Vermilionville Reviews

Black Pot Festival is held in the green area that surround Vermilionville. Great music; friendly people. Well worth the experience.

We spent a few hours here and were lucky enough to be around for the regular Saturday afternoon jam session, with about 20 musicians gathering to make Cajun music. This is a slow time of year so there were fewer interpreters and artisans around, but I was just so impressed with the caliber of all of them. You could ask questions and strike up a conversation about any aspect of local history and culture and learn a host of new things. The buildings themselves are mostly examples of local domestic architecture, so they fairly modest. But you come away with a real appreciation for everyday life in Acadiana. The food at the cafe onsite is quite good, and don’t miss the extensive exhibit on the local environment — it is truly outstanding!

I have been to Vermilionville twice and I cannot recommend this living history center enough. Filled with historic buildings including homes and a school, you will get a great history of the Cajun experience and find out what shaped how they lived and why. The buildings are preserved with period furniture and decor. There's a working hand operated ferry across the bayou. The site also includes a museum and demonstration buildings. Watch the schedule on their website, because there are events all the time, or just go by when a Zydeco band is playing in the dance hall. We went during the Cochon Du Lait festival and with traditional roasted pig, cracklins and jumbalaya, all made on site, we had a wonderful time.

This is a nice place to see older buildings, learn some history of the people who settled in Lafayette. They have a good restaurant on site. Quiet and leisurely enjoy the grounds.

A pleasant place to visit and a good way to spend a couple of hours. Vermilionville is the original name for the town of Lafayette in Louisiana. It is a recreation of a village in the period 1765-1890 and has Acadian, Native American and Creole influences. There are various original homes, which have been restored and many of the buildings have people telling you about the history or demonstrating crafts performed by the early settlers. The Native American jumping stone game explained in the first house is the basis for many of the board games we know today. There is lots of interesting history in this place. The cafe is also excellent. Closed on Mondays. $10 admission

We visited vermilionville today. Wonderful historical village with some awesome people: a gardener gardening and giving us the history of fruit, local vegetables, cotton and chickens; patch work quilters, spinners, carvers, and others and an amazing man playing his fiddle - Zydeco music. Lunch was great too. The days plate 3 courses and great flavours do 9.95. $10 entry a great price for a truly memorable experience.

My 15 year old son and I spent the day touring Vermilionville and were pleasantly surprised. Several of the houses had employees dressed in period costumes who were extremely knowledgeable about the Acadian era and were very eager to answer questions. Several of the houses are authentic Acadian houses that were moved to the site. At the end of the tour, my son commented that he learned more about Louisiana history that day then he did in a whole year taking Louisiana history in school. This place is definitely worth a visit

This is a great place to lean about the history of Lafayette and the Vermilion River. It has great food also.

Great experience. Wonderful staff and great time. A well kept secret learned so much about the area.

Nice park near downton Lafayette showing the history of cajuns in the area. The homes, church and other buildings are well done.

I have taken field trips with students to this place. I got married here. The grounds are beautiful and maintained. The food served in the restaurant is great and reasonably priced. The services, staff, and diversity of the place is captivating. If your looking for an escape. This is like a place created from a different time. It's liked you park walk in and your brought to a different time period where history comes to life.

Great collection of old homes in a beautiful garden setting. Each home's interior has antiques reflecting the time period. There are folks inside some who will happily explain various chores like spinning wool. A musician in one demonstrates the different types of music. There is a restaurant onsite too which serves local specialties. We enjoyed the buffet brunch, got to sample many local specialties and the price was very reasonable. Wonderful place!

The staff is great - the history makes it unique - you gotta use this place! Nice location as well. Wonderful time there.

A complete village on the history of the Acadians. With on-site catering possible without reservation.

Lots of walking and exhibits were limited.Some of the houses had people demonstrating a craft from back in the day.

What a great experience~stepping back in time. Everyone was so gracious, informative, and happy to be reliving the history of their state of Louisiana. The food was really good and surprisingly inexpensive! Loved it here!

Superb value and meal at onside restaurant for Sunday brunch!!! Bonus Sunday afternoon dancehall Cajun music band. No extra charge, and air conditioned on a very hot day. Historical houses were enjoyable, and 20 minute talk with 2 volunteer docents was very educational.

