Top 15 Must-See Attractions in Abbeville, Louisiana

Established by Acadians in the 19th century, Abbeville is a picturesque town located along the Vermilion River, distinguished by its historic live oaks.

Positioned within the Cajun Corridor byway, visitors can explore various museums that celebrate Cajun culture and commemorate the deportation of the Acadians from Nova Scotia during the mid-18th century.

The local cuisine plays a significant role in Abbeville’s allure, with exceptional options for enjoying oysters, crawfish, and cherished Cajun dishes including gumbo, étouffée, and fried alligator.

Abbeville hosts several renowned events, where one can enjoy live music beneath the winding oak branches at Magdalen Square in the spring, or witness chefs preparing a 5,000-egg omelette in November.

1. Dining

Abbeville’s Cajun cultural heritage is prominently reflected in its diverse and vibrant food scene.

The town boasts an array of high-quality Cajun and Creole-inspired restaurants that would take multiple visits to fully appreciate.

Being in close proximity to the coast, you will find access to fresh local specialties such as seasonal oysters and crawfish, alongside dishes like crawfish étouffée, gumbo, fried catfish, crab cakes, po-boys, and beyond.

Notable establishments include SHUCKS! (701 W Port ST), Dupuy’s Seafood and Steak (108 S Main St), RiverFront (530 Park Ave), Richard’s Seafood Patio (1516 S Henry St), and Cajun Claws (1928 Charity St).

2. Magdalen Square

Magdalen Square is an enchanting plaza that serves as the heart of downtown Abbeville. The square is surrounded by a low wall and adorned with dense tree coverage from its historic live oaks, providing ample shade for visitors.

This area features a charming gazebo and a central fountain, making it a prime location for Abbeville’s various community gatherings, including a bustling farmers’ market on Saturday mornings that attracts numerous vendors.

Live music performances are typically featured at the market, as well as during the Sounds of the Square concert series held on Thursday evenings.

While this article focuses on attractions within walking distance of Magdalen Square, the Magdalen Place event center is located to the south, while Concord St leads east to the Vermilion Parish Courthouse (1952), which is flanked by two impressive live oaks.

3. Abbeville Cultural & Historical Museum & Art Gallery

Located to the north of Magdalen Square, the Veterans Memorial Building serves multiple purposes. It functions as a visitor center and gift shop for Vermilion Parish, making it an excellent starting point for discovering Abbeville.

The museum features several compelling permanent displays that narrate the history of Le Grand Derangement, detailing the experiences of Acadian people from Nova Scotia in the 18th century, alongside other important local historical events.

A standout exhibit is the Morgan Effigy, a unique artifact discovered in a Native American mound, carved from a deer antler in the 10th century CE.

Moreover, the museum hosts rotating art exhibits, refreshed five times annually, showcasing local artists and addressing themes such as the surrounding swamps and African American history.

4. Palmetto Island State Park

Palmetto Island State Park, located a short drive south of Abbeville, offers a protected natural environment characteristic of South Louisiana. The park is named for the dense mat of dwarf palmettos that thrive under the coastal bottomland hardwood forests.

Visitors can explore this habitat along a walking trail that spans three-quarters of a mile from the visitor center. Families are sure to enjoy the large splash pad situated at the visitor center, especially during the summer months.

Overnight accommodations are available, featuring 96 campsites and six vacation cabins. The park is also an ideal location for paddling, whether along the Vermilion River via a boat launch or within the serene interior lagoons.

5. Depot at Magdalen Place

For a look back at the city’s industrial heritage, visit the relocated Abbeville freight depot, established in 1894.

This wooden structure, now situated a block south of Magdalen Square, was once positioned adjacent to the Vermilion River, accompanied by two cabooses.

Presently, the depot houses a small visitor information center and a gift shop that sells authentic local and Cajun products.

Additionally, a modest yet engaging exhibition highlights Abbeville’s railroad history, featuring various intriguing memorabilia.

6. Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum

Located at 304 S State St, this historic establishment dates back to around 1913 and was originally situated where the current Abbeville freight depot stands.

The Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop operated longer than one might anticipate, only closing its doors in 2004.

Items repaired or created in this shop included cattle brands, components for tractors, and stretchers for muskrat and nutria pelts.

The museum features a collection of historical tools that provides a glimpse into Abbeville a century ago. For those merely passing by, a detailed information board is placed out front.

7. St. Mary Magdalen Church

Another prominent feature of the Abbeville skyline is the spire of St. Mary Magdalen Church, located on the west side of Magdalen Square.

This brick structure, designed in a Gothic Revival style with Romanesque Revival accents, represents the fourth Catholic church built on this site and was completed in 1920.

Visitors interested in the church’s architecture, fixtures, and liturgical art will appreciate the opportunity to view the 18 Ionic and Corinthian column capitals, along with the oak ciborium in the apse, which depicts Christ and the twelve apostles.

Notable elements include the Carrera marble side altars featuring images of Mary and St. Joseph, as well as the stained glass windows from Europe lining the nave, which portray saints and scenes from the life of Jesus.

The adjoining cemetery has roots dating back to approximately 1844, while the adjacent rectory, known as the Foursquare building, was constructed in 1921.

8. C.S. Steen’s Syrup Mill

Abbeville is surrounded by lush sugarcane fields, and one notable feature of the town is the operational open-kettle sugarcane syrup mill, situated just a block west of Magdalen Square.

