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Louisiana’s St. Martin Parish: Where Cajun Began

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August 14, 2019

Close up bowl of crawfish

Visit St. Martin Parish and discover a way of life that is spiced with a blend of historical and cultural ingredients. It’s a recipe for everything that is Cajun. Discover:

St. Martinville — Home of Longfellow’s Evangeline

Breaux Bridge — the Crawfish Capital of the World

Henderson — the Gateway to the Atchafalaya Basin.

Experience the St. Martin Parish’s culture and live its history. Take a stroll through the historic downtowns of Breaux Bridge and St. Martinville, where many quaint shops filled with antiques, local crafts, art and specialty items await you.

Succulent Cuisine

Taste authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine in the family owned restaurants and cafes. Dance to a lively Zydeco tune or two-step to a Cajun waltz at dancehalls and festivals. A variety of festivals are celebrated all year long throughout the parish.

Sightseers ride a boat through wetlands with cypress trees growing in the water.

A tour of the Atchafalaya Swamp. Photo: St. Martin Tourist Bureau

Get back to nature along one of the vast and mysterious waterways. Experience the unique Atchafalaya Basin with a swamp tour, take a boat ride in the bayous, or walk along one of our nature trails at Lake Martin. See alligators and various species of birds. You might even catch a fish or two!

If the outdoors and camping are your bag, pack your gear. Pitch a tent, set up your travel trailer or RV, rent a cabin or houseboat. Camping and RV facilities are abundant throughout the parish and offer a unique view into Cajun Country.

Cajun Cool

In the area’s communities, you’ll find “Cajun/Creole” French spoken throughout the parish. Linger awhile to hear the stories of days gone by and you’ll discover what’s so unique and the number one attraction of our area: the friendliness, warmth and genuine hospitality of the people who call St. Martin Parish home.

Family unity, along with strong spiritual beliefs, remains central to the culture of St. Martin Parish. A visit here is a safe, secure and educational experience for the whole family. We’re a truly unique part of America — unlike any other you have ever visited.

A blond female vocalists belts out a tune as people dance in an outdoor venue.

Feeling Cajun rhythms. Photo: St. Martin Tourist Bureau

Learn about the history of the Acadians, taste authentic Cajun food, dance to Cajun & Zydeco music, shop in the historic downtown areas and get back to nature in the Atchafalaya Basin and Lake Martin. Find the perfect accommodations in one of the Hotels, B&B’s, Cabins, Campgrounds or Houseboats.

Point of Interest in St. Martin Parish:

Arnaudville 

  • Art, Crafts Shopping
  • Cajun Restaurants
  • Live Music Weekends
  • Award winning Brewery with live music, music trivia

Breaux Bridge

  • Historic Downtown District w/Antiques & Boutique
  • Parc des Ponts de Pont
  • Statue of Scholastique Picou Breaux
  • Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
  • World Famous Restaurants
  • Cajun Music Nightly
  • Saturday Morning Zydeco Breakfast
  • Saturday Cajun Jam

Butte La Rose

  • Atchafalaya Welcome Center
  • Fishing, Boating, Birding

Henderson

  • Henderson Lake
  • Atchafalaya Basin
  • Swamp tours
  • Seafood restaurants
  • Cajun & Zydeco Music and Dancing

Lake Martin

  • Bird Rookery
  • Swamp Tours

St. Martinville

  • Evangeline Oak
  • African American Museum
  • Acadian Memorial & Museum
  • St. Martin de Tours Historic Square
  • Evangeline Monument
  • Longfellow-Evangeline State Commemorative Area