welcome to airworthy tours your guide in the sky my name is captain
phillip and today i'm going to serve as your
pilot and tour guide as we finally take a tour of the french
quarter this 300 year old neighborhood is world
renowned for its history its architecture its
food and its nightlife but before we get
started if you'd like to be a part of future
aerial tours please consider subscribing to the
channel we are clear for takeoff so sit back relax and enjoy your tour
the french quarter was founded in 1718 by
jean-baptiste lamont de bienville due to its strategic location on the
mississippi river it is also known as vucare which is
french for old quarter the french quarter is a historical
landmark that sees over 17 million visitors a year
and is the epicenter of new orleans massive and growing tourism industry
ahead of st louis cathedral which is the oldest cathedral
in continuous use in the united states
originally built in 1727 and dedicated to the crusader king king louis ix of
france who was later canonized by the catholic
church the original church was burned down
during the great fire of 1794 however it was largely rebuilt and
expanded in the 1850s to its current structure
and today it is new orleans most popular historical
landmark
to your left of the cathedral is the cabildo
the kabildo was the site of the louisiana purchase transfer
in 1803 which finalized the united states acquisition
of the louisiana territory from france and doubled the size of the nation
in 1853 it became the headquarters of the louisiana supreme court
and was where the plessy versus ferguson decision
originated in 1892 today it serves as a museum
in front of the cathedral is jackson square originally known
as the place de arms it was later renamed to jackson square
after andrew jackson who was the general during the victorious battle of new
orleans jackson square is the central location
of the french quarter and it is a place where one can find
unique artwork listen to live music or catch a horse
carriage
however the statue has come under increasing scrutiny
and has become a flashpoint and hot topic between those demanding its
removal and those who want to leave it up
below is the steamboat natchez steamboats played a vital role
in the city's economy in the 1800s to early 1900s
as they allow goods and travel to easily access the turbulent mississippi river
the natchez offers daily and nightly cruises
steamboats have gained in popularity as there are now five vessels
that sell and operate in the port they range
from two hour cruises to two week cruises that go as far
as the st louis missouri
our next stop is the french marquis which is a historical
open-air market that features shopping dining
music and local tradition that is uniquely new orleans
the french market originated as a native american trading post
along the mississippi river from there it evolved into a cultural and
commercial hub for new orleans as french and spanish
colonists opened the market up to ships and traders
from all over the world today the french market includes five blocks
of local produce specialty art handmade crafts
retail shopping and more below is the original cafe dumond coffee stand
which was established in 1862
cafe du monde is known for its beignets which are square french-style donuts
lavishly covered with powdered sugar there are now 13
cafe du monde locations in the new orleans metro area
below is the joan of arc statue also known as joni on the pony which was
gifted by charles de gaulle and the french
people in 1964 and made his debut in 1972
it is a fitting gift as joan of arc played a vital role
in the siege of orleon in 1429 during the 100 years war between france
and england
let's talk about the architecture the original french colonial buildings
were largely destroyed during the great fires of 1788 and 1794
making most of the french quarters 2 900 buildings
as second generation greek revival and creole styles
the three predominant styles of french quarter architecture are
the creole townhouse the american townhouse
and the new orleans shotgun
the cast iron balconies are one of new orleans most famous
and well-known architectural features
below is the old ursuline convent built in 1753
and occupied until 1824 by the ursuline nuns
as a convent orphanage and school for girls
the ursuline nuns have been in new orleans since 1726
and were even present at the battle of new orleans
the old ursuline convent remains as one of the few french colonial structures
in the french quarter known to have survived the fires of 1788
and 1794 and is one of the oldest buildings in the mississippi valley
our next stop is canal street which is the western border of the french
quarter the street once served as a neutral
ground between the old families of spanish and french descent
living in the french quarter and the newly arriving americans
who prefer to settle in the american sector
today it is the epicenter of new orleans where
you will find restaurants hotels and places to shop
and the world's most fancy popeyes
canal street is where you can watch most mardi gras parades
and where you can catch a street car you can use this reliable form of
transportation for three dollars for 24 hours
the french quarter is also the capital of new orleans
party and nightlife which begins at happy hour
ahead is the hotel monte leone which is famous for its carousel bar
next is jean lafitte pirate bar which is one of the oldest bars
in the country ahead is a second line which is a musical parade which usually
comes after a wedding procession second lines
are also used for corporate events birthdays and
funerals and our last stop is bourbon street
this 13 block strip is filled with bars restaurants and clubs
it is the only place where you can get beads thrown at you year round
best of all you're allowed to carry a to-go cup which means
you're legally allowed to drink alcohol on the streets
every single bar on bourbon street and in new orleans will be more than happy
to serve you one
and if you like to party you're in luck because bourbon street really does not
ever close did you enjoy today's tour i know i did if so you can tip your tour
guide by hitting the like button also don't
forget to check out some of our other tours
as well thank you for flying with airworthy tours
and we look forward to seeing you on our next flight