St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter of New Orleans
One of the treasured jewels of New Orleans sits just outside of Jackson Square, in the heart of Old City and it’s likely one of the most photographed landmarks in all of New Orleans. Saint Louis Cathedral located on Chartres Street on Jackson Square is the oldest continuously active cathedral in operation in the United States. It derives its name from the 13th Century French King who led two crusades.
St. Louis Cathedral History
The present cathedral is actually the third on the present site of the church. The first two were destroyed and rebuilt. This first building was destroyed by a hurricane in 1722 while the second building burned in a fire in 1788.
The current cathedral was started in 1789 and completed in 1794 and then enlarged in 1851 with the central tower being added. That tower was designed by Henry S. Boneval Latrobe, the first professional architect in America.
The Beauty of St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral Interior
The beautiful interior is decorated by murals which cover the ceiling painted by an Alsatian artist named Erasme Humbrecht in 1872 which depict different stories from the bible. An ornate mural of St. Louis announcing the Seventh Crusade was painted just about the cathedral’s main alter.
The main alter itself is carved-wood Baroque which was constructed in Ghent, Belgium and brought to New Orleans in pieces and then assembled. Colorful stained glass windows depicting the various Catholics also add to the beauty of the cathedral on the first floor.
Extending from the back of the church to the rectory on Royal Street is the beautiful St. Anthony’s garden which features a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This garden also features a monument to 30 members of a French ship who died in a yellow fever epidemic in 1857.
Coming back around to the front of the church visitors marvel at the exterior of the building. The steeples which were not originally part of the cathedral, along with the portico and pilasters were added in 1851. The clock bell known as “Victoire”, was cast in Paris by Pere Antoine and has tolled hourly since 1819.
Pope John Paul II Visits
In 1987 the very popular and much loved Pope John Paul II celebrated a prayer service for clergy at this wondrous cathedral. To both mark the event and honor the occasion both a placard was placed on the cathedral’s outer wall and the pedestrian mall directly in front of the cathedral was renamed Place Jean Paul Deux.
It’s free to visit the cathedral but keep in mind that services are regularly scheduled and on the weekends weddings do take place. You might even catch a happy couple posing by the lantern between the cathedral, Cabildo & the Pirate’s Cafe in Pirates Alley, for a picture from their happy day. In the evenings you can get your fortune told or palm read in “Place Jean Paul Deux” by the many fortune telling merchants who set up shop there for the evening.
{ 1 trackback }