spooky collection of associated artefacts, such as voodoo dolls, charms and potions. It also arranges voodoo tours, readings and special events. 724 Dumaine Street Tel: (504) 523 7685. Website: www.voodoomuseum.com Transport: Riverfront Streetcar; bus 3. Opening hours: Daily 1000-2000. Admission: US$7. Old US Mint Completed in 1839, the Old US Mint manufactured Confederate money during the Civil War and continued to mint US coins until 1909. Its thick walls also served as a prison when Union troops captured the city. Today, as part of the Louisiana State Museum, it houses the excellent New Orleans Jazz Collection, which features music, artefacts and instruments, such as Louis Armstrong's first trumpet. Also here are the archives of the Louisiana Historical Center and exhibits on the Mardi Gras festival. 400 Esplanade Avenue Tel: (504) 568 6968. Website: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us Transport: Riverfront Streetcar. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 0900-1700. Admission: US$5. French Market Running for several blocks along Decatur and North Peters Streets, the French Market is one of the most colourful spots in the city. It dates back to colonial times, when a Native American trading post operated here, and was a busy open-air market during the Spanish and French eras. Renovated buildings, such as the Butchers Market (1813), now house cafés, shops and offices, while buskers and street performers give the outdoor areas a festive feel. The large covered sheds, built in 1936 as a public works project, house the Farmer's Market, where fresh produce is sold, and the Flea Market, with an assortment of clothes, jewellery and other goods. Along Decatur and North Peters Streets Transport: Riverfront Streetcar. Opening hours: Daily. Garden District Stretching from St Charles Avenue to Magazine Street and between Louisiana and Jackson Avenues, the Garden District is an elegant National Historic District of antebellum homes. Originally a separate city called Lafayette, which was annexed by New Orleans in 1852, the Garden District was first laid out in the 1820s and was settled by wealthy American businessmen. The handsome Greek Revival mansions are still private residences and are not open to the public. But a daytime stroll through this district of leafy streets and impressive architecture is very rewarding. One of the grandest homes is the Robinson House, 1415 Third Street, which resembles an Italian villa and was possibly the first house in the city to have indoor plumbing. Author Anne Rice's home, Rosegate, is at the corner of First and Chestnut streets. In the centre of the Garden District is the Lafayette Cemetery with its ornate vaults and tombs, which featured in the film Interview with a Vampire; it is best visited as part of a group on a walking tour (see the Tours of the City section). St Charles Avenue to Magazine Street and between Louisiana and Jackson avenues Transport: St Charles Streetcar. Audubon Park and Zoo Covering some 160 hectares (400 acres) and harbouring more than 4000 oak trees, Audubon Park is one of the largest city parks in the country. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, creator of New York's famous Central Park, and named after the painter and ornithologist John James Audubon. Apart from the walking and biking trails, play areas, picnic spots, riding stables, tennis courts and golf course, the highlight of the park is the Audubon Zoo, one of the nation's best. Among its zoological exhibits are sections devoted to the Louisiana Swamp, Reptiles and Exotic Butterflies. 6500 Magazine Street Tel: (504) 581 4629. Website: www.auduboninstitute.org Transport: St Charles Streetcar; bus 11. Opening hours: Zoo daily 0930-1700 (until 1800 summer weekends). Admission: US$9. New Orleans Museum of Art This excellent museum is situated near the lake off Esplanade Avenue in City Park. Major travelling exhibitions and rotating exhibits from the museum's large art collection are displayed on the ground floor. Highlights of the permanent exhibits on the upper two floors include the pre-Columbian collection, Native American art, the Asian wing, American and European paintings, and one of the largest glass collections in the country. There is also an attractive sculpture garden. City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle Tel: (504) 488 2631. Website: www.noma.org Transport: Bus 48. Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1000-1700. Admission: US$6. |