During your visit to Louisiana’s Acadian Village, take a self-guided tour of the Village featuring buildings alongside a winding bayou. Seven of the eleven buildings are authentic Acadian homes of the 19th century donated by families whose ancestors once occupied them. In Acadian Village’s General Store, you will find souvenirs unique to Acadian Village and Louisiana.
General Store
Constructed of old red cypress and Louisiana long leaf pine, the General Store is a replica of a 19th century, old country store built in 1976. Enter through the main gate of Acadian Village and step into the General Store. Here you will receive a map which describes the buildings you will see on your self-guided tour. Be sure to stop by the General Store on your way out too for an exciting shopping experience. Souvenirs unique to Louisiana are available to purchase including authentic Cajun cookbooks, fleur de lis trinkets, Mardi Gras beads and Cajun and Zydeco CDs.
Acadian Homes
Carefully restored onsite and furnished with period antiques, Acadian Village’s buildings complete with wooden pegs, mud walls, hand-hewn cypress timbers and high-peaked roofs reflect the passing of time and are excellent examples of the skill of the early Acadian homebuilders.
Bernard House
Originally constructed in St. Martinsville, Louisiana, Bernard House is the oldest structure in Acadian Village and provides the best example of the type of insulation used by the Acadians, bousillage entre poteaux (mud between posts). Inside works of art depict the exile of the Acadians from Nova Scotia, Canada in 1755 and their arrival and settling of the bayous of Louisiana. In the oldest section of the Bernard House is an exhibit that explores Cajun music.
Billeaud House
Given to the Acadian Village by the Billeaud Sugar Plantation in Broussard, the Billeaud House was built prior to the Civil War and is used today as a spinning and weaving cottage. Two looms can be found inside the Billeaud House, an original loom that is 150 years old and a replica built by 72-year old native, Mr. Whitney Breaux. Inside learn about the homespun blankets woven of white cotton grown in Louisiana and the brown cotton they used that came from Mexico.
Blacksmith Shop
The Blacksmith Shop, built of weather-beaten, aged cypress boards, features an anvil, forge and bellows that greatly resemble those during the 19th century. Hanging on the wall are items from the smitty’s collection such as tongs, pincers and hammers. Other tools scattered about have been the mainstay of farmers throughout the years in Southwest, Louisiana. Learn about the importance of a blacksmith during the 19th century during your visit to the Blacksmith Shop. You might even get to meet Acadian Village’s resident blacksmith, who can be found in the shop during special events demonstrating century-old techniques of blacksmithing.
Castille House
Built for Dorsene Catille in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana around 1860, the Castille House is noted for its cypress mantels, each with a carved emblem on the front. The outside figure looks like a Christian fish and symbolizes a long and happy life while the center emblem depicts a rosette, is called progression and represents a large and prosperous family.
Doctor’s Museum
Constructed of cypress in 1890, the Doctor’s Museum was once the office of the first resident dentist in Lafayette, Dr. Hypolite Salles. Its original cypress shingles can still be found on the structure beneath the protective, corrugated tin roof. Within the Doctor’s Museum explore three rooms filled with period furnishings, medical and dental instruments, bottled medicines and powders used during the 19th century. Additional holdings in the Doctor’s Museum include a number of medical books and diplomas of area physicians of late 19th and early 20th century.
Dr. Salles’ House
Dr. Hypolite Salles’ private residence is also located in Acadian Village and is used today to house the Village Art Gallery. Delight in some of the finest examples of Southwest Louisiana landscape paintings, stills, and florals. Acadian Village artists are often found at work in the Art Gallery. All items in the Art Gallery are available to purchase.
LeBlanc House
The LeBlanc House, built between 1821 and 1856 near Youngsville, Louisiana is the birthplace of Acadian Senator Dudley J. LeBlanc. Step inside to learn about the life and times of this great leader. The LeBlanc exhibit contains memorabilia that draw visitors closer to Dudley J. LeBlanc and the era in which he lived.
New Hope Chapel
New Hope Chapel, designed by Don Breaux and Robert Barras, is a replica of an 1850 Acadian Chapel donated to the Village by Mrs. Jules Hebert of Milton. Admire the ceilings of cypress and the floors of long leaf pine. One original pew dating back 150 years can be found in New Hope Chapel while the rest are replicas built by Mr. Whitney Breaux. Of particular beauty is the Chapel’s Stations of the Cross, carefully hand carved by local Louisiana sculptor Mr. Lester Duhon.
Saint John House
Dating back to 1840, Saint John House was originally located on St. John Street near downtown Lafayette. Currently being displayed as a schoolhouse, Saint John House explores what school was like for 19th century Acadian children. Inside you will find a three-seater desk which came from an old schoolhouse in Sunset, Louisiana, old books, lunch pails and a wooden stove.
Thibodeaux House
Originally located in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, the Thibodeaux House dates to 1820 and is made of cypress, each pre-cut beam and post marked with a Roman numeral for ease in assembling. The Thibodeaux House features the daughter’s room, a small, rear room attached to the parent’s room. Boys of the family would have slept in the attic reached by an outside staircase.
T-Paul's House
Paul Duhon, often called T-Paul, was a fixture of Acadian Village for 30 years. While he never had children of his own, he entertained the school children visiting the village with his musical spoons and the tunes he played on his Cajun washboard. After Mr. Duhon passed away in 2007, Willie Duhon used T-Paul’s savings to build a house in his brother’s memory. Paul Duhon’s knife collection and his wood carvings can be found displayed within.
- Exciting events take place at Acadian Village throughout the year including Noel Acadian Au Village, a 23 night Christmas festival. More information on special events taking place at Acadian Village during your visit can be found on the official Acadian Village website.