Overview
Often considered the "mother city" of the Cajun settlements in Louisiana, St. Martinville is the parish seat of St. Martin Parish and a picturesque Main Street community. The centerpiece of the town is the St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, which was the center of both community and religious life for the Acadian settlers that came to south central Louisiana.
4 sights · 3 things to do · 1 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about St. Martinville
Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site
This park features the Creole plantation house Maison Olivier, an Acadian cabin, and an Acadian farmstead with slave quarters on the Bayou Teche.
Saint Martin De Tours Church
Church erected by Acadian refugees around 1840 that is more or less the centerpiece of St. Martinville.
Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
Some lovely swamp country in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin here, you can rent a canoe or kayak or hike on several trails. Odds are in your favor you'll encounter alligators and mosquitos. Camping/cabins are also ava…
St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center
Contains the African-American Museum and the Museum of the Acadian Memorial.
Evangeline Oak Park
Here you'll find the Evangeline Oak which figures as the local legendary meeting place of the star-crossed lovers from the poem Evangeline by Henry Longfellow, a rather sacrosanct novelty in this town.
Lake Martin
Some more very aesthetic swamp scenes here. If you have a boat, you can immerse yourself in this environment with Spanish moss covered cypress trees and quiet waters.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 42°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Jan. (climate data from nearby Baton Rouge)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LFT Lafayette Regional Airport, Lafayette — 11 mi away. Directions
- BTR Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Baton Rouge — 49 mi away. Directions
- MSY Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, New Orleans — 94 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center, Evangeline Oak Park, Saint Martin De Tours Church
- Afternoon Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site, Lake Martin
Day 2
- Morning Lake Fausse Pointe State Park
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
See
Do
Do Lake Martin
Some more very aesthetic swamp scenes here. If you have a boat, you can immerse yourself in this environment with Spanish moss covered cypress trees and quiet waters.
Sleep
The most authentic experience would probably be staying in cabins or a tent at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park or similarly in a tent at Champagne's Swamp Tours, but there is also a bed and breakfast on Lake Martinville for those who want more comforts.
Go next
Nearby
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Atchafalaya Basin
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My experience
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