New orleans interesting places. New Orleans: history, carnival and the most interesting sights of the city. through the pages of history

The southern states of the USA are among the top 10 best travel regions in 2018. New Orleans is just one of the main cities of the region, besides, this year it turns 300 years old. Gathered a stack of reasons to fall in love with this city.

1. cultural mix

When you get off the plane in New Orleans and take your first breath of the local air, you immediately understand: this is the south, the tropics, the river, swamps and alligators. New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, one of the largest port cities in the United States, which has grown on two banks of the Mississippi River, in several of its bends, which is why it is also called The Crescent City. The city is also called Big Easy - which can refer both to the easy life of musicians of the early jazz era, and to the period of prohibition, when the whole city turned into one big speakeasy bar - and now this best describes the relaxed local atmosphere. However, most often you will see a short NOLA instead of the official New Orleans.

To understand where the local cultural mix came from, first one paragraph of history. The city was founded in 1719 as a French colony (named after the regent of France). The official date is unknown, but it is believed to have been May 7th. After a couple of decades, the French ceded the city to the Spaniards, and in 1803 it passed to the United States. At this time, half of the local population are African slaves, and the city itself is the first point where ships arrived with those captured into slavery. The first hundred years of the city's existence are formed by Spanish and French cultures, which then mixed with the culture of immigrants from Africa - first they were slaves, then free residents, and with the culture of Creoles and Cajuns - local descendants of French and Spanish settlers with their own language.

In general, you can imagine what different traditions met here. The result was a feast for everyone: unique architecture, music and food. The local architecture takes you either to France or to Spain: multi-colored small houses, tall columns, balconies with patterned wrought-iron gratings, tropical plants blooming luxuriantly on the terraces. Jazz—or variations of it—was coming from every open door. And the most popular local restaurants position themselves as institutions of Creole and Cajun cuisine. Pleasure immediately for all senses.

2. urban areas

In New Orleans, as in any city, there are completely different areas with different moods. The most famous is the French Quarter, the visiting card of the city. You need to go on foot: stare at every beautiful house in the lace of balcony bars, look at freaks and musicians on Bourbon street, which turns into one big club at the beginning of the evening, and admire the windows of art stores on Royal street (it is unlikely that you will buy these works of art, but they definitely deserve attention). When you're hungry, go to french market (French Market, 700-1010 Decatur St.) , stretching for six blocks, has traditional street food, fresh fruit and delicacies like an alligator on a stick. There you can sit in a cafe, listen to musicians or buy souvenirs. Try your luck at the legendary local Café du Monde (800 Decatur St.)— It's been selling coffee and donuts since 1862, only closing at Christmas or the day a hurricane gets too close. Why try your luck? Quite often, a queue of those wishing to touch the legend wraps around this place.

Be sure to walk to the “neighboring” district of the French Quarter, Bywaters - it is adjacent to the river, there are the same beautiful houses as in the French Quarter, but this is a residential and lively area that few tourists get to. So you can look at the real life of city dwellers: a free library in the form of a coffin on the street (there is also a skeleton inside), cats that have occupied chairs on the veranda of the house, colorful beads on trees and mopeds. There are several beautiful cathedrals here, as if they were transferred here from France or Spain, and a lot of street art (if you're lucky, you will meet the artists themselves at work). Take a stroll through the new Crescent park, which stretches like a crescent for three kilometers along the river on the site of former shipyards. Here you can meditate while looking at the colorful steamers sailing down the Mississippi, take great photos of the city, get a free dance or fitness class, watch local joggers and dog lovers, and admire works of modern art.

Getting to other parts of the city may not be so easy. A sightseeing tour costs $30-50, but we advise you to buy a day pass (called the Jazzy Pass, available at Walgreens) - it costs only $3 and allows you to ride local trams and buses without restrictions for a day after , how do you put down the date in the transport validator. You can get away with a one-time trip for $ 1.5, but prepare this amount without change. The streetcar in New Orleans appeared in 1893, the current ones look like they were preserved from about the same time: small and wooden. Take the tram along the Mississippi along the Riverfront line, along Canal street to immerse yourself in the bustling city center, and in the Garden District to look at luxurious villas and huge sprawling trees. It seems that they, like the city itself, are already three hundred years old. Branches hanging low over the road are not cut, but signs are hung with a warning about the maximum allowable height of cars.

Another cool area Arts/Warehouse District, where, as expected, galleries and museums were opened on the site of the former trading warehouses. Come here for a museum day (more on that below).

Finally, another tram line will bring you to the city park New Orleans City Park. You can wander around it all day: it is huge and has existed since 1854 - one of the oldest urban parks in the United States. There is a botanical garden, a sculpture park, carousels, a Train Garden for train lovers, ponds and canals with picturesque bridges and trees (some local oaks are 800 years old). Don't miss the Singing oak - "wind music" was hung on a powerful old tree, and now you can wallow on the grass under it to a melodic chime. And if it suddenly turns out to be a rainy day, you can always spend it in the museum. NOMA, New Orleans Museum of Art, is located right in the park and houses a collection of American and French art, as well as works from Africa and Maya culture. On the other side of the park is Lake Pontchartrain, the second largest salt lake in the United States, more like a sea. The bridge over it (Lake Ponchartrain Causeway) is the largest direct bridge over water in the world.

