Stand in the middle of Jackson Square on a sunny morning, with the spires of St. Louis Cathedral rising above the palm trees and a jazz trio playing by the iron fence, and you will understand in one heartbeat why people fall in love with New Orleans.
Laid out in 1721 as the Place d’Armes and later named for Andrew Jackson — whose bronze statue still rears up at the center — this landmark plaza anchors the French Quarter. The cathedral, the Cabildo and the Presbytère frame it in perfect 18th-century symmetry, while street artists, musicians and fortune tellers keep the pavement buzzing with life all day long.
It is ideal for first-time visitors, families and anyone with a camera: the light on the cathedral at golden hour is pure magic. Best of all, strolling the square and the surrounding pedestrian mall is completely free.
Practical tip: arrive before 10 a.m. to enjoy the square at its calmest, then claim a bench and simply watch the city wake up.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Diego Delso
