Join the crowds of artists and musicians at this famous and much-loved park in the French Quarter
The size of a city block, this National Historic Landmark seems much bigger thanks to the amount of entertainment on offer, with street performers, artists and musicians who have had a presence in the park for centuries.
This square at the centre of New Orleans' French Quarter was laid out in 1721. It was called the Place d'Armes and used as a military parade grounds and site for public hangings. The square is flanked by a number of important landmarks, including the St Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo and Presbytere. The grounds were transformed into one of the country's finest public spaces in 1852 by Baroness Micaela Pontalba who commissioned fences, gardens and landscaped the grounds to go alongside her Pontalba Apartments which line one side of the square. The apartments now house shops and restaurants on their ground floors, while the upper floors are still apartments, the oldest continuously rented apartments in the country.
The square was renamed Jackson Square in 1856 to honour Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812 who later became America's 7th president. At the centre is an equestrian statue of Jackson sculpted by Clark Mills.
These days, the square is beautifully laid out, with historic buildings on three sides facing onto a park filled with trees, flowers and pathways. It's also famous for its collection of resident artists, whose works are laid out to look at on the pavements and wrought iron fences.
Jackson Square is host to a variety of music festivals and exhibitions. The French Quarter Festival takes place here every April, while just before Christmas, hundreds of carollers fill the square, as they have done since 1946.
Jackson Square is part of the French Quarter and it's best to get here by public transport or taxi as parking is very limited.
