Thespectacular St. Louis Cathedral is one of the tallest buildings in the FrenchQuarter and is known far and wide as a symbol of New Orleans.
The 18th-centurychurch provides a picturesque backdrop to bustling Jackson Square. Spot it fromacross the square on the River Walk. Rest here after visiting the museumexhibits at the Cabildo, the former town hall, adjacent to the cathedral. Thisis a rewarding stop for anyone interested in history, architecture, or aninspiring place of worship.
St.Louis Cathedral is the oldest continually active Roman Catholic Church in theUnited States. It was completed in 1727 and dedicated to King Louis IX, the devoutFrench king who was canonized shortly after his death. The original buildingburned down in the late 1700s, after which many years of rebuilding andremodeling took place. The structure you see today was completed in 1850.
The interior of thecathedral is open to visitors if there’s no service, funeral or wedding inprogress. Pick up a brochure from the entrance for a small donation and take aself-guided tour. Docent-led tours are also available, but there’s no regularschedule.
Asyou walk through the church, listen out to the organ playing and admire themany works of art. The stained-glass windows, telling the story of St. Louis,are remarkable and well preserved, as is the ornate, rococo-style altar at thefront of the church. Pay a visit to the church’s small gift store, which sellssouvenirs and religious items. All proceeds go toward maintenance.
Stop to see thestreet performers, tarot card readers and artists’ displays on the plazadirectly outside the cathedral.
Take a walk to nearbyRoyal Street for a lesser-known view from behind the cathedral, where you cansee the impressive marble statue of Christ with arms outstretched.
Theclosest public transport to the cathedral is the streetcar running along theriverbank. Parking in New Orleans can be a challenge there are metered spaceson the street and public parking lots in the French Quarter, but alwaysremember to check the hourly rate.
