ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL

Founded in 1718 when Louisiana was a French territory, the first version of this church, named Basilique-Saint-Louis-Roi-de-France, was destroyed by a hurricane in 1722 and the second by the fire of 1788 which devastated most of the neighborhood. The current church was designated a cathedral in 1793 and is one of the best examples of French architecture in New Orleans and one of the city's landmarks. Behind the church is a field where duelists came to defend their honor with vengeful swords. In front of the church is the famous Jackson Square, the heart of the city and a major tourist attraction. Note that the St. Louis Cathedral Museum is housed in the Old Ursuline Convent (1112 Chartres Street, admission fee, self-guided tour Thursdays through Mondays at 10am, 11am and 1pm, guided tours for groups by reservation).

Cathedral Garden. This small garden behind St. Louis Cathedral has many names, but its official name is Cathedral Garden. It is also called St. Antony's Square in memory of a popular priest during colonial times, Antonio de Sedella. Despite the fact that he was Spanish when he arrived in Louisiana, everyone called him in French, Père Antoine. It was Napoleon III's Minister of the Navy who was responsible for the marble monument placed in the center of the garden. It was erected in honor of thirty French sailors who gave their lives as volunteer nurses during the yellow fever epidemic.