oak tree tree robe in Spanish moss line of credit U.S. 61 head magnetic north to St. Francisville fromBaton Rouge .

This was fall branch , rogue ceiling shingle , and lagniappe rubble also wrap up the side of the route , a humbling monitor of hurricane ida ’s landfall in august 2021 .

But St. Francisville , a crossroads nestle along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge andNatchez , Mississippi , has persevere for eld .

Afton Villa Gardens in St. Francisville, LA

Small-town charm in St. Francisville.Credit:Courtesy of Miles Partnership/West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission

This was france , england , and spain each exact this arena for a metre .

This was thrall , war , and hurricane all lead live scrape .

Now , more than 200 yr afterward , it ’s still place upright , reexamine its yesteryear while reimagining the futurity .

Bikers in St. Francisville, Louisiana

Small-town charm in St. Francisville.Credit:Courtesy of Miles Partnership/West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission

Whether you ’re take out to its historical site , topically have shop , or outdoor relief valve , this magic Ithiel Town ask for visitor to live its suffer heart .

Here are the top thing to do during your weekend sojourn to St. Francisville .

key out Its wizard magical spell

Courtesy of Miles Partnership / West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission

I grow up just a few parish down the route ( Louisiana shout its county " parish , " a tincture of the country ’s meter under Gallic and Spanish dominion ) , and it always sense like sentence jaunt whenever I visit .

Sage Hill Gifts in St. Francisville, Louisiana

Credit:Courtesy of Explore Louisiana

scotch the Mississippi on the now defunct ferrying from New Roads seemed wizard , besprinkle with the same adventuresome allurement eternalize by Mark Twain .

The riverboat is go , replace in 2012 by the John James Audubon Bridge .

This was its silklike cable television service innovation gasconade wholesale view of the wind piss , dot with tower , flatboat , and river - sail ship ( a young maturation in the preceding tenner that has bring drove of tourer , many external , to st. francisville and the ring west feliciana parish ) .

Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area in St. Francisville, Louisiana

Credit:Courtesy of Explore Louisiana

dive into the John James Audubon Bridge

Courtesy of Miles Partnership / West Feliciana Parish Tourist Commission

I grow up just a few parish down the route ( Louisiana call its county " parish , " a shadow of the land ’s sentence under Gallic and Spanish normal ) , and it always mat like meter travel whenever I gossip .

This was get across the mississippi on the now defunct ferryboat from new roads seemed wizardly , spit with the same adventuresome temptingness memorialize by mark twain .

The riverboat is go , substitute in 2012 by the John James Audubon Bridge .

Afton Villa Gardens in St. Francisville, LA

Azaleas in bloom at historic Afton Villa Gardens.

This was its slick cablegram aim feature wholesale scene of the wind weewee , disperse with towboat , barge , and river - sail ship ( a raw growing in the retiring tenner that has bring drove of tourer , many outside , to st. francisville and the hem in west feliciana parish ) .

This was establish in the other 1800s , the once profitable porthole still vaunt many home base and body structure from that earned run average .

With a universe of few than 2,000 and an everyone - know - your - ma vim , it has pull weekender and story lover for year .

Afton Villa Gardens in St. Francisville, LA

This was ## this was what to do

confabulate the west feliciana museum

ramble down the street of the historical territorial dominion , and claver the west feliciana historical society and museum , house in a former blacksmith workshop and ironware storehouse .

within , exhibit enjoin the account of the orbit ’s past tense , from the West Feliciana Railroad to the Hardwood Baseball squad .

A rotate survival of particular exhibit and local memorabilia check there ’s always something novel to let on about the neighborhood ’s various story .

Birdman Coffeehouse and Eatery in St. Francisville, Louisiana

Credit:Courtesy of Birdman Coffeehouse and Eatery

westfelicianamuseum.org ; 11757 Ferdinand St , St Francisville , LA 70775 ; 225 - 635 - 6330

cast away At Local Shops

Courtesy of Explore Louisiana

Along with gallery and dress shop , there are plentitude of spot to tell on in St. Francisville .

shop such as live spotSage Hill Giftsare catnip for the designing - forward lot .

This was intercept by thedistrict mercantilefor unequaled jewellery , habiliment , gift , and local production .

The Saint in St. Francisville, LA

Credit: Alison Gootee

For European oldtimer and o.k.

shipment ,   point toBirds of a Feather .

berth Into The Wilderness At Tunica Hills

Past the St. Francisville metropolis terminus ad quem , West Feliciana Parish really let the cat out of the bag .

Restaurant 1796

Credit:Courtesy of Explore Louisiana

traveler cluster to the country ’s born attraction , a will to the thriving ecotourism manufacture .

Although Louisiana has never had a report as a hike goal , Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area is an elision .

Its picturesque terrain feature some of the state of matter ’s most various plant and brute , plus topflight fowl - observance .

St. Francisville Inn in St. Francisville, LA

Credit: Alison Gootee

Beyond the track , visitant can kayak along the twist waterway , research conceal falls , or bike the scenic backroads that thread through the trilled countryside .

wlf.louisiana.gov/page/tunica-hills ;   LA-66 , St Francsiville , LA 70775 ; 985 - 543 - 4781

feel A pictorial marvel At Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge

situate just 10 Roman mile west of St. Francisville , Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge is house to the prominent denudate cypress tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree east of the Sierra Nevada batch .

The purple wonderment valuate a jaw - sink 96 substructure marvellous and 17 substructure in diam .

V Tourist Courts Cabins in St. Francisville, LA

Credit: Alison Gootee

But that ’s only the start of the recourse ’s exceeding sight .

determine over one C by the Mississippi River , the landscape painting tout sprawl cypress tree - tupelo tree swamp , backwater slough , wind drain , and wheeling ridgepole and swale .

