LaLaurie Mansion

A 19th-century townhouse in the French Quarter, LaLaurie Mansion was home to the socialite, slave-owner, and killer Marie Delphine Macarty LaLaurie. According to local legend, on April 10, 1834, a fire broke out at the house on Royal Street during a party and local residents came to help put out the blaze. When they entered the house, they found several instruments of torture, including iron chains and collars, which Madame LaLaurie used to punish and even murder her slaves. Some say the house is haunted by their ghosts.

The mansion is privately owned, and visitors are not permitted to go inside. Most people visit as part of a New Orleans walking tour or guided ghost tour, where guides tell the story of Madame LaLaurie's treatment of her slaves along with tales of other dark happenings in the city.

• The residence is not open to the public and you cannot purchase LaLaurie Mansion tickets.

• Nicolas Cage owned the house for several years in the early 2000s.

• Visit at night for extra scare factor.

• The tale of Madame LaLaurie was featured in the series American Horror Story: Coven.

The house is located at 1140 Royal St. in the French Quarter, on the corner of Governor Nicholls St. It is easily accessible on foot, as part of a guided walking tour, by taxi, or by bus (take line 5 or 55 to Decatur and Barracks).

LaLaurie Mansion is a private residence, so you can only look at the house from the outside. Walking tours visit the house daily.

St. Louis Cemetery No.1 is a short walk from LaLaurie Mansion and is a fascinating place to explore. The oldest graveyard in New Orleans, people come here to see the tombs of some of NoLa's most famous residents, including voodoo queen Marie Laveau. Entry to the cemetery is typically restricted to those taking part in a prebooked walking tour. It's currently closed to the public, so while tour groups still visit, they take place outside the gates.

No, you cannot go into the LaLaurie Mansion. New Orleans’ most haunted residence is privately owned, and visitors are not allowed inside. Tours that include visits to the LaLaurie Mansion instead stop in front of the estate for long enough for guides to share ghost stories.

New Orleans is known as one of the most haunted cities in the United States, and the best way to see the LaLaurie Mansion is by joining a ghost-themed walking tour. While you can visit the exterior on your own, guides can provide a wealth of knowledge about the mansion's history from the 19th century and can answer questions as they arise.

Yes, you can take pictures of the LaLaurie Mansion. It's right on a street corner in the French Quarter, so you'll have no problem taking photos of the exterior, day or night. However, you won't be able to go inside to take pictures of the interior.

Yes, the LaLaurie Mansion is worth seeing, particularly if you're interested in ghosts or dark tourism. However, the mansion's owner, Delphine LaLaurie, tortured and murdered enslaved people in the original mansion that stood there. Due to the mansion's gory past, tours of the mansion may not be appropriate for younger visitors.

Yes, you need to book LaLaurie Mansion tours in advance. Note that tours of the mansion's interiors are not currently available, so if you want to see the mansion (from the outside) and learn about its history from a guide, look for haunted history or ghost tours instead.

Yes, you can go on a LaLaurie Mansion tour at night, and many people prefer the spooky ambiance of a nocturnal visit. Just bear in mind that tours to LaLaurie Mansion also include stops at other haunted places in New Orleans, and some tours are adults-only.