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Tours & experiences

Gilded Grit: Women of the Vieux Carré Walking Tour

About this experience

The French Quarter has always belonged to its women—painted or pious, dangerous or divine, sometimes all at once.

We reveal the fiercely complex women who shaped the heart of New Orleans. Their names echo like hymns and hexes: Baroness Pontalba, Elizabeth Werlein, Madame LaLaurie, Marie Laveau, Saint Frances Cabrini, & Rose Nicaud.

The Baroness de Pontalba, who stamped her initials—and her vision—into the architecture of Jackson Square. Her story is one of defiance and civic rebirth.

The preservationist fire of Elizabeth Werlein - this woman's fire saved rather than destroyed.

Madame LaLaurie's horrors told not through haunted legend, but the cruelty of racial violence cloaked in wealth and elegance laid bare.

Marie Laveau—Voodoo Queen, healer, mystic, and more.

Rose Nicaud, once-enslaved, she carved out a life selling coffee —one of the city’s first Black, female entrepreneurs.

Women who didn’t just live in New Orleans. They built her, saw her broken, and resurrected her.

At a glance

  • Duration: 1 hr 45 min

Choose your tour option

Select a date and travellers to compare current prices and departure times.

Gilded Grit: Private
Private -only you & your guest
Gilded Grit: No-Walk
Content presented one location
Gilded Grit: Women of the Vieux Carré Walking Tour

Plan your experience

Time on the tour1 hr 45 min
Guide languagesEnglish (live guide)

Set aside 1 hr 45 min for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.

Compare the available options before choosing: their itinerary, inclusions and pickup arrangements can differ. Check the price for your date and whole group.

Before you go

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What is included

  • Licensed Tour Guides

Not included

  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Government Fees

Itinerary and highlights

Brief history of New Orleans founding, the stories of Baroness Pontalba, and Rose Nicaud.

The real story of Madame & Dr. LaLaurie's horrors told not through haunted legend, but their cruelty of racial violence cloaked in wealth and elegance laid bare.

Tour will have a break at Lafitte's

Meeting and pickup information

  • 702 Decatur Amphitheater Steps leading up to Washington Artillery Park between Cafe du Monde and Landry’s. Directly across from Jackson Square

Languages and tickets

  • English — Guide
  • Mobile Only

Tour operator

  • The Real: New Orleans

Accessibility and practical details

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Questions about this experience

How long is this experience?
The supplier lists a duration of 1 hr 45 min. Check your chosen tour option for its specific itinerary.
Which guide languages are listed?
English (live guide).
What ticket format is listed?
Mobile ticket.
What ticket age bands are listed?
Youth tickets: age 8–17; Adult tickets: age 18+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.
What accessibility information is provided?
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveller reviews and photos

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