3. Museums

Most of the museums in the city are concentrated in the Arts / Warehouse District (we do not count the already mentioned NOMA in the park). If you come with children, do not bypass Louisiana Children's Museum(420 Julia St), which consistently occupies the first lines in all ratings of US children's museums. For lovers of contemporary art - Contemporary Arts Center (900 Camp St)- go not only to the exhibitions, but to the souvenir shop where you can drink coffee and choose cool books about the history of the city, feminism or photography and cinema. Right in front of him Odgen Museum of Southern Art (925 Camp St) for those who want to feel the spirit of the American South. If you want to learn about the American view of the history of the Second World War, go to the giant The National World War II Museum (945 Magazine St)– there are many educational events and interactive exhibitions. And small pharmacy museum (514 Chartres St) in the pharmacy of 1823 will be of interest to those who love old bottles and the voodoo cult.

4. Jazz

Jazz was born in New Orleans. Music is perhaps one of the main reasons to go to this city. Jazz will sound everywhere here - in shops, restaurants and just on the streets. Street musicians are the most charming, so do not spare them a couple of dollars for a performance. If you want to not only listen to live jazz, but also dance, go to parties in Allways Lounge (2240 ​​St Claude Ave) or Dragon's Den (435 Esplanade Ave)– Grab a cocktail and take part in a dance class on an equal footing with the locals. You learn a couple of Charleston moves and you can dance on the dance floor. Look for other proven jazz clubs. Another option for enthusiasts who are ready to listen to old records in headphones is a small jazz museum (400 Esplanade Ave). Free film screenings are regularly held here, you can also get to the concert - check the schedule of events on the museum website. And, of course, do not bypass the vinyl record stores.

5. Food

The cuisine of the region, as you remember, is as wild a mix as the architecture, influenced by culinary traditions from Paris to Cadiz and the Congo. Look for places with traditional Cajun and Creole food - originally it was most often the food of the poor, but now these are popular dishes, including in very noble versions. Here's what to try:

gumbo- a thick seafood soup in which red peppers, onions, rice, okra and sausages were added - in general, variations are possible.

Jambalaya (jambalaya)- an attempt by Spanish settlers to recreate their native paella from local ingredients, which eventually turned into a separate dish.

Rice with red beans is a traditional Creole dish. Local spices are not spared in it, so it can be quite spicy.

Oysters and seafood.

Sandwich po-boy (po-boy) with French bread, salad, local sauce and shrimp, oysters or meat. The name comes from poor boy, because it was a snack for poor local workers.

Separately, it must be said about sweets - New Orleans inherited delicious confectionery traditions from France. Firstly, don't miss the local "holeless donuts" in delicate powdered sugar (beignets), and secondly, be sure to visit one of the local pastry shops (for example, Aunt Sally's or Southern Candymakers), where they make pralines, marshmallows, sweets and handmade cookies. Chocolate-covered nuts, salted caramel and desserts with names like Mississippi Mud - you can have a sweet day and buy gifts to take home.

6. Mississippi

The main US river flows into the Gulf of Mexico a hundred kilometers from the city - and has always been an important part of it. The first steamboat to cross the Mississippi (in 1811) was called the New Orleans. In the 19th century, up to five thousand passenger and cargo ships passed along the river a year. Now you can still watch the ships that sail through the muddy waters of the river - and you can even wake up at night from their beeps, spreading through the city. If you want to feel the atmosphere of the heyday of the steamship era, go sailing on pleasure steamers Creole Queen And Steamboat Natchez(prices - $ 36-70 depending on the time of the walk and musical accompaniment).

If you don’t want to fork out, you can use public transport again and cross the river on the ferry, which runs every half hour from Canal Street Ferry Terminal for only two dollars one way (prepare money without change). True, and this journey will take only ten minutes. On the other side, in Algiers point, you can take a walk among the quiet streets - this is the second oldest district of the city where few tourists come - walk to the beautiful old church and refresh yourself with warm pastries in the cafe Tout De Suit on the corner (347 Verret St.). Sit outside and watch the quiet life of the city: someone comes for lunch, someone reads the notice board, where the poster of the new Justin Timberlake album is side by side with a note written in multi-colored pencils about selling cookies from Girl Scouts.

7. Events

There are some cool festivals in New Orleans - if you plan your trip, it is worth timed to coincide with these dates. The most important event of the year is Mardi Gras.

mardi gras Fat Tuesday, the Tuesday before the start of Lent. Initially, it was a costume performance on the occasion of the meeting of spring, which took place in the French Quarter - every year it became more colorful and crowded, masks, moving platforms and the Carnival King, music and satirical performances were gradually added. Now it is a real carnival, when the whole city is buzzing. All houses are decorated with yellow-green-purple flags, sparkles and flowers; trees and poles are hung with beads scattered by carnival participants - you will meet them long after the end of the holiday. Mardi Gras usually falls in February or early March - you can check the exact dates for the next ten years. Coming at a different time of the year? Check out the museum Mardi Gras World (1380 Port of New Orleans) to feel a little carnival mood.

