New Orleans celebrates 300 years

A town of French origin

Cocorico ! New Orleans was founded in 1718 by… the French. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville and French colonists called it so in homage to the Duke of Orleans. Perhaps this is why the largest city in Louisiana (whose capital bears the sweet name of Baton Rouge) has such a special place in the hearts of French backpackers. Today, this colonial heritage can be summed up above all in a party (Mardi Gras) and in the names of the strangely familiar streets: Bordeaux, Saint-Louis, Chartres, d’Orléans, and so on, all grouped together in the historic district of Old square which is called in English … French Quarter !

Under Spanish domination at 18^e century, then sold in the United States (for a mouthful of bread!) by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1803, New Orleans was nourished by this mixture of cultures, French, Spanish and African-American. It is to this last population group that we owe the emergence of the blues and you jazz in Louisiana (by the way, a certain Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans).

Amerindian, Cajun and Creole peoples have also greatly influenced the local culture. They imported their voodoo rites and a very rich gastronomy (from a caloric standpoint, too). Thus, the city has a number of restaurants where you can enjoy a sandwich with crayfish, red beans, donuts and Creole paellas.

Then the successive waves of immigration (Ireland, Italy, Germany, Greece, Vietnam, etc.) reinforced the multiculturalism of the city, nicknamed ” Big Easy ”For its intense cultural life. It deserves it: around 135 festivals and dozens of parades and parades are organized each year!

But New Orleans also made the headlines following one of the worst natural disasters in its history, Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, the city has been able to rebuild itself. And this sometimes devastating tropical climate has earned it a landscape of exceptional beauty: the bayous, its alligators and its diaphanous bald cypress trees.

Festive events and redevelopment of the city

The tercentenary started off strong. A standard fireworks on the banks of the Mississippi marked the start of the local “Mardi Gras” on January 6, 2018, Epiphany Day. New Orleans took advantage of this first day of the carnival season to launch the festivities around its 300th birthday with great fanfare.

If you weren’t there, rest assured: the party will continue throughout the year. On the program: concerts, exhibitions, film screenings, artistic performances, conferences, and fireworks.

A series of exhibitions pays tribute to the women who “made” the history of the city: the “women owners and entrepreneurs” at the Public Library from April to December, the “gourmet women” at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum from January to March, the “women in jazz” at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, etc.

Cradle of jazz, New Orleans will also highlight all the music of the world: it will host a burlesque opera from January 25 to 28, a troupe of Argentine tango dancers on January 27, a Chinese ballet on February 16, and a multitude others concerts until the end of the year. Don’t miss the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, from April 27 to May 6, which will end with a fireworks display in honor of the tercentenary.

New Orleans took advantage of this anniversary to announce several city ​​redevelopment projects, like the Mississippi shores between Spanish Plaza (Warehouse District) and Crescent Park (Bywater). This access would make it possible to create ” a new way to discover the city by going up the river », Indicates the municipality. It also plans to open a new ferry terminal with a pedestrian bridge leading directly to l’Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Gaul Hall, one of the city’s historic buildings, will also be completely renovated.

Another major project that will begin in 2018, for an opening scheduled for early 2020: the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences will be located in the old World Trade Center, completely refurbished. This new luxury hotel will have a terrace with a observation platform accessible to everyone. And, on the second floor, it will offer interactive exhibits on the history and culture of the city. Finally, New Orleans will sign a twinning agreement with the French city of Orleans in 2018.

Find the full program on the website New Orleans Tricentennial.

What not to miss in New Orleans

We start the walk with an unmissable place: the Old square. It is the oldest (and most picturesque) district of the city which has for main artery Royal Street. Antique shops and tantalizing restaurants line the sidewalks. Observe the facades of small buildings, adorned with very pretty period balconies.

Take a break in the shade of the trees Jackson Square, a park adorned with the bronze statue of President Jackson on his horse. A pretty place that brings a little freshness and calm. Even if, around it, you have a good chance of stumbling upon a group of musicians who will thwart your hope of silence. Here, the music is omnipresent! To get some fresh air, you can also go aboard a paddle steamer to follow the mythical river of Mississippi.

New Orleans is also known for its delicious food. So don’t miss the French Market, where we find all the typical products of Louisiana, such as Cajun spices. Apart from the fruit and vegetable stalls, the market houses skewers of art shops and cafes under its arcades that date back to 1813. A feast for the eyes, taste buds and nostrils.

Don’t miss the musée New Orleans Historic Voodoo, one of our favorites. This small, dark and mysterious museum traces the history of voodoo, closely linked to the culture of the city. The small rooms are loaded with dolls, masks and other gris-gris. Superstitious? Place a small coin as an offering and make a wish.

In the evening, the city bubbles and vibrates to the rhythm of concerts. In the street, in bars, it is everywhere. Parallel to Royal Street, the tourist Bourbon Street knows neither downtime nor off-season: a crazy atmosphere reigns there every evening! As you go, your neck will grow heavier under the weight of the multicolored pearl necklaces, which the residents of the streets (often young tourists tucked away in hostels) toss out the windows. Other option: Frenchmen Street, a little quieter, to listen to good jazz concerts.

And if you have time, hire a canoe to cruise the bayou. Seen from the sky, the city seems eaten away by the waters. She made it an asset: the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge preserves this almost unique landscape in the world. Aboard a kayak or a canoe, we have fun paddling between the cypress trees growing in the water. It’s beautiful, but beware: mosquitoes and crocodiles roam!