Jackson Square, New Orleans

Jackson Square, New Orleans (must see)

Due to its close proximity to the Mississippi River, the Saint Louis Cathedral, and the Cabildo, Jackson Square has always been and remains a well-liked gathering place at the heart of the French Quarter. Named after Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans (who went on to become the 7th US president), it has been a hubbub of activity since colonial times, when the militia conducted drills, vendors peddled their goods at the open-air market, and public executions were carried out.

Modeled after the famous 17th-century Place des Vosges in Paris, the square has been transformed into a beautifully landscaped park with neat lawns and flowerbeds. Despite the constant flow of tourists taking photos, school groups, and waitstaff on their breaks, it somehow maintains a sense of tranquility. During the day, numerous artists display their paintings on the park's fence and set up outdoor studios where they create artworks or offer to sketch portraits of passersby. Musicians, mimes, tarot card readers, and magicians entertain on the paved pedestrian mall, many of them performing both day and night.

The view of the square is quite iconic, with an equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson at its center and the beautifully designed Saint Louis Cathedral as a backdrop, while the Cabildo and Presbyt猫re, two Spanish colonial structures, flank the church. The elegant brick buildings on either side of the square are known as the Pontalba Buildings. All in all, an excellent spot for capturing memorable photos, enjoying a respite on the benches, and taking it all in. It's amazing how much of New Orleans can be experienced from just this small location.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in New Orleans. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Jackson Square
Sight Location: New Orleans, USA (See walking tours in New Orleans)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

French Quarter Walking Tour

Walking Tours in New Orleans, Louisiana

Create Your Own Walk in New Orleans

Creating your own self-guided walk in New Orleans is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Voodoo Tour

Voodoo is an ancient ritualistic practice brought by enslaved West Africans onto the American soil upon their arrival in the 18th century. This form of religion was most prominent in New Orleans from the 1820s through the 1860s, when it was introduced by the 鈥淰oodoo Queens鈥�. Of these, Marie Laveau became more prominent as she overthrew other queens to become the sole oracle.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Garden District Walking Tour

It may come as a surprise, but New Orleans鈥� Garden District is known for its architecture more than for its gardens. The city鈥檚 elite residential neighborhood since the 19th century, when wealthy newcomers built opulent structures, it is considered one of the best-preserved collections of historic mansions in the South, and certainly one of the most picturesque. You can see why this is the... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

French Quarter Walking Tour

The French Quarter, also known as the Old Square, is New Orleans' oldest and most popular neighborhood. Founded in 1718, it perfectly combines the tempting, noisy and nutty nightlife of Bourbon Street with important historical landmarks, art galleries, sophisticated caf茅s, and some of the city's oldest churches 鈥� all within walking distance, close to Mississippi River.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

French Quarter Historical Buildings Walking Tour

Widely known for its heritage sites with a variety of unique architectural styles, New Orleans has lots of beautiful buildings designed in the Greek Revival, American Colonial, or Victorian styles. Walking around the French Quarter, you'll enjoy these old historic buildings (some open to the public), their old ironwork gates and balcony railings, the antique brick- and stone-paved sidewalks... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

African American Heritage Walking Tour

For over 300 years, the African-American community has played an intrinsic role in creating authentic New Orleans that everyone loves today. The bedrock of the city's life is built on the African-American experience, a heritage both proud and tragic, yet strong enough to have preserved throughout centuries the many aspects of African culture, influencing everything from religion to vibrant... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles

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