Mardi Gras is not the only event on the city calendar that is worth timed to coincide with your visit.

Oddly enough, but some cities in America could well be considered European. Here New Orleans, for example, was founded by the French, and for a short time it was completely led by the Spaniards. Such an impact is hard to ignore. Once here, you will surely notice buildings made in architectural styles that are inherent in Europe. Many dishes will also surely remind you of European cuisine. Even the name of the city is directly related to the name of the French regent.

But the city cannot be called completely European, if only because it was founded by a Canadian, this took place in 1718. At first, French convicts lived here, this affected the general atmosphere. Today, about 400 thousand people live in the largest city of Louisiana, surrounded by the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Pontchartrain. By the way, the most famous building of modern architects is the bridge over Lake Pontchartrain. With a length of 38.5 km, it is considered the longest of its kind.

Somehow it has long been customary that in New Orleans there is a spirit of freedom, ease of perception of what is happening, hence the second name The Big Easy and, in fact, the third - “Carefree City”. There is a lot of entertainment for adults: clubs, the best alcoholic cocktails, casinos and music. Various festivals, noisy holidays and parades are held here. Many are familiar with the carnival called "Mardi Gras". But, above all, New Orleans will be interesting for its architecture, history and unusual atmosphere. Now I will tell you about the main attractions.

Landmarks of New Orleans

There are enough interesting places in the city, most of the sights are concentrated in the " French Quarter" - the oldest and most famous area of ​​​​the city. It is full of small shops, restaurants, clubs and museums. By the way, the most interesting way to see the city is by riding the famous tram, the oldest in the country.

It plays no less a role than a tram in the city of San Francisco or Lisbon. It is worth starting a trip to New Orleans from its most famous street.

bourbon street

You probably guessed after whom it got its name (that's right, the Bourbon dynasty is immortalized in it). Sting himself sang about Bourbon Street.

It adorns the French Quarter of New Orleans and in the evenings becomes a kind of door to the world of all kinds of entertainment. Already at 20 o'clock the movement of cars ends here and the active life of pedestrians begins. This is a place for recreation of indigenous people, visitors and tourists.

Jackson Square

In the very center of the French Quarter is General Jackson Square (formerly the Army Square). Its cast-iron fences and gardens have been perfectly preserved since the middle of the 19th century. Of course, the monument to Jackson himself, sitting on a rearing horse, catches the eye.

The square has become the concentration of the creative layer, it is a kind of Parisian Montmartre - a place where musicians, artists and ordinary people gather to enjoy art.

Every day a completely unique group of acrobats performs here, and this is not counting musicians of all directions, not just jazz.

Saint Louis Cathedral

Speaking about the main attractions of New Orleans, one cannot help but recall the St. Louis Cathedral (above in the photo). This is a building with three spiers that rises above the city. By the way, it is often from here that tourists look at the statue of Jackson, it is visible at a glance. Saint Louis Cathedral dates back to 1727.

In this temple, children of noble persons were baptized, famous personalities were buried, and couples were married. Unfortunately, the building burned down completely at the end of the 18th century, and a completely new one appeared in its place.

One of the ancient architectural monuments is the cemetery of Saint-Louis. Its history is shrouded in a mass of legends and legends, according to one of which the famous voodoo queen Marie Laveau was buried in this cemetery. To a wide circle of people, she is better known as the "Queen of Voodoo", Lavoe's grave is located in the old city cemetery and serves as a center of attraction for thousands of inquisitive travelers. Many come to the grave to seek advice from the mighty Mary, others charge their amulets here and ask to be endowed with mystical power. The house of Mary Lavoe has also been preserved in the city; many interesting legends and mysterious beliefs are also associated with it. Despite the fact that more than a hundred years have passed since the death of the Voodoo Queen, local residents believe that her spirit is invisibly present in the city and retains its power over it.

Since then, the cemetery has gained a bad reputation, and it is strongly not recommended to walk through it alone.

A significant difference between local burials is the location of the tombs: they are not under, but above the ground, because New Orleans' groundwater often floods it.

Royal Street

Royal Street is one of the most charming streets in the French Quarter.

At the beginning of the colonial era, the financial center of the city was located here, as well as its main street. Today, this picturesque street is filled with antique shops where you can buy massive inlaid cabinets, furniture decorated with gilded bronze, crystal candelabra - objects of luxurious southern life.

Avenue Saint Charles

It is home to historical mansions of absolutely unique beauty, where the most prestigious families in the city once lived. Here, each house has its own unique story.

french market

No less striking landmark of New Orleans. A great place for anyone who wants to buy something to remember their trip to Carefree City. Naturally, things of own production are in the greatest demand: wicker baskets, household utensils, pieces of furniture and toys for children. A number of shops are also located here, in total there are more than 30 of them.

