St. Louis Cathedral

The triple-spired cathedral presiding over Jackson Square — the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States, and the unmistakable centerpiece of every French Quarter view. Its present 1850s facade rises from Spanish Colonial roots, and the vaulted, fresco-touched interior offers a moment of calm steps from the square's buskers and artists. Floodlit at night, it anchors the city's most iconic scene. For visitors, it's both a working church and the defining image of New Orleans — the building that, with the Pontalba rows beside it, turns Jackson Square into one of the most recognizable squares in America.