The French Quarter is situated on the Mississippi River bend at a distance of 100 miles from its mouth. It is known as the Quarter or the Vieux Carre to locals. It is sitting on the highest ground on the Mississippi River crescent in New Orleans. It is the cultural hub of the city.
New Orleans is the chief city of Louisiana and is the busiest northern port of the Gulf of Mexico. It was founded by French, bought in 1803 from the United States through the Louisiana Purchase after it was under the Spanish rule for nearly 40 years. New Orleans is well known for its vibrant history and Creole culture. Over the city, Civil War and significant 1812 battles of ware were fought. The oldest neighbourhood in New Orleans is unique and intimate. New Orleans in the past hundred years has faced key struggles, including poverty, hurricanes, sinking land, floods and racial strife.
Founding of New Orleans
The New Orleans first residents were the Woodland and Mississippian culture Native Americans. The De Soto and La Salle expeditions passed this area in 1542 and 1682 respectively, but before 1718 there were some permanent white settlers, as the French Louisiana governor, founded the Nouvelle-Orleans city on the first crescent above the mouth of the Mississippi. In 1722, he transferred from Biloxi Louisiana’s capital. A hurricane destroyed the same year most of the city and again in a grid pattern the city was rebuilt as found in today’s French Quarter.
Design
French Quarter design blends French, Spanish, Creole and American styles in an enchanting and idyllic setting. In fact, now the walled courtyards are appropriate for French Quarter parties, these were the Spanish influence gift. The balconies feature cast iron were added after 1850 to many masonry buildings when Baroness Pontalba on her fashionable row houses included them near Jackson Square. The galleries are lacy along with several porches and stoops on younger buildings, thereby making the Quarter an amazing place worth watching for people.
Visitors obtain architectural gems at Vieux Carre’s offering an inside look at home tours offered throughout the year. In fact, the Gallier House was built and designed by James Gallier, the esteemed New Orleans history architect. The French Quarters architecture is truly famous owing to its elaborate ironwork to Creole cottages and dreamy balconies.
Shopping
From books to antiques, clothing, and accessories, the French Quarter offers a beautiful boutique shopping. Browsing the French Market treasure trove is notable as it was once a 1920’s Italian Market. Today, space is dotted with grassroots art galleries and funky shop. Stroll down to get a glimpse of the Royal Street featuring work and antiques by local artists, or to meander down for shoe, clothing and accessory boutiques at the Chartres Street.
Dining
The French Quarter right from casual local eats to dining is the right place to sample Cajun and Creole cuisine and has something truly to fill every taste. The dining place spreads the splendour in classic white tablecloth at Galatoires and Antoine’. The Italian delicacy can be tasted in its original home from Central Grocery on a Muffuletta. There is the famous beignet home the iconic Café du Monde or French doughnut.
Attractions
The Vieux Carre reveals the distinction of its architecture that visitors get an experience to see a lot of thing
s. Take a carriage ride or stroll to see the local artistry and street performers through Jackson Square. The dramatic garden and scenic square are positioned before the St. Louis Cathedral, offering intimate and charming French Quarter view. A great view can be seen in Woldenberg Park of the steamboats and passing barges in the Mississippi River.
Apart from the New Orleans sights, the French Quarter houses several small museums and historic houses. The French Quarter offers lots more than one can expect. New Orleans is the largest metropolitan and city in the state and also is the biggest ports of the United States. The city acquired its name from the Duke of Orleans and is prominent all over the world for its unique and distinct style of architecture encompassing French and Spanish elements.
New Orleans under Louisiana purchase and Spanish rule
New Orleans tradition of Carnival has its roots in Spanish and French Catholicism, besides Native and African traditions. The oldest krewes host New Orleans was formed prior to 1860.
In 1762 and 1763 France signed treaties. New Orleans for 40 years was a Spanish city, with Mexico and Cuba trading heavily and adopting the rules of Spanish racial allowing free class people of color. In 1788 and 1794, the city was in fires and was rebuilt with cathedral and buildings that stand still today.
In 1803 Louisiana was returned to the French, and it was later sold to the United States. In 1812, the final battle of the war was fought defending New Orleans; Colonel Andrew Jackson led a pirates’ coalition, that included free blacks and Tennessee Volunteers aiming to defeat a British force outside the city.
New Orleans in 1800s
In the 19 th century first half, New Orleans became the wealthiest and third-largest United States’ city. Its port shipped the nation’s production to the Caribbean, Europe, and South America.
At the start of Civil War, New Orleans in the Confederacy was the largest city, but within a year the Union troops captured its downriver defenses and took the city without any opposition to combat. During the Reconstruction era, the free people of color and emancipated slaves race became a potent political force, and with the 1870s rise of the Ku Klux Klan and White League, it was forced back. Although the railroads made shipping on the Mississippi to be less essential than it had been, New Orleans remained an influential and powerful port.
20 th century New Orleans
The streetcars by 1900 were electrified and the jazz was born in its dance halls and clubs. The city grew and the technology of new pump drove the low-lying swampland, drainage canals and new levees believed many residents to be below sea level. The hurricanes in 1909, 1915, 1947 and 1965 also damaged the city but did not ruin the city.
After World War II, conflicts over suburbanization and school integration drew white residents out of the city, thereby leaving a core having African-American and impoverished people. Despite these changes, the city became prominent as a tourist attraction, with thousands visiting Mardi Gras festivities and are inspired by the playwright Tennessee Williams, trumpeter Louis Armstrong and chef Jean Galatoire.
Fun facts about New Orleans:
1. New Orleans was introduced into Voodoo into the U.S. spooky. Marie Laveau is the prominent figure and this was an oracle that performed voodoo rituals and several other exorcisms and in the 1800s was prominent as Voodoo Queen back.
2. New Orleans and the enveloping areas were sold at the 19 th century beginning to Napoleon, both New Orleans and the enveloping areas were sold while buying the Louisiana Purchase to Napoleon Bonaparte. This made the city important in the United States.
3. The number of Historic Districts in the city is the highest as it has more than 20 historic districts.
4. The longest continuous bridge is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in New Orleans as per the Guinness Book of world records.
5. The New Orleans Superdome is the largest enclosed arena.
6. The Poker Gambling fans consider New Orleans as the Poker and craps birthplace.
7. The Creole Cuisine in New Orleans is popular with respect to gastronomy, while King cake and Jambalaya is sure to die for.
8. New Orleans is the birthplace of Jazz, besides other genres of music in relation, blue and rock and roll.
9. The Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans houses the Mardi Gras festival and the parade originates in the Mobile city, Alabama.
10. The first opera was performed in the 1790s in New Orleans this was the foremost opera in the U.S.
11. The city is well known for the Beignets and is prominent for its signature sweet that is made using the deep fried dough with sugar sprinkled.
12. New Orleans is also known to be the Most Haunted city and is preferred for paranormal investigators. Even tourists fond of ghost haunting believe to enjoy here for the highest spiritual activity, especially around French Quarter.
13. New Orleans is the place where notable personalities were born and are famous for singers such as Louis Armstrong, TV personalities such as Ellen DeGeneres and Reese Witherspoon and writers such as Truman Capote.
14. The New Orleans tombs are located in cemeteries above the ground presenting a high water table. 15. The city was basically developed to be a shelter from hurricanes during the 18 th – century beginning and is believed to be safe, besides it was built in a rectangle block referred to as the French Quarter.