The French market also has open areas for trade, where farmers put up their products for sale. Environmentally friendly products are no less interesting to people than crafts. You know that being in Amsterdam and not tasting herring would be as strange as not tasting cheese in the Swiss capital and drinking freshly brewed beer in Berlin.

In addition, the French market often becomes a venue for various festivals (tomato, for example), harvest festivals.

Jazz club "Preservation Hall"

New Orleans is a very musical city. Jazz is associated with it in the same way that Salzburg is associated with classical compositions by Mozart, Argentinean Buenos Aires is associated with tango. It was thanks to the blues, jazz and zydeco that the whites and blacks lived in peace. Louis Armstrong was born in this city (by the way, the airport was named after him), the Jazz and Heritage Festival is held here.

But the jazz club "Preservation Hall" with full confidence can be called one of the legendary attractions of New Orleans. Even if you are not a jazz fan, this place is worth a look. This is a small building, designed for 125 people, but in practice it fits much more. True fans of music are not embarrassed by not too attractive conditions: the lack of a free table and chair. You will be offered to touch the early jazz, stay in its power for 4 hours, and the oldest musicians (many under 80 years old) will be guides to its world. This is jazz almost from the first mouth.

When modern music lovers talk about real American jazz, they mean exactly the music that appeared at the end of the 19th century in New Orleans. Buddy Bolden is considered the founder of the musical direction. Born and raised in New Orleans, he worked as a barber all his life and ran a small bar where he liked to hang out with friends. It was the bar that became the venue for the first jazz evenings, and in 1893 Buddy created his own jazz band Buddy Bolden's Ragtime Band, which subsequently existed for 14 years and won praise from thousands of fans.

Another interesting feature of New Orleans, which not all travelers know about, is the Second Line street festival, which takes place in the city every two weeks. If you find out the time of the next festival in advance, you can turn your vacation into an unforgettable event. The festivals are incredibly colorful, noisy and literally cover the whole city. They are always attended by street food vendors and musicians, street performers and dancers who select the most incredible costumes for the event. Walking the streets of New Orleans with a crowd of people singing and having fun is perhaps one of the most incredible entertainments.

Where else to go in New Orleans

There are many museums in the city. If you are interested in sculpture and painting, then welcome to the New Orleans Museum Of Art, you can get acquainted with the history of the black population in the New Orleans African American Museum. Those who are not indifferent to this topic will certainly be interested in the African American Museum in the city of Philadelphia. And if you like something more modern, then do not pass by the wax museum, it is not only in the capital of Great Britain (called the Musee Conti Wax Museum).

You can take a break from noisy parties, holidays and bustle in New Orleans City Park - the city park of New Orleans. It is already a century and a half, fortunately, the park was restored after Hurricane Katrina. No less picturesque place is the Botanical Garden.

You can see the representatives of the local underwater fauna in the Aquarium of Americas. On the "Island of Adventure" you will even see animals up close, sometimes they are allowed to touch them.

Sports enthusiasts should check out the equestrian center, golf courses and, of course, the New Orleans Arena, a sports complex designed for almost 20,000 people.

There are also many interesting places in the new part of the city. It is recommended to visit the new Zoo and stroll through Audubon Park, visit the business district with its unique glass office buildings, and stroll through the picturesque Warehouse and St. Charles Avenue neighborhoods. Among the cultural events, we can recommend an excursion to the Louisiana State Museum and the New Orleans Museum of Art, which always host fascinating exhibitions.

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There are also several notable historical sites in the New Orleans area. These should include a place called Chalmitte (Chalmette), it was here in 1815 that the battle for the city took place, which was led by the famous General Andrew Jackson. The city boasts an abundance of natural attractions. There are many attractive parks and gardens on its territory, there is an excellent Botanical Garden, and in the vicinity you can find untouched nature reserves.

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A separate trip - through the swamps of Louisiana on a propeller boat, along wild rivers, lakes and channels, where there are a lot of alligators, and there are plenty of other wild animals and birds of the most incredible colors. Moreover, if you wish, you can take such a tour not only during the day, but also at night, and watch the animals lurking in the dark undergrowth with the help of a flashlight.

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Not far from the city is one of the oldest plantations - Oak Alley. Everything here, both outside and inside the main estate and houses, remains the same as it was back in the 18th century. And not only in the houses of the owners, where the interior of all rooms was brilliantly preserved, but also you will see the houses in which black slaves lived, and much more. It was on this plantation that the shooting of the famous film “Gone with the Wind” took place.

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About an hour from New Orleans is another famous and visited plantation called Laura. It is named so in honor of its longtime inhabitant Laura Locul-Gore, who wrote memoirs about everyday life on the plantation, its inhabitants and the fate of relatives. It is thanks to her memoirs that a lot of details and details from the life of planters and slaves of that time have been preserved.

During the prosperous years of the plantation, the number of slaves grew. In addition to the slaves who worked in the fields, there were also personal slaves of each planter who helped them with the housework. Here is the price of slaves, depending on age, gender, health status.

