Ascension Parish: Culture, History and Nature
Accommodation in Ascension Parish
Culture, History and Architecture
Donaldsonville’s cultural heritage is connected to trade on the Mississippi River, river transportation and plantation culture. Ascension Catholic Church in Donaldsonville was built in 1869 and combines elements of Gothic Revival and Greek Revival styles. Beyond this single building, Donaldsonville has 50 historic blocks with about 640 buildings dating from 1865 to 1933. The church draws attention to the design of an individual building; the figures for blocks, buildings and construction dates provide an overview of the building stock.
The River Road African American Museum offers guided and self-guided tours in Donaldsonville across a living campus of historic sites. Check tour availability before your trip. The mansion at Houmas House Estate and Gardens has been restored to its Antebellum-era appearance. A guided tour offers insight into the estate’s 250-year history and architectural development.
Routes and the Riverfront in Donaldsonville
The Historic Portals to the Past in Donaldsonville is an approximately 2.5-mile route with seven self-guided stops. It can be explored on foot, by bicycle or by car. The route organizes exploration around stops; Crescent Park offers opportunities for walking, picnicking and other outdoor activities along the Mississippi River. This distinguishes a self-guided route with a set number of stops from the waterside activities mentioned at the park.
Tastings and Local Offerings
Sugarfield Spirits has a tasting room. Distillery tours are available by appointment and give visitors a closer look at the distillation process. Sugarfield Spirits also operates a winery and cidery, where visitors can sample various wine blends and craft ciders. Check tour availability and current service details before your trip.
The Coffee House serves breakfast and lunch, as well as café au lait and beignets at any time of day. The time-of-day detail applies to café au lait and beignets; breakfast and lunch are also on offer. It’s worth checking current service details before visiting.
Golf and the Jambalaya Festival
Pelican Point Golf & Country Club offers two distinct course profiles. The Lakes is a 9-hole course suitable for both beginners and experienced golfers. The Links is an 18-hole championship course with four sets of tees. The number of holes gives a direct indication of the length of each round; the stated suitability for beginners and experienced golfers applies to The Lakes. Since the course configuration can change, check the details before playing.
The Jambalaya Festival and World Champion Jambalaya Cooking Contest are held annually in Gonzales. Over the years, the festival program has included cooking contests, a car show, a craft market, races and other community activities. Individual activities may vary from year to year. Check the specific festival dates and program for your plans.
Landscape and Road Orientation
Maurepas Swamp WMA encompasses Ascension Parish and consists mostly of flooded cypress-tupelo swamp. This is a different focus from Donaldsonville’s architectural and cultural history: here, a wetland shapes the landscape described.
La. 42 in Ascension Parish provides access to U.S. 61 (Airline Hwy.), I-10 between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and I-12 between Baton Rouge and Slidell. For navigation, the two Interstate connections have different named destinations: I-10 connects Baton Rouge and New Orleans, while I-12 connects Baton Rouge and Slidell.
Discover more destinations: Gonzales, Donaldsonville, Avoyelles Parish, Franklin, Rapides Parish, Concordia Parish, Union, Iberville.
For the main travel overview: Louisiana.