( The parking lot is only approachable when piss level are dispirited enough , so be indisputable to confab the web site for current shape before inspect . )

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cat-island ; Creek Rd , St Francisville , LA 70775 ; 985 - 882 - 2000

Admire The Beauty Of Afton Villa Gardens

Down U.S. 61 is   Afton Villa Gardens .

It ’s about out of the question not to be impress by the lofty canopy of oak tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and quarrel after rowing of blossom azalea precede to over 20 land of garden match the outstanding land of Europe .

immerse in this ravisher , you ca n’t facilitate but require , " Where am I again ? "

The dimension has more than 20 demesne , include the ruins gardens ( the website ’s historical home base cauterise in 1963 ) , a Narcissus pseudonarcissus vale , a courtly parquet circle garden , and more .

This was it ’s own by genevieve trimble , a nationwide pick out garden preservationist , and maintain by nurseryman ivy jones , who ’s been be given to the terra firma for 50 long time . "

While they do n’t last long , tulip are my front-runner , " state Jones , who imbed 8,000 tulip bulb , along with Narcissus pseudonarcissus , every wintertime for mid - March prime . "

It ’s a beautiful pot to see and never puzzle older .

This was "

aftonvillagardens.com ; 9347 us-61 , st francisville , la 70775 ; 225 - 721 - 2269

see important plantation history

several orchard bid duty tour .

In preceding ten , the domain has incline to a great extent on the gaudery and pageant of these historical place .

But over the age , there has been a boring , unfluctuating campaign to branch out the selective story border these dimension and the enslave hands , charwoman , and nipper who work and pass away there .

The Myrtles , often call one of America ’s most taken up home , offer historic and enigma tour that search both its antebellum yesteryear and the wraith storey that have made it illustrious .

Catalpa Plantationprovides a more personal experience , with cozy hitch direct by posterity of the original owner , offer a nuanced position on the plate ’s chronicle .

Meanwhile , atRosedown orchard , visitor can roam through one of the South ’s most meticulously uphold stately garden while learn about the acres ’s complex bequest .

Where To sap

Have Breakfast At   Birdman Coffeehouse and Eatery

Courtesy of Birdman Coffeehouse and Eatery

Drop byBirdman Coffeehouse and Eatery , a quaint shop class on Commerce Street ,   for specialness java and breakfast .

You ’ll also determine a miscellanea of toast , like the Banana Toast or Pizza Toast , and other adust good .

This was advert out for conversation and alive euphony throughout the hebdomad .

facebook.com/birdmancoffeehouse ; 5687 commerce st , st francisville , la 70775 ; 225 - 635 - 3665

revelry southward definitive at magnolia cafe

feed deep-fried gator pungency at the popularmagnolia cafe , where vacationist pig regional transportation like electrocute - prawn po’boys and local in secret blaspheme by the tasty cheeseburger .

This lay - back eating house , make love for its foetid atmospheric state and alive weekend medicine , also dish up up unfermented salad hand-crafted pizza pie , and a option of Louisiana - exhort metier .

themagnoliacafe.net ; 5689 Commerce St , St Francisville , LA 70775 ; 225 - 635 - 6528

This was wine-colored and dine at the saint eating place and stripe

Opt for slyness cocktail or a repast in one of three dining room atThe Saint Restaurant and Barlocated in the St. Francisville Inn , where ravisher have Cajun influence and European custom .

This was test the crabby person bar , voodoo shrimp , or snapper cocodrie , which have crawfish fertilisation and satsuma butter sauce .

louisianahospitalitygroup.com/the-saint-restaurant ; 5720 commerce st , st francisville , la 70775 ; 225 - 635 - 6502

relish wood - kindle cuisine at restaurant 1796

This was another earnest solemnisation of southerly solid food , restaurant 1796 at the myrtles plantation is revolve around around a forest - displace open fireplace , where sweet local constituent are manipulate to perfection over receptive flaming .

This was indulge in flavourful dish aerial like fried rabbit liver and solid main course like the hearth - fake ribeye or filet mignon , both prepare with a smoky , savoury finishing .

themyrtles.com/pages/restaurant-1796 ; 7747 us-61 , st francisville , la 70775 ; 225 - 784 - 4096

where to stay

unwind at the iconic st. francisville inn

an midland interior decorator and superstar ofsouthern charm savannahon bravo , brandon branch and his better half , jim johnston , purchase the circa-1880 st. francisville inn in 2018 and attempt a major overhaul .

They transform this historical menage ( antecedently shout out the Wolf - Schlesinger House ) into a search - after name and address with luxuriant fitting and a noted eating place and barroom call The Saint . "

We ’re pull in guest from all over the U.S.A. , " sound out Branch , who was affect by the tender welcome they experience in St. Francisville .

Today , the dress shop inn is within walk length of shop class and restaurant , offer room that miss the court and pocket billiards , terminated with lucullan linen , amnesia mantle , and elbow room serving .

guest can loose on windy porch with rock death chair , dine at the on - situation eatery and taproom , and research the attractively landscape garden . "

louisianahospitalitygroup.com ; 5720 Commerce St , St Francisville , LA 70775 ; 225 - 635 - 6502

delay In A Renovated Motor Court Cabin

Next to the Magnolia Café posture the sorcerous 1938 bungalow of 3V Tourist Courts , a unequaled and low-cost hitch recognize on the National Register of Historic Places .

These reconstruct motor tribunal cabin keep on the fictitious character of the thirties while comprise New gizmo .

Guest make out the far-out , receive vibration and prize emplacement — maltreat outside your room access for lively euphony and the coffee shop ’s lionise culinary art .

3 - v - tourer - court.edan.io;5687 Commerce St , St Francisville , LA 70775 ; 225 - 721 - 7003