Natchez Travel Guide

Natchez is the oldest settlement on the Mississippi river.It was founded in 1716 by the French. It has many interesting old buildings, preserved as evidence of the opulent life of the city's planting society during the first two- thirds of the nineteenth century. Few Southern towns have produced and then preserved such a rich architectural flowering.

Natchez is known as the antebellum capital of the world. There are over 600 antebellum homes and buildings to see. The large mansions in Natchez were not destroyed during the American Civil War. Several of these mansions are open to the public as museums and show the pre-Civil War lifestyle. A tour of one or more of these mansions is worthwhile. Others are open as Bed and Breakfast inns.

     Natchez has a spring and fall pilgrimage that attracts visitors from all over the world. There's also festivals year round from the Great Mississippi River Balloon Festival to antique shows and Mardi Gras. There's great shopping in the down town area and great resturants on just about every block. The view of the Mississippi River from the 200ft bluffs is really something to see.

Natchez offers something for everyone. There's 2 golf courses, hunting, fishing, house tours, casinos, and streets of little shops and resturants. Natchez also has ghost tours and carriage tours. The horse drawn carriage tour is a 40 to 45 min narrated tour through the historic district that goes by antebellum homes and churches. The tour is really neat at night, when the stained glass windows are lit up and the town seems to light up with gas lamps and Street lamps that have a pleasant old world charm.

Natchez was at one time the wealthiest city in the USA. Cotton was king and Natchez could not only grow it, Natchez could ship it too. At one time Natchez was known as the biggest port on the Mississippi River and also the first capital of Mississippi. The oldest capital building for MississippiNatchez and New Orleans seem to have a lot in common from food to architecture. Natchez is only 3 years older than New Orleans and they were both founded by the French.