NEW ORLEANS – HAUNTED SECRETS OF THE FRENCH QUARTER

New Orleans French Quarter is famous for being the birthplace of jazz music, for its Mardi Gras, and for its Cajun and Creole cuisine, but did you know that New Orleans is also known as one of the most haunted cities in the world?

This makes New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, with its eerie beauty, haunted locations, and cultural acceptance of the supernatural, a top travel destination for anyone looking to explore the world of ghosts and spirits, voodoo legends, and weird phenomenon!

The city’s mix of French, Spanish, and African influences, combined with its tumultuous history of slavery, epidemics, and natural disasters, has made it a hotspot for strange sightings and ghost stories.

Indeed, my own stay in New Orleans French Quarter was inspired by spooky stories.

As a writer, I was using my visit to New Orleans as a research trip for my romantic paranormal adventure novel NOLA.

New Orleans French Quarter - one of the most haunted cities in the world — *New Orleans – one of the most haunted cities in the world*

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans

In my story, my fictional heroine travels to New Orleans to meet her fiancé’s quirky N’Awlin’s family who live in a spooky old house in the French Quarter.

The research for this book involved me staying for four nights in a wonderful old hotel in the French Quarter while exploring the history and the mystery behind a woman called Marie Laveau otherwise known as The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.

Also, as part of my plot features a very famous 1920’s painting of Marie Laveau, as part of my itinerary I was planning a trip to the Louisiana State Museum in Jackson Square where the painting was on display to the public.

This portrait of Marie Laveau by Frank Schneider is said to be inspired by a much earlier (1835) painting by the artist George Catlin that is now lost.

I’d already done a lot of meticulous research on the painting online but up until that point I had never actually seen it for myself in real life and I really needed to see it to feel all the feels associated with experiencing authentic and original art.

Janice Horton standing in front of a painting of Marie Laveau The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans — *I’m excited to be standing in front of the painting of Marie Laveau*!

But you’ll have to read my (fictional) book NOLA to find out exactly where the missing original eventually turns up!

You can find out more about my New Orleans inspired novel entitled NOLA and my other books including my Backpacking Housewife Series of romantic adventure books published by HarperCollins on my Book Page.

I had a truly fabulous time in New Orleans and absolutely loved our stay at the gorgeous Chateau Hotel on Chartres Street, where our beautiful room was on a high floor – basically up in the attic – and incredibly atmospheric and spooky, with dark oak furniture and a four-poster bed!

The historic French Quarter seemed to be in the centre of the all the action as far as we were concerned and so the backpacking husband and I were keen to drop off our luggage and explore the surrounding old neighbourhood.

These include Bourbon Steet – in the hope of catching a Jazz Funeral – but my first impressions of Bourbon Street where of shock and horror which you can read about in my post An Insider’s Itinerary and Travel Guide to New Orleans!

Jackson Square – originally known as Place D’Armes – is fabulously awash with street entertainers, tarot readers, and mystics.

And, of course, on Jackson Square there’s the famous séance room at Muriel’s Jackson Square.

We explored Decatur Street next to find antique shops, vintage boutiques, and strange emporiums, including the bewitching shop called HEX that claims to be a witchery where you can buy spells and tarot cards and leave a note for your dearly departed loved ones in the afterlife at the shop’s ‘Altar of the Dead’.

I bought a spell and tarot cards which I am convinced are especially ‘spiritual’ having bought them from such a spooky place!

TAROT AND VOODOO SHOPS IN NEW ORLEANS FRENCH QUARTER — *Antique shops, vintage boutiques, and strange emporiums!*

TAKE A GHOST TOUR

Beyond the festive masks of Mardi Gras, New Orleans has a reputation of being the most haunted city on earth, because of its horrifying history complete with executions, voodoo queens, unspeakable tragedy, and terrifying hauntings.

I believe the best and most fun way to explore the spooky side of New Orleans is to join an authentic organised ghost tour.

US Ghost Adventures provides entertaining, historic, and authentic ghost tours and experiences across the United States’ most haunted cities.

I recommend taking a ghost tour in New Orleans with a local guide who has expert local knowledge and who can share first-hand accounts, local legends, and a deep understanding of the city’s paranormal activities for an enhanced experience.

The Haunted LaLaurie Mansion - Copyright US Ghost Adventures — *The Haunted LaLaurie Mansion* – Copyright US Ghost Adv entures

Choose your unique New Orleans experience and take a French Quarter Ghost Tour to discover why the dead are doomed to relive their past for eternity and to also uncover a higher chance of experiencing something out of the ordinary.

MY TIPS FOR GHOST HUNTING IN NEW ORLEANS

JOIN A TOUR: (See above!) New Orleans offers ghost hunters not just a chance for supernatural encounters but also a rich cultural and historical experience so whether you’re drawn by the stories of the dead or the city’s vibrant charm, a ghost hunt in New Orleans is as much about connecting with its past as it is about seeking the paranormal.

RESPECT THE SPIRITS: Whether visiting cemeteries or other haunted locations, show respect to the spirits and the history of the city.

STAY IN A HAUNTED HOTEL: Hotels like Chateau Hotel where we stayed (and hardly slept as I found it so excitingly spooky) with its spooky attic room and four-poster bed certainly enhanced my eerie experience in The Big Easy.

There’s also the Bourbon Orleans Hotel and Hotel Monteleone which are reputed to offer a chance for you to experience paranormal activity first hand.

PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS: Many of the venues in the historic French Quarter and Garden District welcome ghost hunters with open arms, often hosting special investigation nights, or providing access to paranormal equipment.

