Bastrop

Bastrop is a town in Louisiana's Morehouse Parish. Morehouse Parish's parish seat is here. The small town of Bastrop is primarily drawn by architecture and the outdoors. Felipe Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop, was one of Louisiana's most colorful characters, bringing 99 immigrants from northern states to run grain mills. Bastrop has since served as a safe haven for Civil War soldiers, a refuge for victims of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, and, more recently, a home for some of northern Louisiana's most interesting architecture.

While driving past the town's Craftsman and plantation-style homes, stop by the Snyder Museum and Creative Arts Center—ask about the region's historical tours at the Bastrop Visitor Center. Paddling enthusiasts will find plenty of opportunities in the area. There is beautiful, lush nature all over Louisiana, but few quaint towns have access to it like Bastrop. It's a great place to start exploring the Chemin-A-Haut State Park, which is only 10 miles north of town. The name translates to "High Road" in French, and it's not a typo. The majority of the park is elevated above the surrounding landscape, providing views out and over the Bayou Bartholomew as it meanders through the area.