Posted in Louisiana Attractions, Small Towns April 25, 2016 by

Why This One Little Town Is Louisiana’s Best Kept Secret

Opelousas is a vibrant town that offers visitors everything amazing about Louisiana—a rich, 300-year old history, amazing food and being the hometown of Zydeco music. A trip here is well worth it—and you’ll easily have an amazing time:

Opelousas is the third oldest European settlement in Louisiana, having been established in 1720 as Le Poste Des Opelousas.
Wikicommons / Z28Scrambler
It was originally a Native American settlement and trading post, a place for travelers to stop between Natchitoches to the North as they continued to settlements across the Gulf Coast.
Opelousas continued to be a hub for Louisiana activity the 19th-century, as it became the Capital of Confederate Louisiana during the Civil War.
Later, it became the location for a riot during reconstruction, where more than 50 African Americans were killed by white residents angered by the political and social progress that the Reconstruction era was bringing to the area.
There are many buildings on the National Register of Historic Buildings in Opelousas.
Wikicommons /Z28scrambler
This is the St. Landry Catholic Church.
To explore Opelousas, you should begin with the Le Vieux Village de Poste des Opelousas, a collection of historic houses and commercial buildings that give you a sense of early life in the town.
Flickr.com / Maren
Flickr.com / Maren
Guided tours are available by appointment.
Another exciting point of interest is the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum, a place that commemorates the Orphan Train Riders who traveled from New York to Louisiana between 1873-1929.
There are a variety of artifacts and documents remembering this unique and unusual government program that had a powerful effect on Opelousas.
Opelousas is also known as the Zydeco Music Capital of the world. Zydeco is a unique style of southern Louisiana music that usually involves an accordion, a washboard, and occasionally a fiddle.
Facebook.com / Opelousas Travel
Facebook.com / Opelousas Travel
There is amazing Zydeco to hear and see throughout the town of Opelousas.
Delicious food is a crucial part of any tour here, as Opelousas is known as the “Spice Capital of the Louisiana”.
Southern Foodways Alliance / Flickr.com
Many popular Louisiana companies are produced in this area, including Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning, Lou Ana Cooking Oil, Targil Seasoning, Inc., as well as Savoie’s Sausage.
You can also easily pass a good time with food and music by visiting the Evangeline Downs Racetrack, Casino, and Event’s center that is found in Opelousas.
facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacetrackCasino
Facebook.com / Opelousas Travel
Live music concerts from a variety of genres can be found almost every night here.
Opelousas is at the heart of the intersections between Creole, Cajun, and Southern Louisiana cultures.
Visiting here is truly amazing!

Opelousas is truly a Louisiana gem that will offer something amazing to do for everyone in your family. Consider traveling to this amazing Louisiana small town the next time you’re planning a vacation!

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