Welcome to historic colonial Louisiana, in the heart of old Washington, the third oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory, and founded in 1720!

Courtableau House Plantation Guesthouse & Creole Tea Parlor is both the private home of Creole Gourmet/Educator/Author and Int.'l tour guide/interpreter, John la Fleur II, and a 2 room plantation guesthouse/B&B.

The house is a Creole cottage and "grew" over time with additions and a center hall being added to the original structure. This same architectural pattern is designated "Creole" in both Mississippi and Alabama, since earliest times, but in southwest Louisiana's "Cajun" country, it is referred to as "Acadian" which is a sub-species of Louisiana Creole architectural style which largely derived from the Caribbean world; no such architecture was known in Acadian Canada.

The house exhibits numerous Creole architectural characteristics such as French doors on the inside and out, a separate dining hall and kitchen, an elegant mantle, beamed ceilings in indigo wash and indoor staircasing. The elegant inner staircase of present times is a good restoration by John la Fleur. The front gallery staircase was added by Mr. la FLeur himself, to effect the Acadian tradition, but it is not inappropriate in both design and  period architectural tradition although this house never had an "acadian" gallery staircase. Such outdoor gallery staircases long antedate the arrival of the Acadians having their origin in the West Indies and brought to Louisiana by the early Creoles. They are still to be seen in some of the earliest Creole plantations at the ground level.

An artist, John la Fleur II is the 7th generation of his family of Louisiana French-Indian Creoles to live in this area of St.Landry Parish. An educator, author, and Creole/Cajun gourmet, he is the Concierge of the 2 suite, w/ private baths, guesthouse. John opens his gardens to Spring and Autumnal tours by appointment only.

Garden guide and expert, Mark Gillis, leads tours and provides a wealth of information to those who love gardening. He is the weekend/Sunday host of Courtableau House.

The guesthouse is beautifully restored and decorated, and quite authentic. Lovely, enclosed gardens, in the middle of which is an elegant circular pond surrounded by wrought iron chairs and little tables, provide a summer spot for guests to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, outdoors if preferred.  

The beautiful front gallery, outfitted with rocking chairs and little tables sits high on the "mound" on which generations of French & English speaking families once watched the steamboats coming up  Bayou Courtableau. 

story and garden tour with Creole Gourmet Lunch by reservations only are offered on Sunday AM by limit party of 12 adults per visit. Donation: $35.00. Call in your reservation today at 337 418 1506 and start living!

-House & Garden tour only, donation $10.00 w/tea/coffee

Children, if supervised vigilantly, may be allowed.

Refreshments are served in the garden, with tea in the parlor or painted dining hall.

HIGH TEA ANYONE? CALL US FOR 2 WK ADVANCE RESERVATIONS TO PLAN A HOLIDAY WITH A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE!!!

 SEE, HOUSE TOURS BY APPT. ONLY SECTION FOR PRICES AND TERMS

Please phone your inquiries to 337 418 1506, or email us at: CREOLEBOOKSTORE@GMAIL.COM

Courtableau House Plantation Hours:

(Must have 2 wk advance reservations!!! -absolutely no walk-ins!)

SPRING, APRIL 2011-SUMMER

FALL, September-November 15

Closed during WINTER

FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS -only

CHECK-IN 4:00PM CHECK-OUT 12:00 NOON, NO SMOKING, NO CHILDREN OR PETS.

RATES: $175.00/NIGHT PER ROOM. We have two private suites each equipped with private bathroom facilities (No showers) Both are joined by a private sitting room with private entrance/exit w direct access to front gallery.

See button on left side screen, A PEEK INSIDE to view our 2 private suites w private baths and connecting sitting room!

Price includes check-in Cocktails, Creole gourmet breakfast, and dinner option on Friday or Saturday PM, per couple. Without lunch or dinner option, the flat rate room cost is, $125.00 per couple

 MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED Visa, Mastercard, Discover PH. 337 418 1506 PLEASE CALL US UPON ARRIVAL AT ENTRANCE GATE FOR ENTRY!!!

See our GUEST COMMENTS PAGE FOR MORE INFO!