Slaves brought with them to America and the cult of voodoo. Here they enriched him with elements of Catholicism and worshiped him wholeheartedly. Quite often, animal sacrifices were made, people were treated with the help of blood, herbs and other rituals. Laura's memoirs say that when the slaves wanted to harm or even kill a person, they scattered a mixture of an unknown white powder, chicken feathers and hair in front of that person's door.

Amazingly beautiful gardens on the plantation have survived to this day.

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Another interesting place in New Orleans.

The Sculpture Garden is a unique cultural project created right in the city park of New Orleans. It is part of the New Orleans Museum of Art, which, unfortunately, we did not get.

By the way, the entrance to the park itself is free.

Museum of Art building

This garden was opened in 2003, and then there were 50 pieces of art in it.

Today, the garden contains more than 60 sculptural compositions that fit perfectly into the surrounding nature.

They stand along the paths, or are reflected in the pond, or hide in the shade of living oaks and pines.

Diana, Augustus Saint-Guadens

Large Seated Cardinal. Giacomo Manzu

Standing Man With Radiating Words. Lesley Dill

Source Figurine. Robert Graham

Monkeys, Rona Pondick

Curious work! What beautiful hands!

LOVE, Red Blue, Robert Indiana

Spider Louise Bourgeoise

I really liked this composition. I would translate its name into Russian as "Overflow". Overflowing with ideas, for example, or unspoken thoughts, desires, confessions... I have many options.

Overflow

Restrained. Deborah Butterfield

Also a nice sculpture. You can interpret it in different ways, with humor or in a philosophical way.

Mother and Child, Fernando Botero

Here is such a curious obelisk built from fragments of violins.

Obelisk. Pablo Casal

Peculiar work!

Travelin' Light. Alison Saar

This sculpture, of course, is the most interesting and large-scale, with deep philosophical overtones:

Karma

The seven-meter sculptural composition "Karma" from the height of human growth seems to be launched into the sky by a rocket. Created by Korean artist Do Ho Suh, the art object consists of 98 male steel figures squatting and covering each other's eyes.

The installation, resembling a symbolic silver-plated spine, is an allusion to evolution, during which each next generation must be spiritually superior to the previous one. Descendants, turning a blind eye to the sins and crimes of their forefathers, will rise, but will be forced to rely on the experience of previous generations.

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And one more, last, short walk around New Orleans:

Louis Armstrong Park

The park bears the name of one of the most famous sons of New Orleans - Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971).

There is not much to tell about the park, you have to see it, so I'd rather write about Armstrong.

American jazz trumpeter, vocalist and band leader, he had (along with Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane) the greatest influence on the development of jazz and did much to popularize it throughout the world.

Louis, as he was called in the Creole manner, was born in the poorest Negro area of ​​New Orleans. He grew up in a dysfunctional family (mother is a laundress, father is a day laborer). His father abandoned the family when the boy was still an infant. The boy, along with his younger sister Beatrice, was given to be raised by his grandmother Josephine, who still remembered the days of slavery. After some time, Armstrong's mother, Mayann, took Louis away, but she never paid due attention to him.

Since childhood, Armstrong has been involved in the delivery of coal, the sale of newspapers and other similar work. At the age of seven, he began helping around the house with a family of Karnofsky coal merchants, Jews who had recently immigrated to America from the Russian Empire. Later, he began to stay overnight with them and eventually became practically an adopted son in this family. The Karnofskys lived in Storyville, an area known for its free spirits, as well as bars, clubs, ballrooms, and brothels. It was Karnofsky who later gave Armstrong the money to buy a cornet, his first musical instrument of his own.

By the mid-1950s, Louis Armstrong was one of the world's most famous musicians and entertainers, and he had starred in more than 50 films. The US State Department gave him the unofficial title of "Ambassador of Jazz" and sponsored his world tours on numerous occasions.

Armstrong's last hit was the life-affirming song "What a Wonderful World" (#1 in the UK).

And here is the monument to Louis Armstrong

This sculptural composition is dedicated to black people, their songs and dances.

In the distance you can see the building of the theater, which is located in this park, where various concerts are held. This theater is named after Mahalia Jackson.

Mahalia Jackson (1911 - 1972) is an American singer, born in New Orleans, who largely determined the modern sound of gospel and spiritual music.

The beginning of real success in a brilliant career should be considered in 1946, when she was invited to participate in a symposium on the origins of jazz. There she was asked to perform several songs in the presence of the most prominent American musicologists, and when she finished, the hall erupted in applause. Critics bombarded her with questions and forced her to sing until midnight, the symposium was canceled.

Mahalia Jackson captivated audiences on four continents. Four times overcrowded Carnegie Hall applauded her. Four presidents listened to her: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson.

During the sixties, Jackson was a supporter and confidant of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On August 28, 1963, in Washington, before Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Mahalia sang the song "I've Been Buked and I've Been Scorned".

Another musician whose name is immortalized in this park is Buddy Bolden (1877 - 1931).

