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(travel-USA) New Orleans - French Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour
(travel-USA) New Orleans - French Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour
(travel-USA) New Orleans - French Quarter Self-Guided Walking Tour
Metropolitan
Convention & Visitors
Bureau, Inc.
New Orleans
French Quarter
Self-guided
Walking Tour
Visitor Information
(504) 566-5003
(800) 672-6124
www.neworleanscvb.com
Across Royal is
13
640 Royal Street; Maison LeMonnier
9 (First Skyscraper)
533 Royal Street; Merieult House Frequently described as the “first skyscraper,” this three-story
The fires of 1788 and 1794 reduced practically the whole city to structure was built in 1811 by Dr. Yves LeMonnier and the
ashes. Only two principal structures escaped the flames. One of prominent pharmacist Francois Grandchamps. Dr. LeMonnier’s
them was this dignified building, built in 1792 by Jean Francois third-floor study is to this day regarded as the most beautiful
Merieult. His lovely wife, Catherine McNamara was endowed chamber, architecturally, in New Orleans. Wrought into the iron
with a glorious head of shining red hair. When she was in Paris balcony railings can be seen the doctor’s initials, “YLM.”
with her husband, she was approached by an emissary from the
Emperor Napoleon…asking for her hair! Napoleon was eager Turn off Royal onto St. Peter. A little more than half a block
for France to make an alliance with a reluctant Sultan of Turkey, along is
who wished to present one of his harem with a wig of light,
bright color. His Majesty saw the opportunity to score a great 14
diplomatic victory – with Madame’s crowning glory! Madame 615 S. Peter Street; Louisiana State Arsenal
Catherine refused, though Napoleon offered a castle. Merieult During the years of Spanish dominance, this was the site of the
House is now owned by the Kemper and Leila Williams prison, or calabozo. After the American takeover in 1803, the
Foundation, and houses the foundation’s Historic New Orleans State of Louisiana constructed a state arsenal on this spot for the
Collection of maps, prints, drawings, documents, and artifacts. Louisiana Legion, a military organization made up of the state’s
best families, Creole and American. Now, the building is a part
Look across the street to of the Louisiana State Museum complex.
10 Backtrack to the short alley, Cabildo Alley.
534/536 Royal Street; Casa de Comercio Ahead of you is another passageway. It is
An excellent example of forthright Spanish architecture in New
Orleans, this building was built after the December 1794 fire. 15
Pirates Alley
Continue down Royal to St. Peter. Turn left, and go to Legend says that somewhere along this passage Major-General
11 Jackson conferred with the freebooters Jean Lafitte and Pierre
Lafitte about the forthcoming defense of New Orleans. The alley
714 St. Peter Street; LeMonnier House simply did not exist at that time! It was cut 16 years later (1831),
Built in 1829, for the well-known physician, Dr. Yves and given the official name, Ruelle d’Orleans, Sud – meaning
LeMonnier, this house acquired its most notable occupant, something like Orleans Walkway, South.
Antoine Alciatoire, in 1860. Antoine operated a boarding house,
preparing such succulent dishes as his famed spread. This even- Take a left onto Pirates Alley. On your left is
tually led to the opening of the restaurant which has given him
an international reputation. His direct descendants still own and 16
operate this restaurant. 624 Pirates Alley; Faulkner House
Here in 1925, William Faulkner, nobel laureate, wrote his first
Only a few steps away is novel, “Soldier’s Pay.” The building was erected in 1840 by the
12 widow of Jean Baptiste LaBranche on a site formerly occupied
by part of the yard and buildings of the French Colonial Prison.
718 St. Peter Street; Maison de Flechier
This ancient structure is believed to have been commissioned
by well-known planter, Etienne Marie de Flechier, just after the Continue down Pirates Alley to Royal Street and stop at the
disastrous fire of 1794. The now famous Pat O’Briens bar occu- intersection of
pies both the building and the magnificent courtyard behind it.
continued from other side
17
Royal and Orleans Streets,
behind the St. Louis Cathedral;
St. Anthony’s Square/Cathedral Garden
The marble monument in the center of this small, iron-fenced garden was erected by
the Minister of the Navy under Napoleon III. It was dedicated in honor of 30 French
Marines who gave their lives serving as volunteer nurses during a Louisiana Yellow
Fever epidemic. The garden has borne several names. “Cathedral Garden” is its official
title, but many call it St Anthony’s Square, in memory of the most beloved individual
in the colony’s history, a priest, Antonio de Sedella. When he came to the Louisiana
colony, people called him by his Spanish name. Since then, we have come to know him
only by the French form, Pere Antoine.
Cross Royal to Orleans. Walk half a block. On your right is a hotel. Note the section
above the main entrance at
18
717 Orleans Avenue; The Orleans Ballroom
In 278 years since it’s founding in 1718, New Orleans has grown from a small cluster
of crude shelters to a major American Metropolis. John Davis opened his famed
Orleans Ballroom in 1817. Here for the next 20 years, Davis would operate his Orleans
Theatre and establish French Opera in America. He also operated an opulent dining and
game room that equaled the best in Europe. Davis lost his enterprise and the Civil War
destroyed the city’s haute monde. In 1881, the Sisters of the Holy Family, an order of
black nuns devoted to teaching, acquired the property for a motherhouse and school.
Finally, in 1964, the sisters, pressed by a need to expand the facilities, sold the property
to hotel interests. New additions replace some of the structures built by the nuns, but
the old Orleans Ballroom remains.
Go back to Royal and turn left. Take an immediate right on the far side of the Cathedral
Garden. This will put you on
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Pere Antoine’s Alley
This alley runs from Royal to Chartres Streets between the Cathedral and Presbytere.
Cut in 1831, this passage was given the official name, Ruelle d’Orleans, Nord, or
Orleans Walkway, North, a twin to Ruelle d’Orleans, Sud (see no. 15) But, people refer
to the alley as Passage of Saint-Antoine, or Pere Antoine’s Alley, to memorialize the
beloved Capuchin.
Exit the Visitors Center to your left. Proceed down St. Ann Street, and cross Decatur Street. To the right of Café du Monde, walk up
the ramp and proceed across the streetcar tracks to
27
Moonwalk
The Moonwalk (see map) is on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River.
Backtrack to Decatur Street and go to your right. As you walk down Decatur, the long, low structure on the river side of the street is
part of
28
The French Market
Its buildings are distinguished by graceful arcades and stately colonnades that have been a vibrant part of the New Orleans scene for
more than 165 years. The French Market is anchored at its downriver end by the popular Farmer’s Market. This is a series of long,
open sheds filled with fresh fruit, vegetables, and most anything that grows. In the Market are long-time shopkeepers, new shops,
fine restaurants, bistros, coffee stands, craft stalls; in short, a galaxy of shopping pleasures and souvenirs for the entire family.
Continue down Decatur Street to Ursuline Street. Turn left. Go one block to Chartres. To your right will be
29
1100/1116 Chartres Street;
Old Ursulines Convent
This is one of the oldest structures in the Mississippi Valley. The Sisters of St. Ursula, who came to New Orleans from France in
1727, moved into this structure in 1749. Theirs was the first nunnery in Louisiana, and they conducted the orphanage. The sisters
taught the colony’s daughters at this site until 1824, and then moved to another location outside the city. The Convent housed the
Louisiana State Legislature from 1831 to 1834.