Garden District, the charm of New Orleans

Around St Charles Avenue, you'll find Greek Revival-style houses with colonnades to admire. Victorian houses are also typical of the area.

Most of these architectural jewels date back to the 1850s, so make sure you don't miss out on any of them:

• The House of Broel (2220 St Charles Ave), a remarkable residence, which can be visited (entrance fee payable).
• Grace King House (1749 Coliseum St), with its remarkable façade
• Goodrich-Stanley House (1729 Coliseum St), dating from 1837
• Brevard House (1239 First St), the former home of Anne Rice, author of Interview with a Vampire.

And don't miss Lafayette Cemetery, the oldest in New Orleans (1833) and well worth a visit. A remarkable architectural detail, the tombs are shaped like little houses. This is because the graves had to be raised due to flooding...

Book a guided tour through the tourist office.

What's more, the wealth of vegetation brings a touch of nature to the heart of the town. The streets are lined with magnificent hundred-year-old oak trees, and the parks and gardens are overflowing with magnolias, cypresses, frangipani trees...

This urban jungle is great for photography, so don't forget your cameras and smartphones.

Discovering the district at the slow pace of the tramway is a traveller's dream adapted to families. Here, the St Charles Streetcar Line winds its way through gardens and listed mansions.

Between you and me, the area is ideal for exploring by bike. Pedalling under the foliage, in the heart of an American metropolis, is like experiencing New Orleans.

As an added bonus, there's a bike hire scheme (Blue Bike) run by the city of New Orleans. To hire a self-service bike, simply download the app and follow the instructions.

You can book a guided bike tour, and there are several service providers in the city. We recommend Flambeaux Bicycle Tours. You can choose between different itineraries, including the A tale of two cities tour, which lasts three hours.

To the south of the district, Magazine Street is full of good addresses and unusual shops. It's a destination of choice for fans of fashion, antiques and shopping of all kinds.

You'll find a host of wellness boutiques (hairdressers, beauty salons), antique shops and clothing shops. There are also a number of bars and restaurants.

As an added bonus, these shops are often located on the ground floor of historic Creole homes. That adds a touch of cachet to the shopping experience!

The Garden District B & B is an ideal address for a stay in the district. Its location on Magazine Street, close to the shops, is ideal.

The warm welcome from the hosts is just as fantastic! As for the rooms, they are spacious and have kitchenettes. The breakfasts are copious, and everything is in place to make you feel at home!

Commander's Palace is a local institution, where Creole cuisine is sublime and the choice of wine is remarkable. Established in 1893, it is an award-winning gourmet restaurant. Appropriate dress is required, so remember to book in advance.