Developing from an exotic wilderness to become a thriving blend of culture and architecture over the past 300 years, Natchitoches is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase. Established in 1714 and known for its?National Historic Landmark District, this original French settlement features Creole architecture, bed and breakfasts, a 35-mile long?Cane River National Heritage Area, and historic homes such as the?Oakland,?Magnolia, and?Melrose?plantations. Natchitoches is recognized as one of the South?s most charming small towns and is a great destination for a romantic weekend or fun girls? getaway.

1. National Historic Landmark District

French Creole architecture overlooks Cane River Lake in an enchanting 33-block area at the heart of downtown Natchitoches where popular venues and activities include shopping, horse and carriage rides, boat tours,?The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the French-built spiral staircase behind the Prudhomme Building, and Louisiana's oldest general store the?Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile.

Kaffie-Frederick General Mercantile

3. Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum

Showcased exhibits and interactive media inside the architectural award-winning building celebrate more than 300 sports achievements and over 3,000 years of regional history from early Native-American civilizations to the present.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame

2. Fort St. Jean Baptiste Historic Site

Costumed interpreters demonstrate French Colonial life and guide visitors through a full-sized replica of an early fort which had been devised in 1714 as a trading and military outpost to counter any Spanish incursions into French territory.

Fort St. Jean Baptiste

4. Steel Magnolias Tour

Filming sites of the 1989 movie?Steel Magnolias?which was shot in Natchitoches are comprised of local churches, businesses, and private homes like the?Steel Magnolia House?which is currently a bed and breakfast.

Walk of Honor

5. Tour of Historical Architecture

Significant buildings in Natchitoches include the St. Augustine Catholic Church and Cemetery, the Prudhomme-Rouquier House (which predates most other surviving buildings in downtown Natchitoches), Melrose Plantation (established around the time of the Louisiana Purchase), Oakland Plantation (the most complete Creole plantation in the South), and Magnolia Plantation (a bicentennial farm which comprises the agricultural portion of the plantation).

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Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission Commerical Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau - Come celebrate, discover, and explore.