ABOUT OUR GUESTHOUSE CULTURAL HISTORY AND COOKING BOOK,

A CULTURAL LEGACY CREOLE GOURMET SECRETS OF LOUISIANA

ATTENTION: 3RD PRINTING OF COMMEMORATIVE EDITION W/ AUTOGRAPH & fleur de lis  NOW AVAILABLE.

SEE, CREOLEBOOKSTORE BUTTON ABOVE TO ORDER....A CULTURAL LEGACY, CREOLE GOURMET SECRETS OF LOUISIANA, 2010

NEED A CAR? See erentals.co.uk

Bienvenu chez nous! Oui, ici on aime toujours parler en francais! Welcom to our house! Yes, we still enjoy speaking French here!

L'HISTOIRE DE LA PLANTATION JEAN-BATISTE ANDRÉ dit la FLEUR et DE CREOLES LOUISIANAIS

*See our ad below for, A Cultural Legacy: Creole Gourmet Secrets of Louisiana

 Released may 2010! This wonderful cultural & culinary book is going into 2nd and soon its' 3rd printing, to meet the incredible public demand for it!

We changed printers to improve the quality of our book and to pass the savings on to our customers!!! -Creole gourmet & educator, Chef john la Fleur

Place your order NOW for the autographed first editions! See Online CREOLE bookstore button page at the top left of this homepage for secure online advanced purchase. 

With over 185 exquisite recipes, 100 full color photographs, authoritative cultural history, dictionary and many other beautiful and useful features this hardcover book is now offered at only $49.95, plus taxes, signed, with commemorative fleur-de-lis stamping!

Priority shipping will be given to all of our paid-up online customers with signed, commemorative editions.

TO ORDER THIS BOOK, GO TO THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THIS PAGE AND HIT, CREOLE BOOKSTORE. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORDERING VIA OUR ONLINE STORE BY CREDIT CARD. THANKYOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT!

BIEN MERCI DE VOTRE INTERET ET DE VOTRE SUPPORT!

 Guesthouse Info continued.....

" il ne faut pas se depecher! il faut savourer la vie, une boucher a la fois! "-Jean la Fleur II

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COURTABLEAUHOUSE * plantation garden is 20-minute drive from Lafayette, the capitol of francophone Louisiana and its' famed, Festival International Lafayette!

<A href='http://www.iha.com' title="IHA.com - Vacation rentals, guest house, bed and breakfast B&B, self catering accommodation, gite, charming rental and luxury holiday rental book direct with owner">IHA.com : Vacation rentals, bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation book direct with owner</A>

*Courtableauhouse Inc. also sponsors private, small group guided tours of London, Paris, Florence, Rome and other locations! Mr. John, an international tourguide/interpreter of now 30 yrs. experience leads and organizes each one as per request! See SPECIALS PAGE 

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*A Cultural Legacy:  CREOLE GOURMET SECRETS OF LOUISIANA,

An Absolute MUST for EVERY LOUISIANA CREOLE FOOD LOVIN GOURMET, it features a special essay by Mr. la Fleur, an expert in Louisiana French culture and a teacher of modern French, which restores the dignity and understanding of a culture, people and language greatly misunderstood and often misrepresented in history's memory. Gorgeous food displays of authentic indigenous meals were shot ON SITE AT BEAUTIFUL COURTABLEAU HOUSE Plantation! This book is unique book provides a serious study of the culture, language and people through the food language. All recipe headings are in original French w/ English subtitles.This COOKBOOK, is ILLUSTRATED in about 100 full color images by NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CAJUN PHOTOGRAPHER, Norris Fontenot. Almost 200 RECIPES for UNIQUE LOUISIANA CREOLE FOOD, WINES, HORS D'OEUVRES, ENTREES, SALADS, SOUPS, GUMBOS, DESSERTS & TEA long enjoyed by COURTABLEAU HOUSE family guests & friends with a special section of, 'OTHER SECRETS' by talented veteran Cajun/Creole cooks! A dictionary of origins and meanings provides fascinating historical-etymological information on the food and recipes presented; by an author who knows the language (and teaches modern French, too!) A cultural cookbook never anticipated and long overdue, Courtableau House Favorites: Creole Gourmet Secrets of Louisiana is all about French-speaking Louisiana's Evangeline, St. Landry, Avoyelles and rural Lafayette parishes; the culture, language and the food of its's fascinating and racially diverse people! Only $49.95 plus taxes 

-RESERVE YOUR COPY BY CALLING, or EMAILING US TODAY at 337 418 1506; email: creolebookstore@gmail.com!!!

