This 40-mile tour has a plantation, bayou views, and local artists. While no longer open to the public, the Chretien Point Plantation remains a historic landmark in St. Landry Parish and this bike trail will take you right past the sprawling estate and reportedly haunted site of a Civil War battle. Traveling this trail will also bring you through Grand Coteau and the Academy of the Sacred Heart. This historic school was founded in 1821 and is the site of the miraculous cure by St. John Berchmans of the terminally ill novice, Mary Wilson. It stands as the only Vatican-recognized miracle in North America and is featured on our Spiritual Trail as well.

Grand Coteau is a picturesque community with many other culturally and architecturally significant structures. Along the way, you can also visit the Church of St. Charles Borromeo. To the rear of the church is a cemetery filled with many old and interesting gravesites that reflect architectural styles ranging from Greek revival to Renaissance revival and Egyptian motifs of the 1870s and ‘80s.

Route Description:

Start: Acadiana park on Alexander Street in North Lafayette, the Acadiana Park parking lot.

0.8 Right on Louisiana Avenue.

2.2 Right on Pont de Mouton. Take an immediate left on LaJaunie Road.

4.2 Left on Gloria Switch Road.

5.5 Right on Wilderness Trail.

6.3 Bayou Wilderness Campground & Store. Good stop for drinks and snacks.

6.7 Left on Beau Bassin. Cross bayou and turn right at T.

8.6 Left on Catholique–at dead end sign.

9.8 Right on St. Esprit at T. 11.2 Right at T and stop sign on Hwy. 726.

11.6 Straight ahead on Kidder at Y.

12.5 Left on Brasseaux.

13.8 Right on I-49 Frontage Road.

14.1 Left on Hwy.182. Go under I-49. 14.4 Right on Frontage Road.

15.8 Left on Begnaud Road (near nursery). 17.4 Left at T.

19.1 Right on Hwy. 356.

19.2 Right on Chretien Point Road.

20.3 Chretien Point Plantation.

Start: Chretien Point Plantation to The Academy of The Sacred Heart. Left out of the gate at Chretien Point Plantation.

1.8 Right on Robert Daily Road.

3.1 Left on Sunset Strip (Hwy. 93).

3.5 Right on Hwy. 182 and Hwy. 93 in Sunset.

4.1 Left on Hwy. 93.

5.4 Left on Church Street (Hwy. 93) at the traffic light in Grand Coteau.

6.5 Academy of the Sacred Heart. Retrace your route back into Grand Coteau & continue on to Lafayette.

Start: Grand Coteau to Lafayette, at the traffic light in Grand Coteau. Left on Hwy. 93 East

0.1 Kitchen Shop.

4.5 Right on Bayou Fuselier road (EASILY MISSED!).

8.6 Left on Hwy. 726.

9.8 Right on Wilderness Trail—just after the bridge.

13.8 Bayou Wilderness Campground & Store.

14.5 Left at stop sign on Gloria Switch road.

16.0 Right on La Jaunie Road.

17.8 Right on Pont de Mouton. Cross bayou then turn left on Louisiana Ave. and go under I-10.

19.4 Left on Alexander

20.2 Acadiana Park.

Ride through the history of Cajun music on this route that takes you along the Cajun Prairie. Leave the sprawling live oaks and historic homes of Washington and move on to rice fields and crawfish farms as you make your way to Mamou and Eunice. You can pass by Fred’s Lounge in Mamou which has been a hub of Cajun music since 1948.

Near Eunice, consider a stop at the Savoy Music Center, home of well-known musician and accordion-maker Marc Savoy. Nice country roads will be your route back through rice fields until you reach the town of Branch when you will return to sugar cane territory. The only place for food and drink between Eunice and Sunset is a Chevron Station in Branch at the junction of Highways 35 and 365.

Sunset is the Rubboard Capital of the World made so by the largest rubboard in the world marking the town as well as being the base of operations for renowned rubboard maker, Tee Don Landry. Call ahead and you’ll be able to tour his key of Z frottoirs that are so popular in zydeco music.

Start: Washington Tourist Information Center on Main Street.

WASHINGTON to MAMOU and Fred’s Lounge:

Take Hwy. 103 West out of Washington.

0.4 Magnolia Ridge Plantation.

2.2 Arlington Antebellum Home.

6.8 Straight ahead on Hwy. 363.

6.9 Grand Prairie

7.2 Left onto Hwy. 748 at graveyard and church.

11.4 Straight ahead on Hwy. 748 at the junction with Hwy. 1169.

12.9 Junction with Hwy. 167 and Hwy. 10. Straight ahead on LeBois D’Arch Road. Do Not Turn on Hwy. 167 & 10.

14.3 Left at T and stop sign on Bellaire Cove Road.

16.4 Right on Lance De Cavalier Road (EASILY MISSED!). Brick house on right. Street sign with name of road was missing at the time of this writing.

20.4 Right at T onto Hwy.104 (Prairie Ronde Road near the Olivier Store).

22.8 Right at T and stop sign on Hwy. 104 & Hwy. 29.

23.1 Left on Hwy. 104. Follow the sign to Mamou.

31.0 Left at four-way stop and caution light on Sixth Street.

31.7 FRED’S LOUNGE ON THE LEFT.

MAMOU TO EUNICE:

Fred’s Lounge. Go left or south on Hwy. 104.

