St. Francisville

At a Glance

• Known For: historic plantations and homes like The Myrtles, Tunica Hills, Audubon heritage sites, Southern hospitality and cuisine
• Top Things to Do: tour The Myrtles plantation or Rosedown Plantation, hike Tunica Hills trails, explore Afton Villa Gardens
• Major Events: St. Francisville Food & Wine Festival, Christmas in the Country

Top Things to Do in St. Francisville

St. Francisville is the perfect place to dive deeper into Louisiana’s rich history. Take a guided tour of a plantation, stroll through a local museum or visit a state historic site. The Myrtles, often called “America’s most haunted plantation,” offers day tours and evening mystery tours, which promise enchanting folklore and spine-tingling ghostly encounters. At Rosedown Plantation, learn about the Turnbull family, once one of the wealthiest families in the nation. Browse the West Feliciana Historical Society Museum, a volunteer-run museum with exhibits about the area’s history and famous residents, including John James Audubon. Nearby historic sites include Locust Grove State Historic Site, a small cemetery with an important story, and Audubon State Historic Site, where Audubon himself completed 32 bird paintings.

Love spending time outdoors? Tunica Hills Wildlife Management Area encompasses more than 5,000 acres of hiking, biking and birding trails. Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge offers fishing, paddling and wildlife viewing — and is also home to one of the largest trees of any species east of the Sierra Nevada. Afton Villa Gardens, named for a Gothic mansion destroyed by fire, is now home to a gorgeous formal English garden and daffodil valley. 

Places to Stay

Stay onsite at The Myrtles, which features 21 rooms, from cozy cottages and guest houses to suites and smaller rooms. Each overnight stay includes a complimentary daytime tour. Or book a room at the St. Francisville Inn, a boutique hotel known for its Southern hospitality, or Greenwood Plantation Bed & Breakfast, a Greek Revival-style mansion featured in several films, including “Louisiana” and “North & South.” Looking for unpretentious comfort? Lay your head at the Best Western St. Francisville Hotel.

Food & Drink

Southern comfort food takes the stage in St. Francisville. Enjoy a meal at The Francis Southern Table & Bar, known for boudin balls, seafood gumbo, chargrilled oysters and piled-high po’boys. At Magnolia Cafe, start with crawfish dip and then indulge in the famous “Mag Burger,” a hand-patted half-pound burger with all the fixins. At The Myrtles, Restaurant 1796 serves upgraded Southern classics, including Louisiana barbecue shrimp, New Orleans shrimp and grits, and hearth-fired steaks. If you’re craving something lighter, head to Cafe Petra for Mediterranean delicacies like falafel, spinach pie, baba gaoush and kabobs.

Events & Festivals in St. Francisville

The biggest annual draw to St. Francisville is the fall Food & Wine Festival, a weekend celebration of local culinary culture. Choose from four events: Bubbles & Barbecue, a jazz brunch, a visiting chef dinner and grand tasting at The Myrtles.

Celebrate Christmas in the Country in winter with hot cocoa, caroling, photos with Santa and a grand parade, plus exciting pop-up events.

Travel Tips & Resources

It's easy to navigate New Iberia. Catch a flight to Lafayette Regional Airport, then rent a car or take a rideshare. New Iberia is also a short drive from Beaumont, Texas (3 hours), Mobile, Alabama (4 hours), and Meridian, Mississippi (5 hours).