The perfect place to experience hands on Cajun life centuries ago, with people dressed, working, cooking, and building homes as they did in the early days; plus cute shop. Great old wooden Hall for parties and events.

We toured Vermilionville right after New Year's. They still had up all of the Christmas decorations, which made the village even prettier. We loved the guides singing a Cajun song at one of the houses and enjoyed learning about the construction of the Cajun cottages. We also really enjoyed viewing the different buildings and then enjoyed a Cajun jam session in the community hall on Saturday afternoon. It was a great way to hear locals play old tunes, which was really a nice contrast from the Zydico band at Buck and Johnny's Zydico Breakfast that we had attended earlier in the morning.

Real early Cajun way of life living in early years of Louisiana. Beautiful buildings restored to their periods of existence.

We enjoyed visiting the old buildings in the museum, and particularly discussing education in the school house with the docent there. It was a pleasant day to be walking around and there were plenty of places to sit in the shade when I got tired of walking. We mostly had the place to ourselves. At the end of the tour, we stopped by the Sunday live concert that had just begun, to hear some Cajun music. It seemed to be a big deal....with all the seats in the performance center being occupied, or "saved" for friends. It was just as well we couldn't find a seat, as the music was ear-splitting LOUD. My husband bought a beer and we sat nearby outside on some random chairs, and listened for a while. We watched girls and women walking into the center, wearing rhinestone boots, etc. I was shocked when my husband lead me back inside ,and asked me for a slow dance! Who knew??

Really enjoyed our visit. The staff are really helpful, friendly and knowledgeable and each of the buildings is well restored with great attention to detail.

Loved chatting to Cliff while he was whittling away making ducks - I even bought one of his beautiful brooches in the giftshop - and pulling ourselves across the bayou on the little wooden ferry was good fun.

I would definitely recommend this place if you are interested in the founding of the area, Acadian history, different types of architecture or just a wander around a really pretty place.

My family visited during the week and enjoyed looking around. Most of the staff were friendly and nformative.

Loved it. It was like a step back in time. The staff were very friendly! Would recommend it to those traveling in the area!

This was my family's first visit and we were enamored with the quaint replica town as it would've been featured back in the 1800's. The museum exhibits were hands-on and exciting for my kids. They also learned about recycling, tornados, clouds, agriculture, bugs, geography, planets, solar, rainwater collection and more. There were also fall festival games and treats for the kids. As you wind toward the back the historic part was so informative about Acadian and Creole life and culture. Each home explained the way of life from boat building to shoe making, spinning cotton on looms and a one room school house. There's a chapel in the back with a butterfly garden, face painting and coloring for the kids with animal balloon makers and a photo booth. So much to do on a partially rainy day. The mosquitoes were out in full force so dress accordingly. I walked out with six mosquito bites. The gift shop had all things Acadian and I couldn't leave without a fleur-de-lis flag and pralines. I look forward to visiting again on our next visit.

This is a really interesting recreation of Arcadian life. Some of the houses are original and others are reconstructed, and when we visited it was very quiet and we didn't see many reenactment characters. This didn't particularly bother us but there are no information panels inside the houses to explain what you're looking at. The blacksmith was very interesting and we enjoyed pulling ourselves over on the rope ferry. We also had one of the best meals we'd enjoyed in nearly three weeks in the South in the cafe there. Excellent brisket and jambalaya and great value.

Hate a lovely afternoon walking the grounds. My 3 year old loved seeing the gators in the pond! The gift store is very nice too.

For several years we had our company crawfish boil at this location and it was fantastic. Everyone was able to tour the houses and walk around the facility before or after the crawfish boil.

We visited here on our way to Houston and were lucky enough to visit on Creole cultural day. The village is very well set out and the volunteers at each of the buildings provided interesting information about Creole history and culture. An interesting experience and one I would recommend to visitors to Lafayette.

We enjoyed strolling the village buildings & homes, visiting with the docents and enactors. But the really surprise treat was the Cajun jam session that was held in the performance hall. There were approximately 25 musicians playing guitars, fiddles, triangles, steel guitars, and of course, accordions. The Cajun Accordian Queen was there also. They sang songs mostly in Cajun French and talked to each other in the Cajun language. It was very authentic and so fun to hear their old songs and reminiscing. We had a gentle breeze and chairs to sit in so we could tap our feet and enjoy the afternoon and the music.

