St. Martinville, Louisiana, is the parish seat of St. Martin Parish. It is located on the Bayou Teche, thirteen miles south of Breaux Bridge, sixteen miles southeast of Lafayette, and nine miles north of New Iberia. According to the 2010 Census, the population of St. Martinville was 6,114, but is expected to decrease to about 5,379 by the 2020 census. There are several things to do in St Martinville.
Evangeline Oak, a 500-year-old live oak on Bayou Teche, is the most visited site in St. Martinville. The Evangeline Oak was named after the heroine of the poem Evangeline by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which was considered to be a true account of the Acadian expulsion from Nova Scotia. The Evangeline Oak is located near the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and the Acadian Memorial, and admission to both is included in the price. Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site is the oldest state park site in Louisiana.
The climate of St. Martinville is pleasantly warm throughout the year. Summers are pleasant, with temperatures averaging in the low seventies. The coldest months are June and September. The parish seat of St. Martinville has a population of 52160 as of the 2010 census. The parish is part of the Lafayette metropolitan area and the Acadiana region. The Gulf Coast is located just south of St. Martinville, Louisiana.
Despite its size, St. Martinville Louisiana has plenty to offer visitors. The historic St. Martinville Opera House is worth a visit. Built in 1830, it has earned the nickname, “Le Petit Paris,” and is home to live theater. It also houses a gift shop and regional art gallery. It is a good place to buy one-of-a-kind gifts. And, if you’re feeling the need for culture, St. Martinville also has brass bands. The Excelsior Brass Band plays in a gazebo on the church green.
A nearby historical site of note is the Old Castillo Hotel. This man-made beach and pier is a popular destination for eco-tourists and birdwatchers. It also has a historic center where a statue of Dolores del Rio was inaugurated. During the early 1900s, a French priest was sent to the region to build a church. The Spanish governor made Dauterive provide the land to build the church, but most of his grant was divided between the new settlers. The church property, however, remained intact.
St. Martinville is a small town in south-central Louisiana. It is 130 miles west of New Orleans. The most pleasant months to visit St. Martinville are April and October, while the hottest months are July and August. The downtown area is modest, with patches of decay and renewal along the major arteries. The University of Louisiana is in the city. Cajun culture is evident throughout the city. And the University of Louisiana is located in the heart of the Cajun region.
Before the arrival of European settlers, the natives of the area hunted game. The Bayou Teche, a 100-mile-long river, also served as a route for Africans to settle in the area. By the mid-1750s, French rulers of Louisiana made land available to raise cattle, which provided meat for New Orleans. Today, tourists can take swamp tours in this area. If you’re looking for an adventure, St. Martinville is a good place to start your trip.