French Quarter, Historic neighborhood in New Orleans, United States.
The French Quarter is an old neighborhood in New Orleans, United States, stretching along the Mississippi River. The buildings show wrought-iron balconies, interior courtyards with plants, and pastel-colored facades, while the streets are often narrow and lined with two-story houses.
The settlement began in 1718 as a French trading post along the riverbank. After a major fire in 1788, most buildings were reconstructed under Spanish administration, giving the district its present-day appearance.
Local artists sell their work directly on the sidewalks and many city residents come here to have their morning coffee in the small cafés. The name refers to the early French colonists, though the visible architecture with its wrought-iron decoration comes mostly from the later Spanish period.
A walk through the district is best done on foot, as the streets are narrow and many are one-way. Early morning hours are a good time to see the architecture quietly before the streets fill with visitors.
The entire settlement sits only about one meter (3 feet) above sea level and is therefore vulnerable to flooding during heavy rain. Within the boundaries of the district are small waterways and canals that were part of the original drainage system from colonial times.
Location: New Orleans
Address: French Quarter, New Orleans, LA, USA
GPS coordinates: 29.95949,-90.06554
Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:00
New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, reveals its musical history through its neighborhoods and concert halls. The French Quarter features wrought-iron balconies and Creole buildings facing St. Louis Cathedral, while Bourbon Street is home to jazz clubs and music venues. Preservation Hall has upheld the jazz tradition since 1961 in a building from the 18th century, and Jackson Square hosts musicians and street performers in the city center. The musical heritage extends from the Marigny district, with its Creole houses and clubs, to Congo Square, once a gathering place for African music in the 19th century. The Garden District showcases its 19th-century homes surrounded by gardens, while City Park offers 500 hectares of century-old oaks and botanical gardens. The Louisiana State Museum completes this exploration with its regional history and art collections.
Louisiana blends old neighborhoods, plantation houses, and diverse natural landscapes. The French Quarter of New Orleans keeps its 18th-century Spanish colonial architecture, with wrought-iron balconies and lively streets where jazz and the sounds of passersby fill the air. In Baton Rouge, the USS Kidd remembers World War II, while in Lafayette, the Vermilionville Museum celebrates the lives of early Acadian settlers with demonstrations of traditional crafts and cooking. Plantations like Laura or Rosedown open their doors to tell the rich story of the South, with restored outbuildings and gardens where time seems to stand still. Along the Gulf of Mexico, Holly Beach attracts families who come to swim, fish, or collect shells. Everywhere, Louisiana culture is part of daily life, seen in festivals like Mardi Gras with its parades filling the streets, in spicy dishes served in local restaurants, and in the music that accompanies every moment of the day.
Bourbon Street
66 m
Jackson Square
327 m
St. Louis Cathedral
268 m
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop
211 m
Andrew Jackson
337 m
Pat O'Brien's Bar
142 m
Brennan's
313 m
The Cabildo
285 m
Equestrian statue of Joan of Arc
470 m
Pontalba Buildings
351 m
Napoleon House
411 m
Louis Armstrong Park
361 m
The Presbytere
265 m
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
465 m
Beauregard-Keyes House
452 m
Louisiana State Museum
263 m
Madame John's Legacy
238 m
Hermann–Grima House
338 m
Gallier House
449 m
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
173 m
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
389 m
Bank of Louisiana
422 m
Louisiana State Bank Building
466 m
Perseverance Hall
425 m
Historic New Orleans Collection
313 m
The Presbytère
253 m
Gallier House
473 m
Equestrian statue of Joan of Arc
470 mReviews
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