Ms. Aleena was a fantastic tour guide! She catered to our interests (music & anything hands-on) and was a wonderful hostess to the past & current Acadian culture. I would highly recommend taking a guided tour here!

Me and my wife have taken this tour several times. The grounds are very well preserved and the actors are amazing. Great educational experience for kids as well. Also take some time to eat at the restaurant located on the grounds. Try the gumbo, you won’t be disappointed.

Truly enjoyed this and explanation of the history of the Cajun and Creole culture. We also truly appreciate the military discount and appreciation for my husbands service....fun walking tour where you are allowed to tour the buildings at your own pace. Some of the buildings had docents who elaborated on the history and we want to commend Mike F. for taking time to chat to us about the place while he fed the sheep/donkey Sophia. The grounds are beautiful and it’s fun to use the muscle powered ferry!

We went on a Wednesday. We only spoke with 4 persons on the tour. They were all bilinguals (French and English). The buildings would need a little love for renovations to keep them in shape.
It costed us 10$us each. In 2 hours we had the tour done and had eaten at the restaurant authentic Cajun food (jambalaya and gumbo).

I visited Vermilionville after being told by a local. There was plenty to see and do there, providing an excellent way of experiencing the Arcadian culture and history. There was a different variety of asepects of Arcadian life each as fascinating as the other. There was plenty of room to move around and I did not feel crowded or having to wait. There were also activities provided to engage visitors. Imenjoyed the Cajun dance lesson. This venue is good for families. The parking area was sufficient when I arrived but was full by the time I left.

Excellent Docent (Will?) at Watershed Exhibit!
Enjoyed a great meal at the restaurant.
Very enjoyable outing.

Had a great visit here with our two young kids (ages 7 and 3). Blacksmith and quilting demonstrations were very interesting and our kids especially loved the small collection of animals and the hand-operated wood ferry. All of the staff members were very enthusiastic, and though it was our first visit there was a real sense that the place is growing and expanding. Restaurant on premises was good too. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed an afternoon touring the cabins, homes, church, barn, and so much more. We really enjoyed the demonstrations of weaving, genealogy, spinning yarn, Cajun music, and so much more. The personal interaction with the people plying there crafts allowed questions. We will definitely return. It is one of the best living history exhibits I've seen anywhere. Too often we think history is the story of famous men and women. This shows what life was like for regular folks.

Very nice place where reigns peace and serenity. Beautiful walk with very pleasant staff. The park lends itself to strolling in a very well maintained place. It's definitely better than Acadian village of Lafayette.

We spent a very pleasant afternoon at Vermilionville, a recreated historic village founded to preserve and interpret the cultures of southwest Louisiana. Docents are present in many of the structures to offer additional information about the region and culture. We happened to visit in the midst of a music camp; musicians from all over the United States were at the village to learn from and play with the Cajun and Creole musicians of the area. So wonderful to hear regional music throughout the village as we wandered among the historic houses.

Good gumbo at restaurant, gift shop had locally made items. Rich history. Music the best. Great place to relax and enjoy atmosphere.

Took my middle school niece---we enjoyed hands on water exhibits and learned much about the workings of water in Louisiana and the gulf coast. Then walking into the village parading by and through house after house in this Cajun/Creole neighborhood was really interesting. Seeing the actors in each house helped us parallel the architectural history to their life and culture…what a great experience of understanding, one of the best ways to learn. The treat was we two skinny gals, pulled their typical bayou boat across the bayou by ourselves. A must see for middle schoolers!

Living History Museum with original houses from the 1700 and 1800's. Air conditioned and period dressed people performing quilting, wood carving, fiddling, etc in each house. Lovely landscaping, Chapel, Blacksmith forge and pull ferry crossing.

We visited there for our family reunion and everyone really enjoyed it. Tourists can have a good time and learn a lot about Cajun culture They have a variety of activities. Kids like it.

My friend and I visited on Saturday 8 June 2024.

The first 3 buildings beside the entrance/gift shop were closed. I went back to check on that and was advised that the performance centre also was closed. They didn't tell us that 4 of 14 (c.30%) buildings closed and there was no price reduction.