By all accounts, today he is considered the first bandleader who played improvisational music, later called the word Jazz. He was the first "King" of the cornet in New Orleans and is remembered by the musicians around him as the finest trumpeter they have ever heard or seen.

Buddy Bolden had a huge impact on the next generation of classical jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, who listened to Buddy as a child.

Bolden never made a single recording, but was immortalized in Jelly Roll Morton's "Buddy Bolden's Blues" (I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say), which is based on Bolden's "Funky Butt".

This park is a very pleasant place to relax, filled with sun, music, history and traditions of this amazing city!

Oddly enough, but some cities in America could well be considered European. Here New Orleans, for example, was founded by the French, and for a short time it was completely led by the Spaniards. Such an impact is hard to ignore. Once here, you will surely notice buildings made in architectural styles that are inherent in Europe. Many dishes will also surely remind you of European cuisine. Even the name of the city is directly related to the name of the French regent.

But the city cannot be called completely European, if only because it was founded by a Canadian, this took place in 1718. At first, French convicts lived here, this affected the general atmosphere. Today, about 400,000 people live in Louisiana's largest city, surrounded by the Mississippi River, the Gulf of Mexico, and Lake Pontchartrain.

Somehow it has long been customary that in New Orleans there is a spirit of freedom, ease of perception of what is happening, hence the second name The Big Easy and, in fact, the third - “Carefree City”. There is a lot of entertainment for adults: clubs, casinos and music. Various festivals, noisy holidays and parades are held here. Many are familiar with the carnival called "Mardi Gras". But, above all, New Orleans will be interesting for its architecture, history and unusual atmosphere. Now I will tell you about the main attractions.

Landmarks of New Orleans

There are enough interesting places in the city, most of all sights are concentrated in the "French Quarter" - the oldest and most famous area of ​​the city. It is full of small shops, restaurants, clubs and museums. By the way, the most interesting way to see the city is by riding the famous tram, the oldest in the country.

It plays no less a role than a tram in or. It is worth starting a trip to New Orleans from its most famous street.

bourbon street

You probably guessed after whom it got its name (that's right, the Bourbon dynasty is immortalized in it). Sting himself sang about Bourbon Street.

It adorns the French Quarter of New Orleans and in the evenings becomes a kind of door to the world of all kinds of entertainment. Already at 20 o'clock the movement of cars ends here and the active life of pedestrians begins. This is a place for recreation of indigenous people, visitors and tourists.

Jackson Square

In the very center of the French Quarter is General Jackson Square (formerly the Army Square). Its cast-iron fences and gardens have been perfectly preserved since the middle of the 19th century. Of course, the monument to Jackson himself, sitting on a rearing horse, catches the eye.

The square has become the concentration of the creative layer, it is a kind of place where musicians, artists and ordinary people gather to enjoy art.

Saint Louis Cathedral

Speaking about the main attractions of New Orleans, one cannot help but recall the St. Louis Cathedral, especially since you just saw it in the photo. This is a building with three spiers that rises above the city. By the way, it is often from here that tourists look at the statue of Jackson, it is visible at a glance. Saint Louis Cathedral dates back to 1727.

In this temple, children of noble persons were baptized, famous personalities were buried, and couples were married. Unfortunately, the building burned down completely at the end of the 18th century, and a completely new one appeared in its place.

french market

No less striking landmark of New Orleans. A great place for anyone who wants to buy something to remember their trip to Carefree City. Naturally, things of own production are in the greatest demand: wicker baskets, household utensils, pieces of furniture and toys for children. A number of shops are also located here, in total there are more than 30 of them.

The French market also has open areas for trade, where farmers put up their products for sale. Environmentally friendly products are no less interesting to people than crafts. You remember that it would be strange to not taste herring, just like not to taste cheese in and drink freshly brewed beer in.

In addition, the French market often becomes a venue for various festivals (tomato, for example), harvest festivals.

Jazz club "Preservation Hall"

In the beginning, I already said that New Orleans is a very musical city. Jazz is associated with him in the same way as with the classical compositions of Mozart, but with tango. It was thanks to the blues, jazz and zydeco that the whites and blacks lived in peace. Louis Armstrong was born in this city (by the way, the airport was named after him), the Jazz and Heritage Festival is held here.

But the jazz club "Preservation Hall" with full confidence can be called one of the legendary attractions of New Orleans. Even if you are not a jazz fan, this place is worth a look. This is a small building, designed for 125 people, but in practice it fits much more. True fans of music are not embarrassed by not too attractive conditions: the lack of a free table and chair. You will be offered to touch the early jazz, stay in its power for 4 hours, and the oldest musicians (many under 80 years old) will be guides to its world. This is jazz almost from the first mouth.

Where else to go in New Orleans

There are many museums in the city. If you are interested in sculpture and painting, then welcome to the New Orleans Museum Of Art, you can get acquainted with the history of the black population in the New Orleans African American Museum. To whom this topic is not indifferent, they will certainly be interested in the African American Museum. And if you like something more modern, then do not pass by the wax museum, it is not only in (called the Musee Conti Wax Museum) .

