St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square
615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans, LA
The triple-spired cathedral rising over a lively public square in the heart of the French Quarter, the ceremonial center of New Orleans since the city's earliest days.
St. Louis Cathedral rises at the heart of the French Quarter, its three slender spires forming perhaps the single most recognizable image of New Orleans. It is the oldest cathedral in continuous use in the United States, standing on a site where a church has served the city since its founding in the early eighteenth century. The present building, completed in the mid-1800s, looks out over Jackson Square with a serene, storybook grace.
In front of it lies Jackson Square, a public plaza that has been the ceremonial heart of the city for three centuries. Once a military parade ground called the Place d'Armes, it was here that Louisiana passed from France to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Today the square is alive with artists, street musicians, and visitors, a place where the layered history of New Orleans is on constant, joyful display.
What Guests Love
- The iconic three-spired cathedral facade, one of the most photographed sights in the South
- Artists, musicians, and fortune tellers filling the square outside the fence
- The manicured garden of the square with its statue of Andrew Jackson
- The quiet, historic interior of the cathedral, open to visitors
Worth Knowing
- The cathedral is an active place of worship, so dress and behave respectfully and mind services
- The square is busiest midday and on weekends; early morning is calm and photogenic
- The cathedral welcomes visitors; donations support its upkeep
- The surrounding streets are pedestrian-friendly, so plan to explore on foot
Details
New Orleans, LA
Learn about St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square
The cathedral through three centuries
A church has stood on this spot since the founding of New Orleans by the French in 1718, dedicated to Louis the Ninth, the sainted king of France. The first modest structures gave way over time, and after a great fire swept the city in the late eighteenth century, a more substantial church rose in its place, funded in part by a wealthy Spanish benefactor during the years Spain governed Louisiana.
The cathedral seen today, with its three tall spires, took shape in the mid-nineteenth century when the earlier building was largely rebuilt and expanded. It remains an active Roman Catholic cathedral and one of the enduring symbols of the city, having witnessed centuries of celebration, mourning, and change, from colonial ceremonies to the recoveries that followed storms and hard times.
Jackson Square and the Louisiana Purchase
The open ground in front of the cathedral began as the Place d'Armes, a military parade ground laid out when the French planned the city. It was the civic and ceremonial center of colonial New Orleans, the place where troops drilled, proclamations were read, and public gatherings took place, ringed by the buildings of church and government.
In 1803 this square witnessed one of the great turning points in American history, when Louisiana was formally transferred to the United States following the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the young country. The square was later renamed for Andrew Jackson, the general who defended the city at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, and his mounted statue still stands at its center, framed by the cathedral behind.
The artists and life of the square
For generations, Jackson Square has been the outdoor gathering place of New Orleans, and today its iron fence is hung with the work of local painters and photographers, while fortune tellers set up their tables and street musicians fill the air with jazz and brass. The scene captures the improvisational, creative spirit that has always defined the city.
The buildings framing the square are landmarks in their own right, from the twin Pontalba apartment rows, among the oldest in the country, to the historic Cabildo and Presbytere flanking the cathedral, now museums of Louisiana history and culture. A visit here easily becomes a walk through several centuries of the city's story.
The river, the seasons, and the surrounding Quarter
Just beyond the square, a set of steps climbs the levee to a promenade above the Mississippi River, where riverboats glide past and the working port of New Orleans stretches along the water. The French Quarter spreads out from the square in every direction, a grid of pastel townhouses, wrought-iron balconies, courtyards, and streets made for wandering.
New Orleans is at its most pleasant in the milder months of fall, winter, and early spring, when the square fills with life under comfortable skies. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, though early mornings are lovely. The city's great festival seasons, above all Carnival in the weeks before Lent, bring the square and the whole Quarter to a joyful roar.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near New Orleans
The French Market
About a half mile east
A historic riverside market stretching several blocks, with food stalls, crafts, and a lively open-air scene.
The Cabildo and Presbytere
Flanking the cathedral
Two historic Spanish colonial buildings beside the cathedral, now museums of Louisiana history and Mardi Gras.
Backstreet Cultural Museum
About a mile north
A small museum in the Treme neighborhood devoted to Mardi Gras Indians, second lines, and African American traditions.
The Mississippi River levee
One block south
A promenade above the working river, with riverboats, street performers, and views across the water.