We only saw one interpreter in costume, the accordion player.

We found the buildings and artefacts to be interesting but not overly exciting.

There were no snacks available in the restaurants. I settled for what turned out to be a miserly portion of catfish and my friend had shrimp salad which was OK. But the staff and other guests were extremely loud.

Overall a disappointing experience.

What is not to love about this place! If you’re someone who loves trying local food and learning local history, Vermillionville is a must. We started with lunch at their restaurant. I had the meatball plate special and my husband the catfish, crab etoufee, and the shrimp etoufee. My lunch was tasty comfort food. My husband’s catfish was amazing, as were his sides. The potato salad was the best we’ve had outside of our own. The history of Vermillionville/Lafayette was very interesting. The buildings and artifacts were well preserved and arranged on a nice walkway along the river. We were fortunate to meet Stu Keller, an employee who dresses in period clothing to discuss what life was like back then. We spent at least 45 minutes learning volumes about the Cajun and Creole people. It was fantastic! He knew so much I swore he was a professor of history at the college. We were told it would take about 90 min to see everything. I think my husband and I spent almost 3 hours there. Thank-you to all those who keep Vermillionville operating! 😊

To learn more about Acadian culture, a tour of the houses of Vermilionville is the safe way.
Characteristic views, country houses, school, stables and people in "ancient" clothes such as the cotton spinner, the teacher and the accordion player allow you to appreciate, along with the antique wooden furnishings, how the first settlements lived in the areas of Louisiana.
Too bad for some house not available to visit (perhaps under renovation).

This visit is a must if you are passing by Lafayette.
We spent an entire afternoon walking around this small village that is resuming the lives of the Cajuns, Creoles and Amerindians, with houses Representative of these populations that take over the many trades (blacksmith, weaver) and places of life (school, church) of the time.
Big plus, which made us love the visit: the many speakers, very available and bilingual in French, passionate about their history.
This visit allowed us to better understand the history of Louisiana and the southern USA, never touched in our history classes.

Big plus for the village restaurant, which offers typical Cajun dishes delicious and generously served, and very inexpensive! ($40 for four people).

Admission to the park is $10.

We stopped here to get a glimpse of Cajun life. It proved a nice walk (on a very cold day!), but was a bit sleepy. We arrived at 2p (open til 4), and it felt like they were already getting ready to close for the day, and that we had missed many of the live demos.

This place isn't fancy, but you probably wouldn't expect it to be. You can enjoy an hour or two here and learn something of the Cajun life style. Buildings are mostly authentic. They had a very good Cajun band holding a jam session when we were there which added a lot. I'd advise going to the free national park museum next door to learn the story and see some nicer museum pieces and then come over here to see the buildings and roam around. Together they make a comfortable half day.

Me and my family had a great experience here, very lovely! The staff was very courteous and friendly.

This is the traditional site for the nighttime Awards Night for conference and it did not disappoint. The food and music were awesome. Excellent place for a business social event. Lots of dancing and fun. Beautiful lighted courtyard and friendly staff.

a low energy wander around an acadian village with outfitted staff to offer information. A something for everybody gift shop worth a visit. We had a group buffet meal on a tour, excellent food, overall a good all age experience.

We visited Vermilionville and really enjoyed our tour. We were fortunate to have one of the staff, April Kent give us information about the village. She was very knowledgeable and made our visit a delightful step back in history. I would highly recommend that if you are traveling in the Lafayette area you should tour Vermilionville.

Really enjoyed walking through the houses. The lady in the house making clothes and weaving wool was very interesting. Kevin Rees was the best story teller in the school house. Enjoyed the ferry you could take from one part to another. Scored it as a 4 because 3 buildings were closed for renovation and they sold food to feed the animals but they were in a small pen and there was no worker nearby so it was impossible to be to feed them

We went to visit Vermillionville on dec 29th so it was very nice, not too many people. The signes make it easy to imagine how people have settled, and some actors are also dressed to explain fun facts to visitors

Great fun on a Sunday w live music. This is a Unique village that is filled with artisans. Good restaurant. All in all a great day. Sundays there is live music from 1-4 that is an amazing addition to the historical preservation and cultural heritage

If you want to see the history of Acadian culture, you should visit! Different homes represent different parts of history. You can hear the music, talk to craftsmen...this is a beautiful way to experience Southwestern Louisiana!

