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It is Louisiana's fourth-most populous city with a 2020 census population of 121,374; [4] the consolidated city-parish's population was 241,753 in 2020. [5] The Lafayette metropolitan area was Louisiana's third largest metropolitan statistical area with a population of 478,384 at the 2020 census. [6]
Happiest City in America. Lafayette, LA is at the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun & Creole Country, an area known for letting the good times roll, or as we say it laissez les bons temps rouler, and people are starting to notice.
Lafayette, city, south-central Louisiana, U.S., on the Vermilion River 55 miles southwest of Baton Rouge. The area was first settled by Acadians in 1763. The earliest village, Vermilionville, was established in 1824 but was renamed for the French general the marquis de Lafayette in 1884.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Vermilionville Historic Village
- Cuisine
- Lake Martin
- LARC’s Acadian Village
- Festival International de Louisiane
- Mardi Gras
- Downtown Lafayette
- Acadian Cultural Center
- The Lafayette Museum
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Lafayette’s first name, from 1821 to 1884, was Vermilionville, named after the bayou on which the city was founded. For an insight into those earliest days you can head to this outdoor attraction on 23 acres next to Bayou Vermilion. Here you’ll get acquainted with the Native American, Acadian, Creole and African-descended cultures that inhabited th...
Since you’re in the heart of Cajun and Creole country, dining is a big part of the Lafayette experience. This place often tops polls of the best food towns in the United States, and if you’re wondering where to begin, you can always book a food tour. One pick is the Cajun Food Tour, which works with more than 30 local eateries, with a selection tha...
Right on Lafayette’s eastern flank is the Cypress Island Preserve, 9,500 acres of protected nature composed of cypress-and-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwood forests. Many of the trees growing in the preserve date back half a millennium. The main visitor attraction is Lake Martin, just ten minutes from downtown Lafayette. One of many species thri...
This cultural park in the southwest of Lafayette is a snapshot of Acadian life in the mid-19th century. All of the residences that you’ll see at LARC’s Acadian Village are authentic, having been restored on site and furnished with period items. These homes are accompanied by a replica blacksmith shop, chapel and general store to paint a picture of ...
The largest non-ticketed francophone festival in the United States takes place in downtown Lafayette in April/May. First held in 1987, the Festival International de Louisiane is usually a five-day event, inviting musicians, artists and craftspeople from across the globe, as part of a celebration of cultural ties between Acadiana and the French-spea...
The second-largest Mardi Gras celebration in Louisiana takes place in Lafayette, attracting as many as 250,000 people to the city. There have been Mardi Gras celebrations in Lafayette since 1869, but the colorful parades (courirs) became an annual tradition here in 1934, with the foundation of the Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association. These c...
Cuisine isn’t the only thing going for downtown Lafayette. Mostly arcing along Jefferson St is a lively commercial district with museums, galleries, live music venues and interesting locally-owned stores for records, candles, clothing, books, shoes, groceries and bicycles. We’ve seen that Lafayette has a social calendar that puts most towns to sham...
A stone’s throw from Vermilionville at Bayou Vermilion there’s a unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, which is dispersed across several sites in South Louisiana. Here, the Acadian Cultural Center explores the history and contemporary culture of the Acadians (Cajuns). Smartly presented multimedia displays look into the ori...
Downtown at 1122 Lafayette Street stands the Alexandre Mouton House (c. 1800), built by Jean Mouton, who was an early settler in Attakapas country. He was the father of Alexandre Mouton (1804-1885), the 11th Governor of Louisiana and a United States Senator. Alexandre lived here until 1836, and after marrying Zelia Rousseau in 1836 enlarged the res...
Not many university campuses can claim to have a swamp with alligators right next to its student union. This is exactly what you’ll find at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, within walking distance of downtown. This school is well known for its Ragin’ Cajuns, with 16 varsity teams in NCAA Division I. Home court for the men’s and women’s bas...
- Vermilionville. This is the perfect place to learn more about the history of the area. Not only it has amazing houses from the 18th-century, but it’s also full of nice artifacts that make everything come alive.
- Lake Martin Rookery. If you want to have a memorable and relaxing day, Lake Martin Rookery is waiting for you! Have a great 2-hour swamp tour that is really worth it.
- Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. A very picturesque church! This quasi-Romanesque brick cathedral in Lafayette is worth a visit, even just for a short time.
- Acadian Village. This private cultural park located in Lafayette, Louisiana would help you step back in time. People who love history would enjoy reading artifacts here.
Lafayette is the most populous city in and parish seat of Lafayette Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located along the Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's fourth-most populous city with a 2020 census population of 121,374; the consolidated city-parish's population was 241,753 in 2020.
Located in southern Louisiana, Lafayette is the heart of the region known as Acadiana and that's evident everywhere you go, from eateries and dance halls to outdoor adventures. Here are a few ideas to help you immerse yourself in the culture and find your happy place! 1. Cajun Food Tours.
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