ese women as long-term mistresses. In fact, white Kreol men commonly housed their mistresses and illegitimate children in the Vieux Carré, providing for them amply.
After the Civil War, wealthy individuals of French descent lost prevalence in the Quarter. During the late nineteenth century, the district became home to many impoverished people, including Sicilian and Irish immigrants. Over the years, much of the Quarter became dilapidated. Thanks to revitalization efforts that began around the middle of the twentieth century, however, the Quarter has regained its old charm.
From its earliest days, the French Quarter has been a center of Kreol (or “Creole”) tradition. Originally, the term “Kreol” referred to an individual of French or Spanish descent. Many of the people who fit this definition led privileged lives in the Quarter and tended to see themselves as Europeans, regardless of how long their families had been living in Louisiana. Gradually, however, the “Kreol” term also came to be applied to Louisianans of mixed ancestry. Most of these Kreols claimed a mixture of French and African descent, but some had Native American origins as well.
Kreols in the Vieux Carré were distinguishable from Anglo-Americans in other parts of New Orleans in that they spoke French and practiced Catholicism, but they also maintained other distinct traditions and customs. One important part of Kreol culture was its cuisine. African and Native American ingredients combined with French, Spanish, and later Italian ones to create such dishes as jambalaya, gumbo, crawfish étouffée, and red beans and rice. An even more famous aspect of Kreol culture, however, was voodoo. Voodoo, which combined the principles of Catholicism with African spiritual beliefs and was associated with “black magic,” was said to be prevalent among black Kreols in the French Quarter. In fact, one of the Quarter’s most famous residents, Marie Laveau, was widely acknowledged as the “Voodoo Queen.”
The French language is no longer universal in the Quarter, but Kreol food and rumors of persisting voodoo remain a vital part of its appeal for visitors. The Kreol people have also left an easygoing, fun-loving legacy in the French Quarter. The Vieux Carré’s famous Mardi Gras festivities, which take place annually before Lent, and many bars are the most visible manifestations of this legacy.
Because a pair of massive fires destroyed most of the Quarter’s original French-style structures in the late eighteenth century, the majority of its oldest remaining buildings are actually Spanish. The Spanish rebuilt the French Quarter according to their own tastes and customs, but also took measures to prevent fires from devastating the Quarter again. They introduced the multi-level townhouses, elaborate balconies, isolated courtyards, tile roofs, and bright colors that still make French Quarter buildings unique today. In addition, they constructed their buildings with stucco, as opposed to siding made of wood, and ensured that these buildings were positioned closer to the street.
Some of the most famous Spanish buildings in the Quarter include the Baroque-style Cabildo and the Presbytère. However, the impressive St. Louis Cathedral and a number of stilt-raised homes are important examples of surviving French architecture.
The French Quarter is home to a number of authentic Kreol restaurants. Antoine’s, the oldest of these establishments, has been open since 1840. Other well-known Kreol restaurants in the Quarter include Galatoire’s, Arnaud’s, and Broussard’s. These restaurants serve their own unique dishes, but patrons can also find such classics as red beans and rice here.
New Orleans is frequently called “the birthplace of jazz music.” As a result, the French Quarter is home to a number of jazz clubs. These include Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse and the Maison Bourbon Jazz Club. Blues clubs, including the House of Blues, are also popular.
A Spectacular Place to Visit
The French Quarter is the heart of one of America’s most colorful cities. Whether tourists arrive here for Mardi Gras or c