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History, curiosities and tourist places, of the French quarter of New Orleans
One of the most interesting places in the southern United States
The United States is a country with an avant-garde architecture, which manages in many cases to influence world architecture; however, to the south of the country stands its last colonial town, the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Its Hispanic structures, reminiscent of the 19th century, currently set one of the most important party corners in the United States.
In the French Quarter of New Orleans, tourism is the main source of income, through which they show their culture, their jazz music, and paranormal legends that hide in this colonial neighborhood.
In this article, we will show you not only the most important places to see in the French Quarter of New Orleans, but also some curiosities of its vampire stories, and a bit of the history of the place.
The history of the French Quarter of New Orleans
The melting pot city of various cultures in the United States
New Orleans is located in the state of Louisiana, in the south of the United States, in a territory that was inhabited by the French, this city being founded in 1718, thanks to Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne.
For the year 1803, the president of the United States Thomas Jefferson, allowed the purchase of the territory to France, with which the North American country would take over a large proportion of land.
Since the founding of the city, buildings began to be erected, but its two great fires would begin the history of the French Quarter of New Orleans, as we know it.
In 1788 and then in 1794, the two fires that would destroy the French architecture of the city took place, developing from this moment on, an architecture more similar to Spain, due to the fact that the main owners of this city, during this period, were Spanish people.
New Orleans French Quarter takes on a new look
This is how the pointed roofs of French architecture were exchanged for the flat roofs and facades of the houses of Spanish architecture, something that to a certain extent has survived to this day, in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
When Louisiana was acquired by the United States, many Americans moved to New Orleans, but after several years, in the 1850s, the city had fallen into decline, thanks to poverty, vice and architectural deterioration.
It would be at that time, when Baroness Michaela Pontalba, would have a leading role in saving the French Quarter of New Orleans, building two iconic buildings, which are known as Pontalba Buildings.
New Orleans French Quarter in the 20th century
At the end of the 19th century and the middle of the 20th century, the French Quarter of New Orleans begins another period of decline, being known as a place where beggars, very poor immigrants, along with vicious people of very low status, were found.
These events caused the oldest inhabitants to organize themselves by creating committees to safeguard the French Quarter of New Orleans, also preventing the creation of new hotels and buildings in this area.
This is the main reason that transformations and new constructions cannot be carried out without the permission of the government.
Today, the French Quarter of New Orleans is a major tourist destination, with several stories from the colonial era, festivals and emblematic jazz music venues, along with one of the funniest carnivals in the world, Mardi Gras.
Get to know the tourist places of the French Quarter of New Orleans
1.Royal Street
Royal Street is considered the most beautiful street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where the best art galleries are located, along with the most important antique shops in this part of the city.
Every afternoon a particular event happens here, it is the closure of vehicle traffic, turning Royal Street into an improvised stage for numerous musicians, both young amateurs and jazz professionals.
2. Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is the heart of entertainment in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where the best bars, discos, gentlemen's clubs, etc., are located, ensuring fun for all tourists.
During the day Bourbon Street is a quiet place, with many restaurants to eat, and interesting places to visit; however, after dark, that's when the festive spirit of the New Orleans French Quarter comes to the fore.
The name of this street is a tribute to the royal house of Bourbon, since its architect used the name of Royal houses to name the streets of the French Quarter of New Orleans.
3. Jackson Square
Jackson Square honors with his name the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, who defended the city of New Orleans from British pretensions with his noblesse in the Anglo-American War of 1812.
In this area of the French Quarter of New Orleans are several of its most emblematic buildings, such as El Cabildo, the St Louis Cathedral, or the Pontalba Buildings.
Likewise, it is the home of the Jazz National Historic Park, where local jazz musicians gather for concerts during the afternoons from Monday to Friday. It is one of the unmissable things to see, in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
4. Cafe du Monde New Orleans
The most famous and important coffee shop in New Orleans is also located in its French Quarter, very close to Jackson Square.
It was founded in 1862, and to this day, it continues not only with its excellent atmosphere and quality, but also maintains almost intact the menu that it offered shortly after its foundation.
It is one of the best visits to do in the French Quarter of New Orleans, where you will enjoy a bit of the gastronomy of this incredible American city.
5. Theme tourism in the French Quarter of New Orleans
There are many legends that haunt these territories, one of the most famous is that of vampires.
If you want to know what to find, about the French Quarter of New Orleans vampires, we must tell you that there is a long belief about these phenomena.
These beliefs can be understood if we review the history of New Orleans, not only because of its past of French and Spanish cultures, which carry much of these beliefs within them; but by the African slaves who also inhabited these territories.
To find out what to do in the French Quarter of New Orleans vampires, you can take a themed tour, which shows the dark history of the city, strolling through the Lafayette cemetery No. 1, or the Voodoo house of Marie Laveau.
A widespread belief in this territory is related to the mythical Count of Saint Germaine.
During his lifetime, this count was undoubtedly an enigmatic figure, the place of his birth, family, etc. being unknown, but it is known that he was in the most important courts of Europe in the 18th century.
A story of the French Quarter of New Orleans vampires, relates it, since at the beginning of the 20th century, it is said that the mysterious count inhabited a house, where he used to take women inside, who did not leave there anymore.
The legend says that once this house was entered to investigate the mystery, finding the investigators, several corpses of these women, along with strange jars that contained blood; losing track of the Count of Saint Germaine forever.
These were some curiosities, tourist places and history of the French Quarter of New Orleans, one of the best places to see in the United States.