SPIRITUAL SHOPS: I loved exploring the spooky shops where you can find tools for your spirit hunt, from sage to spells and talismans, in the city’s many voodoo and occult shops.

New Orleans French Quarter is about connecting with its past as it is about seeking the paranormal. — *New Orleans is about connecting with its past as it is about seeking the paranormal*

SPOOKY REASONS TO EXPLORE NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans, with its rich history, tragic past, and a cultural fascination with the supernatural – is a city that embraces its haunted history so here are my spooky suggestions for reasons to explore New Orleans – if you, like me, just happen to be as fascinated by the supernatural!

A TRAGIC HISTORY: Founded in 1718, New Orleans has a long and tumultuous history, including battles, fires, and colonial rivalries. The city’s role in the transatlantic slave trade left behind stories of suffering and unrest, with many enslaved people believed to haunt the places where they were mistreated.

VOODOO INFLUENCE: Voodoo, brought to New Orleans by enslaved Africans, has a deep connection to the city’s culture and this has cultivated an atmosphere where the supernatural is embraced rather than feared.

The religion blends West African beliefs with Catholicism and Haitian Vodou.

Marie Laveau, the “Voodoo Queen of New Orleans,” is one of the most famous figures tied to the city’s voodoo history and many believe her spirit still lingers in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 where her tomb is a pilgrimage site for those seeking her blessings or wishing to connect with voodoo traditions.

HAUNTINGS AND GHOST STORIES: New Orleans is filled with tales of restless spirits. Many buildings in the French Quarter and beyond are said to be haunted due to tragic events, from murders to epidemics like yellow fever.

The dimly lit streets, wrought iron balconies, and historical ambiance set the perfect mood for a ghost hunt especially at Halloween and during other festivals, which amplify the city’s supernatural vibes, that have led to visitors and locals alike reporting apparitions, cold spots, disembodied voices, and other unexplained phenomena.

HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL CEMETERIES: The city’s famous Cities of the Dead are eerie and atmospheric and their unique design of above ground tombs, shaped by the high-water table, adds to the ghostly ambiance.

STRANGE SIGHTINGS: From spectral carriages rolling through the streets to ghostly apparitions seen in windows, locals and tourists alike often report paranormal encounters and sightings of shadowy figures, glowing orbs, and inexplicable noises.

LOCATIONS OF TRAGIC EVENTS: Infamous locations include The LaLaurie Tragedy – a story of unimaginable cruelty that continues to captivate ghost hunters and The Sultan’s Palace – a chilling tale of murder that resonates with those looking for macabre experiences.

Mass deaths from fever and epidemics have left behind an imprint that many claim still lingers in places like the St. Louis Cemeteries. Hurricane Katrina and earlier disasters have left emotional imprints, with some believing they contribute to spiritual unrest.

New Orleans Hauntingly beautiful cemeteries — *New Orleans –* *Hauntingly beautiful cemeteries*

MOST HAUNTED PLACES IN NEW ORLEANS

LALAURIE MANSION: Location: 1140 Royal Street, French Quarter. Perhaps the most infamous haunted house in New Orleans, this mansion was the home of Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a wealthy socialite known for her brutal treatment of enslaved people. After a fire revealed her horrific abuses, she fled, but it’s said the spirits of her victims still linger in the house.

Reported activities include: the sounds of chains dragging, apparitions of tortured souls, and a generally oppressive atmosphere.

ST.LOUIS CEMETERY NO. 1: Location: 425 Basin Street. The oldest cemetery in New Orleans, it’s famous for its above-ground tombs and the resting place of Marie Laveau.

Reported activities include: visitors claim to see ghostly figures, hear whispered voices and feel an eerie presence.

HOTEL MONTELEONE: Location: 214 Royal Street. A historic hotel known for its ghostly residents, including a young boy named Maurice who passed away there.

Reported activities include: moving elevators, phantom children playing, and cold spots.

THE HAUNTED SULTAN’S PALACE: Location: 716 Dauphine Street. Once the site of a grisly massacre, legend says the house belonged to a mysterious “sultan” who was brutally murdered along with his harem.

Reported activities include: the scent of incense, ghostly figures, and unexplainable noises.

MURIEL’S JACKSON SQUARE: Location: 801 Chartres Street. This restaurant is haunted by its former owner, Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, who committed suicide after losing the building in a card game.

Reported activities include: guests report moving objects, disembodied voices, and feelings of being watched.

PIRATES ALLEY: Location: Adjacent to St. Louis Cathedral. Said to be haunted by the ghost of Jean Lafitte, a notorious pirate who may have frequented the area.

Reported Activities include: spectral sightings of Lafitte and shadowy figures.

THE OLD URSULINE CONVENT: Location: 1100 Chartres Street. Reputed as the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley, the convent is rumoured to have ties to vampires and mysterious deaths.

Reported Activities include: whispered prayers and ghostly nuns seen in the halls.

THE OMNI ROYAL ORLEANS HOTEL: Location: 621 St. Louis Street. This luxurious hotel has a dark past, with numerous accounts of ghostly encounters.

Reported activities include: ghostly children and the spirit of a Confederate soldier.

CHATEAU HOTEL: Location: 1001 Chartres Street. This three-star hotel is where I stayed during my four nights in New Orleans. It’s in a great location just two blocks from Bourbon Street and The French Market (for their Creole char-grilled garlic and herb infused oysters!) and a short walk to Jackson Square. It doesn’t claim to be haunted and yet where isn’t in the French Quarter?

Reported activities: I definitely sensed a spiritual and haunting presence in our attic bedroom and so I’m including it here in my list of Most Haunted Places!