You can take a break from noisy parties, holidays and bustle in New Orleans City Park - the city park of New Orleans. It is already a century and a half, fortunately, the park was restored after Hurricane Katrina. No less picturesque place is the Botanical Garden.

You can look at the representatives of the local underwater fauna in the Aquarium of Americas, here it is no less interesting than. On the "Island of Adventure" you will even see animals up close, sometimes they are allowed to touch them.

Sports enthusiasts should check out the equestrian center, golf courses and, of course, the New Orleans Arena, a sports complex designed for almost 20,000 people.

I hope Big Easy made an impression on you.

Now look at the sights of this city with your favorite hosts. I'm sure you'll add your impressions.

Eagle and Tails New Orleans

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New Orleans is one of the largest cities in the US and a very attractive tourist destination. Its geography and vibrant mix of cultures has given it a unique style that combines French, Spanish, Caribbean, African and American influences. Moreover, even a long stay in this city is fraught with more and more new discoveries: colorful parades, colorful street vendors, special architecture, Creole gardens and much more.

New Orleans is the birthplace of American opera, jazz music and Louis Armstrong himself! It is worth noting that the Americans themselves called this city "foreign", since in spirit it is more similar to European, and most of all - to French.

I must say that after Hurricane Katrina, some suburban neighborhoods of New Orleans are still in a rather deplorable state. However, the main part of it, on the contrary, looks as if no disaster ever happened.

Climate and weather

In New Orleans, weather conditions form a humid subtropical climate, which is characterized by mild winters and hot summers. The average temperature in January is +11...+ 17 °C, and in July - +26...+33 °C. The average amount of precipitation per year is 1630 mm, with most of it occurring in summer, with October being the driest month.

The best time to travel to New Orleans is from the end of November to June.

Nature

Located in the southwestern United States, New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana. It lies on the picturesque banks of the river Mississippi, near its confluence with Gulf of Mexico. In the north, the city is bordered by a lake. Pontchartrain, and in the east - with the aforementioned bay. The total area of ​​New Orleans is 907 km², of which only 51% is land.

Attractions

In New Orleans, almost every block is an island of unique culture with important historical monuments. One of the most interesting places was the magnificent French Quarter with many beautiful mansions. Its center is the street Bourbon, where popular nightlife, restaurants and luxury hotels are located. Other attractions in the area include Jackson Square with Saint Louis Cathedral, which is made in the original architectural style. Also worth noting french market and New Orleans Mint which now houses a museum.

Well, in general, in New Orleans there are a huge number of various cultural institutions, galleries and exhibition centers. For example, an interesting collection is gathered in National Museum of World War II. Also very notable Contemporary Arts Center, where exhibitions of talented artists, photographers and sculptors are constantly held. In addition, it is recommended to visit:

• The New Orleans Museum of Art, which houses a rich collection of paintings from various eras,
• Museum of Religion,
• Ogden Museum of Southern Art,
• Museum of family and children
• Museum of Nature,
• Museum of the Mardi Gras Festival.

Other attractions worth mentioning include:

• monastery Old Ursuline Convent,
• the ancient cemeteries of Saint Louis and Matairie,
• Federal Memorial Hall,
• bridge across Lake Pontchartrain,
• Tulane University Complex,
• mysterious temple of voodoo.

In the vicinity of the city, you can also find several interesting historical sites, for example, the town shalmitt, where in 1815 a battle broke out, led by the famous General E. Jackson.

Nutrition

New Orleans, with over a thousand restaurants, bars and cafes, is a real find for gourmets. Moreover, local establishments offer a variety of cuisines: European, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, etc. However, the most popular restaurants here are specializing in Creole dishes brought here by the first colonists. In such establishments, it is first of all recommended to try " gumbo"(stewed seafood and vegetables with rice)," jambalaya"(ham with sausages, rice and tomatoes)," etufi» (stew) and red beans. In addition, in New Orleans you can always enjoy a variety of seafood dishes, such as crab soup, baked oysters, fried shrimp and mussels.

Also the pride of local chefs are " beignets" (peculiar donuts) and " mufulettes» (original sandwiches). It is worth noting that the desserts here are also completely different from American ones: buns, croissants, cakes, popsicles and ice cream.

The most common drinks are fruit and vegetable juices, milkshakes, sodas, iced tea and coffee. If we talk about alcohol, then it is distinguished by a wide choice here: from first-class bourbon to specific beer.

Accommodation

In New Orleans, there are many different hotels and hotels, both old and recently opened. They are located mainly in the central part of the city, as some suburban areas have not yet been fully restored after Hurricane Katrina. The cost of living, as elsewhere, depends on the category of the institution, as well as its location. The city has many very cozy and very inexpensive hotels that are scattered throughout its territory, for example, Queen & Crescent Hotel(from $45) or O"Keefe Plaza Hotel(from $67). Also here, as in any major American city, there are luxury hotels ( Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans) and budget hostels ( AAE Bourbon House Mansion).

