. Today, the French Quarter in New Orleans is among the most instantly recognizable half-square miles in the world and is synonymous with the city as a whole. It is also commonly called Vieux Carré, a term that means “Old Square” in French, and was coined around the 1890s, when the Neighborhood was becoming a tourist destination. The French Quarter, or Quarter for short, is located just northeast of downtown New Orleans, just along the Mississippi River.
Most of the neighborhood is located within three main streets and the river. The river borders the neighborhood on the south-east side. Originally called Vieux Carré or “Old Square”, the French Quarter really grew as a tourist destination in the late 1890s. With different old world French influences and Creole traditions, the French Quarter is a melting pot of cultures.
Located in the French Quarter, Bourbon Street is one of the most famous streets in the entire United States. Spanning 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street (and staying here in a hotel) isn't for the faint of heart. While Bourbon Street is primarily known for its loud bars and noisy nightlife, some historic sites are within its colorful vibrancy. The Royal Sonesta Hotel, opened in 1969, is located on Bourbon Street and is worth taking a look inside.
While the area is quite modernized with corporate offices and residential apartment buildings, there is also interesting 19th century architecture in the common streets. If you're traveling with children, a good place to stop is the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Managed by the Audubon Nature Institute, the aquarium has more than 3,600 animals of more than 250 species and is an excellent way to spend a day immersed in nature. As one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, Treme is perhaps best known for being the main residential area for free people of color in the 1950s and 60s.
To get started, visit St. This fascinating site includes hundreds of large tombs above ground, many of which have begun to show their age. You'll also want to go to St. The Augustinian Catholic Church, first created in 1841, making it the oldest African-American parish in the U.S.
UU. Outside there is a powerful monument in honor of the Unknown Slave, made of two chains welded on a cross. Afterwards, the New Orleans Botanical Garden is a must see here. This large garden, located within the city park, has more than 2000 species of flora and fauna and is expertly maintained by the city.
City Park itself is definitely a place to spend time exploring. The park itself is spread over 1,300 acres and is widely considered to be one of the best urban green spaces in the entire United States. There's an 18-hole golf course, several athletic courses, a Carousel Gardens amusement park perfect for children, and Big Lake, perfect for a sunny day of sailing. There are plenty of fantastic bars within walking distance, such as 12 Mile Limit and Finn McCool's, offering cheap cocktails and large dance spaces to get you to work.
The park itself is free, has a two-mile-long bike and hiking trail and miles of green space for picnicking, playing, and people-watching. The zoo is a famous attraction, home to more than 2000 animals and a water park for children perfect for cooling off in summer. Many Creole cabins, even in the French Quarter, were replaced at the end of the 19th century by the omnipresent shotgun houses, which by then were the main housing of the city's working class. With few apartment buildings and as a result of other factors, the population of the Neighborhood has declined: from about 20,000 residents in the 1920s to about 4,000 residents today.
Since then, new hotels have sprung up on the outskirts of the Vieux Carré section of the French Quarter and in nearby neighborhoods. The Mardi Gras festivities, including the main parade, take place in the Neighborhood the days before Fat Tuesday, the Tuesday immediately before Ash Wednesday. However, the area is quieter than the French Quarter and perhaps a little more exclusive, making it a great place to stay in New Orleans if you want something a little quieter. For about 70 years, the French Quarter was all that existed in New Orleans, but as the city flourished, suburbs sprung up when nearby plantations were subdivided by homeowners eager to take advantage of the expanding housing market.
These plans were rescinded when, in 1936, the Constitution of Louisiana was amended to protect the architecture and the whole of the Vieux Carré section of the French Quarter, which is located between Iberville Street and Esplanade Avenue, and to provide for the establishment of the Vieux Carré Commission. Some wealthy residents of the Neighborhood have moved to Esplanade Avenue and North Rampart Street, which are among the nicest and most attractive residential streets in the city. An ancient tradition of voodoo, a now sensationalist version of the voodoo religion native to Haiti, predominates in the many cemeteries of the French Quarter and fortunetellers tell it in the streets. The city of New Orleans planned to build a wide canal on the upstream side of the French Quarter, but it never materialized.
In terms of nightlife, if you're looking for a classy club, you'd better stay in the French Quarter. In many ways, Marigny and Tremé were extensions of the French Quarter, and in the early 20th century, the three neighborhoods were often referred to as a single neighborhood, and the original city was called the “French Quarter”. New Orleans is especially famous for its luxury boutique hotels and picturesque inns near the French Quarter. .