0.3 Left on Hwy. 95 at T and stop sign toward Chataigner.

3.8 Left on Hwy. 95 at T and stop sign.

8.9 In Chataignier, go right on Hwy. 29 to Eunice.

16.3 Left on Hwy. 13 at stop sign and caution light.

17.0 At the traffic light, cross Hwy. 190 and continue straight ahead.

Start: Cajun Music Hall of Fame

Right at T onto C.C. Duson Street.

0.4 Right on Hwy. 91 South.

0.9 Left on Hwy. 755 Spur (College Street).

1.4 Right on Hwy. 755 (by the Cemetery).

1.8 Left at T and stop on Hwy. 755 (LSUE Street).

6.4 Straight ahead on Hwy. 368 East & Hwy. 370.

9.4 Right on Hwy. 370 (Frey Cove Road) at T.

9.9 Straight ahead on Hwy. 370 West (McCain Road).

12.9 Left on Hwy. 365 East.

14.9 Straight ahead on Shultz Road at junction with Hwy. 13.

15.9 Straight ahead on PR1109.

16.4 Left on Hwy.1109.

17.4 Right on Hwy. 365 (Branch Highway) at T and stop sign.

23.9 In Branch, at the junction with Hwy. 35, continue straight ahead on Hwy. 365 (Branch Highway). Chevron Station & Deli will be on your left.

28.4 Right at T and stop sign on Hwy. 95 & Hwy. 365. Then immediately turn left on Hwy. 365 (Choppy’s Road).

29.6 Left at T on Mary Alice Road

31.5 Right on Hwy. 356 (Peach Bloom Highway)

33.7 Left on Hwy. 356 in Bristol.

35.8 Left on Chretien Point Road (EASILY MISSED!).

36.8 Chretien Point Plantation.

38.6 At yield sign, continue straight ahead. Turn right at stop sign.

38.8 Right on Highway 182 into Sunset.

40.4 Sunset Town Hall on left. Bed & Breakfast available in Sunset and Grand Coteau. Historical attractions and a good restaurant are located in Grand Coteau.

This 40-mile journey will take you through Opelousas, Sunset, and Grand Coteau along the route from Washington all the way south to Breaux Bridge. Washington was a thriving steamboat town in its heyday and today is home to the Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant and a plethora of historic homes. You can grab a map at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center that marks some particularly notable locations including haunted locales and antique shopping opportunities.

Opelousas is known as the “Zydeco Capital of the World” and is the home of pioneers of the genre including Amédé Ardoin and Clifton Chenier. You’ll pass by plenty of art downtown denoting its musical history. While in Opelousas you can stop by Yam Country Pies on Grolee street. This family-run business is the destination for sweet dough pies in the area. You can let their spicy tea cakes or sweet cream-filled pies fuel the next leg of your journey.

In Breaux Bridge, you will arrive at the “crawfish capital of the world,” which celebrates the famous crustacean every May with the Crawfish Festival. Stop for a meal and maybe a Cajun two-step in one of the local dance halls.

Start: Washington Tourist Information Center on Main Street. Take Hwy.103 East (St. Landry Veteran’s Memorial Highway) out of Washington.

0.7 Go under Interstate 49.

1.5 Right on Hwy.743.

3.9 Right on Hwy. 744. Easily missed!

4.2 Left on Bay Ridge Road (small country road).

5.0 Left at T and Stop on Frontage Road (following I 49).

7.6 Right at T and Stop. Go under I 49. You will be on East Prudhomme in Opelousas.

8.5 Left on Tunica Street at 4-Way Stop. Tunica changes name to Wallior.

9.1 Right on Grolee.

9.4 Lombard Street. Tony Chachere Seasonings Factory will be to the right on Lombard. Call ahead at 337-948-4691 if you would like a tour of the factory.

Note: At the intersection of Grolee and Main Street, you can walk your bike 1/2 block to the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center on Main Street. At this museum, you can learn the history of Zydeco Music as well as the history of Opelousas.

9.5 Continue on Grolee to reach Market Street.

9.8 Left on Market Street.

10.0 Corner of Landry and Market Street. In this area is Chicory’s at the Palace, Back in Time, and Java Square, three cafés with excellent food and great coffee. You also have some shopping options available with Wildchild Essentials and MOSS Floral and Garden.

10.0 Continue on Market Street to leave Opelousas.

10.8 Left on Bertheaud Ave.

11.0 Right on Union Street (Hwy. 182). There will be moderate traffic on this stretch of road in Opelousas, but there is a shoulder. And the traffic will lessen as you leave the city.

19.7 Hwy. 95. You can take this road to reach Chretien Point Plantation. You are now in the town of Sunset.

20.1 Budd Street. La Caboose Gift Shop on Bud Street. Get ready for a left-hand turn.

20.2 Left on Hwy. 93

20.9 Grand Coteau. Follow Hwy. 93 through Grand Coteau.

21.4 Traffic light at the intersection of Hwy.93 and Church Street. To visit the Academy of the Sacred Heart, turn left on Church Street.

22.0 Continue on Hwy.93 East toward Arnaudville.

26.1 Right on Bayou Fuselier Road. Easily missed!

30.2 Left on Hwy. 726.

31.4 Right on Wilderness Trail.

35.4 Bayou Wilderness Campground and Store.

35.4 Left on St. Clair at Y.

37.2 Right at T and Stop on Hwy. 354.

39.6 Straight ahead on Hebert Road. Do not follow 354 to the right!

41.0 Right on N. Berard Street (Hwy.31).

41.5 Junction of Hwy. 94 and Hwy. 31. Continue straight on Hwy.31 to reach downtown Breaux Bridge.

42.4 Left on Bridge Street at traffic light.

42.6 Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center in Breaux Bridge.