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 come during another time of year, they are sure to find plentiful entertainment both day and night. For those who do not find the party life appealing, fine dining, exceptional music, and historic sites make the Quarter a place worth seeing.