Beautiful day to tour the grounds. Very interesting historical information on south Louisiana. Parking was good. Restaurant available for lunch.

This restaurant has been in service for over 30 years. It continues to keep high quality chefs helping to keep their menu fresh and their service is top notch.

I love everything about this place. The ambience, food, and service. Gorgeous restored old home that reeks of charm and history. The food is spectacular. I have NEVER had a bad experience here. Recommend without hesitation. You won't be sorry.

We spent a wonderful afternoon exploring the village and learning more about the culture. The location is beautiful and the docents were exceptional. We especially liked talking to the blacksmith and listening to the Cajun musician.

Excellent facility! Handicap accessible. Loved loved the docents! The restaurant here Is incredible, not to be missed!

Beyond the exceptional display on water, this sure vividly conveys the rich cultural mix that is Southwest Louisiana. Read the signs. Visit the homes and buildings. Eat at the wonderful and extraordinarily inexpensive restaurant. Go to the Sunday dance and music fest and work your feet off. One of the best sites, ever.

It's a very beautiful place, I recommend this place much more than the Acadian village for the same price it's much better Vermilionville.

We loved the self guided tour of the historic houses. the Artisans were helpful in every way as well...

Vermilionville is a guaranteed change of scenery in a hyper-modern America. During the visit, you explore the daily lives of Cajun, Louisiana and even Native American families, from the end of the 19th century or the beginning of the 20th century, that is to say a time without electricity, without mechanization, without air conditioning, with subsistence agriculture, etc. This effect probably works a little more on Americans than on Europeans... but it is pleasing to see as the gap exists between this America of the past and the one that appears to us today.

The village is in any case quite charming with several wooden houses and buildings, very often saved from destruction, and installed here. During my visit, several school trips were there to discover the not-so-distant past of this French-speaking region of the United States, including the repression that reigned against French-speaking inhabitants.

Several local artisans, women and men, continue to perpetuate the French-speaking tradition and their ancestral techniques. They will be delighted to speak with you, in French that is sometimes difficult to understand, but it is precisely this human experience that leads you to visit Vermilionville. With the key to beautiful emotions while immersing yourself in the past of this ancient little piece of France, located thousands of kilometers from Europe.

We specifically planned to visit Vermillionville on a Sunday so we could tour the village as well as enjoy music in the performance hall from 1-4pm. Fabulous all the way around--we toured the different parts of the village and had expert docents explaining the history. They were excellent! Then, we heard an excellent Cajun dance band play in the performance hall and danced ourselves tired. With both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and (the day we were there) some "stuffed bread" for free, we were happy and had a great time. Well worth a visit.

We had heard to visit on a Sunday. They feature a terrific 4 piece Zydeo Band with dancing all day. The "Quatre Coin Throwdown" played song after song of authentic Zydeco and Cajun dance music. They had a full bar with good prices and a good drink. They had cold draft beer and snacks were available from the restaurant next door. The grounds are gorgeous. We visited with the Spring flowers and local iris all in bloom. I'm a bit of an iris nut, and they had dozens of varieties and colors. The buildings were lovely and historic. They were furnished with antique pieces from the period. Best of all, all throughout the grounds were men and women in authentic costumes displaying how the old Acadian peoples lived. A village blacksmith, quilters, carvers, boat builders, wood workers, wool spinners all demonstrated their skills and talents. The restaurant had a nice crowd and the buffet line had something for everyone. Walking the grounds provides great exercise, and the views and scenery cannot be matched. They offer an admission discount for seniors and for children. So much to see and do. Give yourself a t least 2 hours to tour the village so take that into consideration if you visit while the band plays on Sunday. We giggled because there is a ferry that anyone can use to cross a small creek, and only the French visitors knew to board the ferry before trying to pull the ropes.