Adjacent to Abbeville’s hydro plant (1922) and directly opposite the cemetery, C.S. Steen’s Syrup Mill has been producing syrup since 1910. Steen’s 100% Pure Cane Syrup has been a staple in South Louisiana households for over seventy years.

The mill utilizes the traditional open kettle method, and visitors can view the distinctive yellow Steen-branded tanks from the nearby area.

Tours of the mill were available until recently, with plans to establish a visitor center in progress at the time of writing.

The proprietors are known to warmly welcome visitors, sharing the company’s history and sometimes providing complimentary bottles of syrup.

9. Rip Van Winkle Gardens

Approximately a 15-minute drive east on LA 14 leads you to Jefferson Island, one of the region’s distinctive salt domes.

These striking natural formations, formed from rock salt, emerge dramatically from the flat landscape and feature salt deposits that extend deep underground.

In 1870, esteemed stage actor Joseph Jefferson (1829-1905) selected Jefferson Island as the site for his lavish Late Victorian residence, which also served as a painting studio and hunting lodge.

This elegant home is surrounded by stunning semi-tropical gardens and features Rip’s Rookery, a man-made wetland that provides a protected habitat for thousands of nesting wading birds.

Visitors can tour the Jefferson House, which still boasts paintings created by Joseph Jefferson, while Café Jefferson is renowned as one of the area’s finest Cajun dining establishments, offering picturesque views of Lake Peigneur.

This expansive 1,100-acre lake has a fascinating history, having accidentally become the deepest lake in Louisiana in 1980 due to an oil drilling mishap that caused a salt mine beneath the lakebed to flood, swallowing dozens of acres of land.

10. Acadian Museum of Erath

A brief ten-minute drive east will bring you to the quaint town of Erath, where a visit to the local museum is highly recommended.

The Acadian Museum of Erath provides valuable insights into the Acadians who settled in this region following their expulsion from Nova Scotia during the 1760s and 1770s. The museum comprises five rooms featuring bilingual French-English exhibits.

Particularly noteworthy is the Acadian Room, which showcases four centuries of rare artifacts and offers in-depth information about Joseph Broussard (1702–1765), who led the first wave of 200 Acadians arriving in Louisiana aboard the Santo Domingo in 1765.

A significant display is also found in the Queen’s Royal Proclamation Room, which documents the Royal Proclamation signed by the British Crown in 2003, acknowledging the injustices inflicted upon the Acadians in the 18th century and designating July 28 as the Day of Commemoration of the Acadian Deportation.

11. Louisiana Military Museum

Located at the Abbeville Chris Crusta Memorial Airport in the eastern part of the city, the Louisiana Military Hall of Fame features a free museum.

Within this engaging venue, visitors can explore a collection of military hardware, including tanks, artillery, armored personnel carriers, jeeps, a helicopter, and a preserved Higgins boat.

This impressive array is complemented by information boards, field equipment, uniforms, small arms, photographs, correspondence, flags, medals, and an extensive assortment of other military memorabilia.

At the time of this writing, the museum was undergoing renovations and was accessible by appointment only.

12. AA Comeaux Park

AA Comeaux Park, the largest public park in Abbeville, is located just a few blocks south of downtown and serves as a hub for various recreational activities.

The park features a skate park, numerous baseball fields, soccer fields, eight tennis courts, a recreation center, and a one-mile walking path.

Families will appreciate the park’s fantastic, newly updated play areas, including a brand new splash pad for kids to enjoy.

Furthermore, AA Comeaux Park offers several shelters available for rent, equipped with grills, making it an ideal venue for birthday parties and family reunions.

13. Lafitte Cinema

The Lafitte Mall shopping center, located less than five minutes east of downtown Abbeville, features a multiplex theater that screens current films. This venue carries a unique history, as it was once the location of Abbeville’s drive-in theater.

The proximity of Lafitte Cinema to the heart of Abbeville is one of its key advantages, while the cinema also offers a cozy atmosphere for enjoying movies, equipped with all-digital projection and sound in its four theaters.

Moreover, matinee specials are offered for all screenings before 4:30 PM, and advance tickets can be procured during regular box office hours.

14. Giant Omelette Celebration

South Louisiana is renowned for its unique public festivities, and the two-day Giant Omelette Celebration in downtown Abbeville is a particularly notable event.

This vibrant gathering takes place on the first weekend of November, with the highlight occurring on Sunday when chefs from around the world come together to prepare a colossal 5,000-egg omelette in a 12-foot skillet.

A Jr. omelette, made with just 600 eggs in a 4-foot skillet, also takes place as part of the festivities. The celebration kicks off on Saturday at Magdalen Square and includes two days filled with arts and crafts, live music, a children’s area, dance performances, classic vehicles, as well as quirky competitions like an egg-cracking contest.

15. Sicilian Celebration

In the early 20th century, a significant wave of immigration from Sicily to New Orleans occurred. For many families, New Orleans was not their final destination, and several settled in Vermilion Parish, where names such as Guzzardo and Campisi continue to be prevalent.

Since 2019, Abbeville has implemented an annual celebration honoring this aspect of its heritage, featuring a series of free activities at the Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum & Heritage Center.

This event centers around a cooking contest, along with offerings of imported wines and beers, pizza, muffalettas, live music, and complimentary guided tours of the Sam Guarino Blacksmith Shop Museum.