Opelousas

In the heart of St. Landry Parish, Opelousas is the third-oldest town in the state—Poste de Opelousas was founded in 1720 by the French as a trading post with the Opelousas Indians. It's a sleepy spot with a historic central square, a provincial museum, and several excellent zydeco clubs in town and on its outskirts. Look for two murals located in a pocket park-parking lot adjacent to the St. Landry Bank & Trust Co. building. One depicts the history of the area and historical monuments in St. Landry Parish and the other depicts the legend of the Seven Brothers Oak, which is located south of Washington, a charming nearby town.