The Vermilionville Living History Museum and Park has many original homes and buildings built near present-day Lafayette, Louisiana; there are a few reproduction buildings as well. We went on a cool day, after some heavy rain had fallen in the area. It was not crowded at all, in fact at times it seemed we were the only ones there. Many buildings were open but a few were closed. The only interpreters were two brothers at the Blacksmith shop. They told much about the history of the area, and the importance of metal working to the early settlers. We learned about the difference between Cajun and Creole, although during our stay in Louisiana we heard a different definition from just about everyone who talked about it! The buildings frequently had informational panels with text and photos describing life in Vermilionville, building materials, kitchen equipment, working tools, toys and games. Cutaways showed the wall constructed of mud, moss, and cypress wood. Gardens outside of the homes contained flowers, vegetables, and herbs for flavoring and for medicinal purposes.
We ate at the restaurant on-site and the meal was delicious - this was no sandwich and chips kind of place!

Agree with another reviewer, "pleasantly different from other 'villages seen." Made this trip to learn more about the Acadia section of Louisiana - this was an excellent introduction to the history. Really liked that there were music, loom, etc. demonstrations in the different buildings. Sorry we missed the weekend dancing:(

Very nice experience even if it was extremely hot…

The different characters allow you to relive History…

Cedric provided a wonderful tour. He was well informed about the history of Vermilionville. And as a bonus, the talented musician treated us to a couple creole tunes on a fiddle and primitive gourd banjo. Highly recommend.

This place is really fun to go on a Sunday afternoon. You can eat a buffet lunch and go listen to dancing music. You can also walk around the grounds. On occasional weekends they have limited kayak trips too.

We celebrated my grandmother's 102nd birthday at Vermillionville. It was pleasant and tucked away. Very interesting historical attraction. Real people portray those who lived in the village. Great location for an educational tour. Vermillion River runs right behind the restaurant on the grounds. Very nice and quaint:)

This is a great experience for young and old as you enter history. Walk thru the village and interact with those that live in a world without cell phones, technology and see how it was "way back then". The restaurant is also a must with fantastic gumbo, salads, and plate lunch//buffet daily.
Old Tyme Christmas, Cultural Days and many more events for the entire family to enjoy.

This is a cute little stop not far from everything in lafayette. The cultural information this place offers is amazing!

Reconstruction of a great quality of houses , metiers, ....of South Louisiana of the past 2 centuries
Everything is particularly well highlighted and explained (in English and French) on panels and photos , but also by participants in passionate and exciting period dress!
Count half a day
A souvenir shop at the entrance with beautiful local crafts!
Don't forget to take the ferry "with arms" at the end 😀
On Sunday afternoon a thunderous guinguette where everyone dances and especially interested to exchange with tourists; very nice!
Picnic area and restaurant on site of course!
10 dol the entrance
Unmissable!!!

Great natural place in historic area in Lafayette

It was nice weather and it is near to Arcadian. The street going there is not well paved but it is not a bad experience at all. Recommended only if you have time

My wife and I are so glad we found this hidden gem during our recent trip from Houston to New Orleans. Vermillionville offers guests a chance to see authentic homes and workshops from early life in the region during the 1800's. There are also artisans on-site in period clothing to teach you how things were made back then, such as blacksmithing, finger-weaving, and making cotton thread. My favorite part was learning about the history of the local Native Americans who inhabited the area when European settlers arrived, and how their lives were changed as a result. We learned alot from the Chief who spoke about his tribe. There is also a restaurant on the grounds that offers great food at great prices. The daily lunch plate was huge, and only cost $10.

Recently went with my sons 4th grade class. Had a good time. Great learning experience. Even for myself. Lots of walking. Make sure you wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Beautiful scenery. There is a gift shop and even a restaurant on site. I would love to go back with the rest of my kids and have lunch there as well. Overall good time.

We enjoyed a Sunday touring the building at Vermillionville. Even though, it was hot, most of the buildings were airconditioned. There were guides in some of the buildings in period costumes that would give history of the building. We had lunch at the restaurant onsite that was delicious. There was a Zydeco band in the afternoon with dancers. Very enjoyable and informative.

My aunt took us here to see the history of the Cajan folks in Lafayette. It sits along the Petit Bayou. There is a welcome center, gift shop and about a dozen buildings to go through. Some had folks re-enacting parts in the area. It was a beautiful day to spend here, and we spent about 2 hours total enjoying everything. They had music and dancing in the Performance Center. They also have a cooking school on the premises.