Entertainment and recreation

In addition to historical sites and museums, New Orleans has a number of various entertainment venues, so you definitely won’t be bored in this city. For example, there is a magnificent zoo Audubon where animals live in spacious enclosures that are fully consistent with their natural habitat. Not far from the zoo is the city aquarium Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, offering to get acquainted with a variety of colorful fish, as well as an interesting collection of birds, frogs and giant sea turtles. Those who prefer to spend time in nature should definitely visit the most beautiful with many centuries-old trees, benches, gazebos and walking paths. Moreover, it is ideal not only for a serene pastime, but also for active sports. It is worth noting that in order to inspect it completely, it will take at least a whole day. Smaller, but no less beautiful, is Audubon Park, which boasts numerous fountains and statues, as well as lush vegetation. In addition, it is perfectly equipped for cycling and walking and walking. Fans of ecological tourism and hiking are recommended to visit the National Park Jean Lafitte with many tourist routes, and for nature lovers - a botanical garden New Orleans Botanical Gardens, on the territory of which there is a wonderful collection of roses, orchids, ferns and other exotic plants.

In addition, New Orleans can safely boast of an abundance of discos, nightclubs, bars, pubs and jazz clubs that are open until dawn.

Purchases

For those who love shopping, New Orleans has a wide variety of shops offering everything from the most casual to the very original. First of all, it is recommended to go to french quarter, where the most popular shopping, luxury boutiques, jewelry stores and souvenir shops are concentrated. Also in the area is a colorful french market, simply striking in the abundance and choice of its products. Moreover, along its rows, where merchants offer various delicacies, art objects, clothes, dishes, original gizmos and much more, you can walk for hours. It should be noted that the prices in this market are very attractive.

In addition, it is worth visiting shopping centers. riverwalk And Oakwood Center, within the walls of which there is a great variety of shops and fashion boutiques. In addition, high-quality fashion clothes, accessories and much more can be found in stores on Jackson-Brevery.

Lovers of art and antiquity will also like the city, as many antique shops and small galleries of young artists are scattered throughout the city. In general, there are a large number of very interesting and rather unusual stores in New Orleans, for example, a voodoo store The Island of Salvation Botanica where a mysterious and slightly intimidating atmosphere reigns. Moreover, voodoo dolls are considered one of the main souvenirs of the city, and the memory of the voodoo queen Marie Laveau is still alive here. Among other popular souvenirs, it is worth highlighting colorful carnival costumes, masks and jewelry, which are sold both in specialized and ordinary stores.

Transport

Reds are the main public transport in New Orleans. trams, whose routes run along the central streets of the city. They go often enough and always strictly adhere to the schedule. The fare on the tram is about $1.7.

In addition to trams, you can travel around the city by buses, which are available almost around the clock on weekdays, although they run a little less frequently on weekends. Tickets for travel are sold at special kiosks and from drivers, their cost is also $ 1.7.

It is worth noting that it will be most convenient for fans of excursions to travel on foot, since almost all the main tourist sites are located very close to each other.

Connection

All the streets of New Orleans are equipped with telephone boxes that allow you to make a call to any city in the world. Negotiations are paid for with coins and phone cards, which can be bought at any major store or post office.

Mobile communication is carried out through a huge number of operators, and roaming is available to all tourists. It should be noted that in the United States, for the full functioning of communications, it is necessary triband telephone.

Internet access is provided in almost all hotels and public institutions. In addition, there is a great variety of free and paid Wi-Fi hotspots.

Safety

Despite the mixture of different cultures and nationalities, for tourists, a stay in New Orleans does not involve any serious dangers or troubles. At the same time, nevertheless, you should never forget about the elementary rules of caution. For example, you should not carry large sums of money and very valuable things with you, and in public places you should be wary of pickpockets.

Business climate

New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana and the most important industrial center with its own port on the river. Mississippi. The economy of the city is mainly based on maritime and trade, and most of the local companies are connected with shipbuilding, logistics and transport. In addition, New Orleans is a major center for the petrochemical and oil refining industries, since a huge amount of oil is produced in the Gulf of Mexico and processed at the enterprises of this region.

Real estate

The consequences of Hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans are still being felt, as this disaster caused enormous damage to the city, estimated at several tens of billions of dollars. However, today, after a long stagnation, the demand for local real estate is beginning to increase. Moreover, both recently appeared new buildings and old houses are popular here. Currently, you can buy a medium-sized house for somewhere around $85,000, but the cost of houses affected by the hurricane is still very low. However, in the future, analysts predict a rise in prices for all residential properties in the city.

New Orleans is home to a wide variety of music festivals and lavish festivities:

• Essence Festival,
• sugar bowl,
• international jazz festival,
• Southern Decadence,
• dog parade,
• Voodoo Music Festival, etc.

The main local holiday, which is recommended to visit, is mardi gras. It takes place annually every Tuesday before the Catholic Lent and is a magnificent and colorful carnival. This holiday is very similar to the Slavic Maslenitsa and also symbolizes farewell to winter.