GERARD DECQ
Louisiana's oldest city
Natchitoches is proud to be the oldest city in Louisiana, established in 1714 by the Frenchman Louis Juchereau Saint-Denis. Back then it was known as Fort St. Jean Baptiste, but Natchitoches is the name of the Native American tribe that occupied this area before the arrival of the French. It has become a popular tourist destination because of its old-style streets and buildings, which make it seem like a movie set. The film Steel Magnolias was shot here.
