This is the mother church of the Acadians, 201 Evangeline Blvd. (tel. 337/394-6021); the building was constructed in 1836 on the site of a previous church building. It is the fourth-oldest Roman Catholic church in Louisiana. Father George Murphy, an Irish priest, was the first to associate it with its patron saint, St. Martin, in the 1790s, and there's a noteworthy portrait of the saint behind the main altar. You'll also see the original box pews, an ornate baptismal font (which some say was a gift from King Louis XVI of France), and the lovely old altar. Outside is a cemetery that purportedly holds the grave of Evangeline herself. Open daily 8:30am to 5pm.
The Petit Paris Museum, 103 S. Main St. (tel. 337/394-7334), next to the church, often has some unexpectedly interesting displays -- a recent visit found a terrific St. Martinville Mardi Gras exhibit with some splendiferous costumes and the extraordinary local story that inspired the theme that year. Guided tours of the church, antebellum rectory, and museum are available; call for details.
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