St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans

A brief history of St. Louis Cathedral

Named after King Louis IX of France, St. Louis Cathedral boasts a history dating back to the 1700s, when French colonists erected a wooden cathedral that likely appeared quite simple compared to the extravagant structure visitors see today. Still, even then, worshippers were creating history, building what is guessed to be New Orleans’ first brick-between-posts structure, an architectural style that would later become popular in the city.

The oldest cathedral in continuous use in the United States, the St. Louis Cathedral that visitors see today was built in the 1850s, incorporating pieces of a previous 1789 cathedral. However, the site’s been used for worship since 1718.

As early as 1721, worshippers were buried beneath or within the church, which may be part of the reason why the cathedral is now rumoured to be haunted. The site’s most famous ghost is Father Antonio de Sedella, a priest who’s reportedly seen walking the cathedral during early mornings and holiday masses.

What are the highlights of the St. Louis Cathedral?

Upon visiting the church and picking up a tour brochure, you’ll be able to walk through the structure and take in the architecture, stained-glass windows, statues, murals and other artwork.

Visitors are invited to attend a mass at the church, which takes place every Saturday at 5 pm and every Sunday at 9 am and 11 am. The masses are highly attended, so arriving several minutes in advance is necessary.

Regardless of what day you visit, if you stick around until the top of the hour, you can hear the cathedral’s historic bells tolling. The bell was installed in the 1810s and was created in Paris as a gift to the city.

Good to know about St. Louis Cathedral

While St. Louis Cathedral is a tourist attraction, it is also, first and foremost, a place of worship. When visiting any place of worship as a traveller, it’s important to be respectful by following all posted signage and rules, not taking photos of worshippers or in spots where signage requests you not, and not being loud or disruptive.

If you're looking for more fun things to do during the day while visiting New Orleans, before the nightlife heats up, consider pairing a visit to St. Louis Cathedral with one to Saint Louis Cemetery, the overarching name for the 3 Roman Catholic cemeteries located a short drive away. While one is closed to visitors unless on a tour, the other 2 are open to the public. Dating back to the late 1700s, the cemetery is home to a range of notable New Orleans figures.