The third oldest town in Louisiana is home to the historic St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church and an Acadian Memorial. The historic district of St. Martinville is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Locals enjoy fishing, picnicking in the parks, and visiting historical museums. The city’s rich history includes the birthplace of the Acadian hero St. Martin and the families of French royalty, including the Bienvenu and Duchamp. Today, many people speak French.
Acadian, Creole, and African cultures blend in this historic town, which is located on the banks of Bayou Teche. The town’s storied history dates back to the Attakapas Indians, European settlers, and African slaves. The steamboat trade brought wealth to the area. Longfellow’s epic poem “Evangeline” was set in the town. Today, visitors can explore the town’s past and learn about the Evangeline, a famous Acadian heroine immortalized in the St Martinville church.
Local history is preserved in the Louisiana State Museum. This museum showcases the history of rural Louisiana from the point of view of local residents. The museum’s focus on the working class in the 18th and 19th centuries is an educational experience for children. The museum has a diverse collection of cultural artifacts on 400 acres of donated land. Once a swamp, the area is now a popular tourist destination. There are numerous attractions to keep children occupied while visiting St. Martinville, including swamp tours.
The parish seat of St. Martin Parish is located on Bayou Teche. The city is about 13 miles south of Breaux Bridge, 16 miles southeast of Lafayette, and nine miles north of New Iberia. Its historical significance dates back to the 1700s and is often considered the birthplace of Cajun culture. The city’s prominent landmark is the St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, which dominates the downtown square. The African American Museum and the Evangeline Oak are also located in the town.
Native Americans used the area for hunting camps long before European settlers arrived. In fact, African settlement took place along Bayou Teche, and there was also an Attakapas Indian settlement south of St. Martinville, near the town of Jeanerette. Chitimacha Indians also had a mythological story about a snake of fabulous dimensions living in the Atchafalaya Basin. This legend is said to have inspired the founding of St. Martinville.
St. Martinville was originally home to the Acadian people who were French speakers from Nova Scotia. In 1765, a French official assigned land to these people who had been expelled from Acadia by the British. When Napoleon sold Louisiana to the United States, the new government took over the region. During the Louisiana Purchase, the French renamed the area St. Martinville. In 1868, it was designated a parish seat, and St. Martinville became one of the town’s most important towns.
If you are looking for a place to stay in St Martinville Louisiana, you have come to the right place. This city is the parish seat of St Martin Parish, which is 13 miles south of Lafayette and 105 miles west of New Orleans. It lies between the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf of Mexico. European explorers first visited the area in the early 1600s. The settlement was founded in 1699. St Martinville is a historic town that is worth visiting.