French Quarter | New Orleans Real Estate & Neighborhood Info

The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré, means “Old Square” in French, and it’s the historic heart of the city.

As you walk and admire her splendor, you’ll notice the French Quarter looks more Spanish than French. This is largely due to two huge fires, one in 1788 and the other in 1794. The flames destroyed the mostly wooden French Quarter, and while the French influences remained, the Spanish building regulations were put in place to help prevent the spread of fire. The Spanish codes included protective plaster and fire-retardant roofing – such as tile or slate.

Today, most of us refer to her simply as the “Quarter,” and she remains unforgettable. The ornate wrought-iron balconies, wrap-around porches, lush courtyards, secret gardens, and gas lanterns will leave you mesmerized. She is unapologetically loud and, at the same time, one of the most sophisticated places. Everything you need is right here – antique shops, grocery stores, parks, old-school New Orleans restaurants, dive bars, champagne & cocktail lounges, art galleries, music clubs; this list goes on and on. We dare say it would be impossible to be bored living here!

The French Quarter has some of the most stunning architecture of anywhere in the world – glorious Creole Townhouses and Cottages, American Townhouses, Shotguns, Double Gallery Houses, and raised Cottages. You will find a mix of homes and condos. The Quarter is a National Historic District. Don’t dream of changing or adding anything to the properties here until you have a signed permit from The Vieux Carré Commission (VCC) in hand. The residents are a tight-knit and active community who love to show you their neighborhood (yes, it’s beyond Bourbon Street) and are proud to call the Quarter home.

Lagniappe: Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop — built between 1722 and 1732 by Nicolas Touze, is said to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. It is also one of the city’s oldest Creole cottages in the French Quarter.  And, of course, the building is supposedly haunted by residents of the French Quarter who died in the fires of 1788 and 1794.