French Quarter

French Quarter

The French Quarter is the oldest and most famous neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. Many of the buildings date from before New Orleans became part of the United States. New Orlean's Mardi Gras celebration is centered here.

The Great New Orleans Fire (1788) and another great fire in 1794 destroyed most of the Quarter's old French colonial architecture, leaving the colony's new Spanish rulers to rebuild with strict new fire codes, which mandated that all structures be physically adjacent and close to the curb to create a firewall.

Many of the buildings date from before New Orleans became part of the United States.

New Orleans was originally centered on the French Quarter.

While the area is commonly known as the French Quarter today, or simply "The Quarter,", some still refer to it as "Vieux Carre" or "Old Square" in French.

The Great New Orleans Fire (1788) and another great fire in 1794 destroyed most of the Quarter's old French colonial architecture, leaving the colony's new Spanish overlords to rebuild it according to more modern tastes.

Location

Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue and inland to Rampart Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
USA

Getting There

The French Quarter is located in the heart of New Orleans, Louisiana, and is easily accessible by public transportation. The most convenient way to get to the French Quarter by public transport is to take the streetcar. The St. Charles Streetcar Line runs from the Garden District and stops at Canal Street, which is on the edge of the French Quarter. From there, it's a short walk to the heart of the French Quarter. The Canal Streetcar Line also stops at Canal Street, and the Riverfront Line stops at the French Market, which is also in the French Quarter. Additionally, there are several bus lines that run through the French Quarter, including the 5, 55, and 57.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Louisiana that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.