CONTACT US AT: 337 418 1506 or if line is busy, email: info@courtableauhouse.com or for faster service: CREOLEBOOKSTORE@GMAIL.COM

Activities During the Spring & Summer

***********************TOURISTS INFO KIOSQUE***********************

 SOUTHERN LIVING magazine recently named WASHINGTON, La. as one of America's top WEDDING DESTINATIONS! Here are some reasons, along with some of our, heretofore, unknown! NOV/DEC 2008 EDITION SOUTHERN ACCENTS FEATURES COURTABLEAU HOUSE IN HISTORIC WASHINGTON AD!!!

  *Antique Churches, (Catholic & Protestant) possessing unmatched architectural charm and perfectly preserved for staging that fairy-tale wedding!

See St.John's Episcopal, a Gothic Victorian jewel perfectly 'frozen' in time and available by contacting Washington Garden Club, President, Linda Taylor at 337 826 6518.

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, JACQUES LEMELLE'S French Creole architectural masterpiece built by his slaves for his fellow 'gens de couleur' (free people of color)

  *Washington is also home of one of the earliest Jewish settlements in America with its' own Hebrew Rest graveyard!

 *FABULOUS LEON WOLF BANQUET HALL FOR ELEGANT RECEPTIONS & PARTIES and formerly one of the earliest Jewish mercantile stores in Louisiana founded by one of Washington's great humanitarians, Leon Wolf!

 *Beautiful, historic BED 'N BREAKFASTS  (plantation and post-Civil War era houses) add to the magic and pleasure of accommodating YOU & YOUR Wedding guests! All within walking distance to Wolf Hall! (See our, SPECIALS PAGE for more listings)

 *AWARD-WINNING CAJUN/CREOLE American CUISINE AT CHEF JASON HUGUET'S, STEAMBOAT WAREHOUSE RESTAURANT (one of the last warehouses of the antebellum era featuring 60ft hand-hewn cypress rafters !) ON THE BAYOU!

Or, try Soileau's Dinner Club in nearby Opelousas!

*ROBINSON'S CANING AND WEAVING TEXTILES, split oak baskets & historic art passed down from several generations of African artisans! Collectors and art lovers can't afford to pass up! Call 337 308 1693 for an appointment!

 *Festival International a Lafayette, April 24-27, 2008! Viens danser!

 *WASHINGTON CATFISH FESTIVAL, Cajun /Zydeco Music Spring/Food FESTIVALS  MARCH 13-16!!!!

  *Annual Cycle-Zydeco Destination! Saturday night open-air Zydeco Dancing!

 *SPRING Garden & Historic Cemetery Tours

  *Escort to FRED'S lounge, in Mamou, La. for the world renown 'radio show' & CAJUN DANCING!!!

    If you get hungry go directly to the end of 6th St. to Cajun Grocery for delicious, inexpensive plate lunches!

 * Numerous Antiques Markets for which Washington is well-known for inexpensive prices!

 *Annual WASHINGTON Antique School Mall Yard Sale (October! See town of washington louisiana website!!!)

 *ARDOIN'S CAJUN GROC. & MEAT MARKET (a real Cajun charcuterie!) for Cajun/Creole smoked meats and Louisiana Cookbook ingredients!  Oui, ils parlent en francais ici

*OLD FASHION "COURRIR DE MARDI GRAS"  in/from GRAND PRAIRIE, LA. comes through Main St.

*Headquarters of "Grandma Rena's, Mudhouse Foods" a native Louisiana Cajun Foods distributor! Currently not in operations due to Katrina complications!

 *WANT TO GO FISHING? yOU CAN RIGHT OFF THE BANKS OF BAYOU COURTABLEAU OR BAYOU CARRON! JUST BRING yOUR POLE, WE HAVE 2 or 3 BAIT SELLERS IN THE AREA!

 Eh, ben, oueh, on parle en francais ici,  a Courtableau House!  
    

To Order our Cultural History/Cookbook hit Louisiana Creole Bookstore button above at left of house photo and follow directions.