You could call it a skansen like the place in Stockholm, similar concept and goal which is preservation of cultural and historical aspects of the area in an open air museum. Nice effort, friendly atmosphere, helpful staff often in costumes. We enjoyed the restored historic structures and we learned a lot about Cajun and Creole culture and heritage.

We went to learn more about the history and culture of the area and had a brilliant time here. Everyone was very welcoming and helpful. We felt like we learnt a lot and spent a coupe of hours here. In particular there were two onsite people who were great, one a retired Tribal leader who spent time with us and gave us great information. Also Mike, who really made time for us. He allowed us to feed animals with him, allowed us to use a manual type of ferry they have (to pull yourself over water - I'm not sure what to call it!), gave us local tips on the area and told us about the plants around the houses. We greatly enjoyed spending some time with him. Thank you Mike!

Fun walkabout, no surprises, but it was such fun to watch the live music and dancing! All the couples were really enjoying themselves.

the explain how tornado are beginning, check the insect activities in the sector. has a laboratory for the kids to explore science. and what's happend in this part of the Louisianna long time ago. a reel place for family with younger kids... try it you will love it and once again it's FREE....

Local history and local artisans who tell the story of their craft in most of the houses on site. Local guides are extremely informative. Beautiful place to visit in any weather conditions. If you want Louisiana history, this is a must-see!

A true pearl! We stayed over in Lafayette en route to New Orleans. The whole village is fascinating, and listening to the narratives in the different houses gave us such an insight into the culture(s) of the area. Listening to Monsieur Garnier talk and play was a real highlight.

Vermillionville is a beautiful Acadian village in the heart of Lafayette . Music, crafts, great food

Nice place to walk around. The many gardens are nice, well kept.and very pretty. Worth the stop. A good place to have a restful day.

This place is awesome. The amount of work that went into putting this Village together was well worth it. Reminds me a lot of Jamestown, Virginia in how it is represented. We visited in February for the traditional Courir de Mardi Gras. What fun that was. This is a wonderful outing for anyone. The Zydeco music was outstanding and everyone was having a great time. Do make plans to visit here, it is so worth it.

We thought it was a fairly authentic visit. There was a Cajun festival going on for time which was interesting and felt very authentic. There was a lot of music from individual groups around the area. Interesting access and guides that knew what they were talking about at each individual stop

We loved this visit. Several characters decorate the course: a lady explained her patchwork work , a superb result, hours of work. In the school we discovered a very loquacious musician who spoke very well French and who pushed the chansonette, a real happiness.... In short, do not hesitate to visit this place.

Beyond the visit, exciting,
it's a unique opportunity to speak French with real Cadians by booking a French-speaking guided tour

It was a peaceful walk between the different homes. No matter what your age is, you'll find things of interest here. There were people in period costumes in some of the homes/stops and they told us stories of the past and shared the history. Highly recommend this.

Very beautiful - really enjoyed the accordion player- his stories were vivid!!!!!!!

Thank you again .

Went to vermillionville the other morning. fun walking through this village, and listening to the period actors etc. loved that spoke french. The girl (Gracie) playing accordion in the church was great - nice voice and loved her playing. We also liked the lady doing the weaving and the blacksmith etc. would definitely recommend.

i understand the aim of keeping tradition alive, but 10 $ each (means 40 for a family) to see how acadianused to live is too much. They lived like others in 1700, just speaking french. Could be a nice walk if it were free. you can move on.

Go on Sunday afternoon for great zydeco and creole music. All the buildings had local history and staff dressed in period clothes. Great day

I liked it. It’s history is outstanding. I learned so much from being there.

I felt bad that there is so much to do to keep up of the buildings and grounds. It takes many volunteers and capitol to do that. They need some wealthy investors to step up and help.

There should be NO smoking on the property,

We expected crowds on a summer weekday but were pleasantly surprised by a comfortable number of tourists and kids on group tours. Some buildings are air conditioned which was VERY nice. It was a bit hot and humid as might be expected.

We did not eat in the restaurant but it smelled great and I understand it is very good. Good working history presentation from the interpreters.

Nice way to spend a few hours strolling the property. Many of the buildings were closed but you were able to get a good idea of how the many different families lived back in the day.
There was a real alligator on the premises, just off the walkway. I found it odd that signs weren’t posted as I heard many folks commenting that it wasn’t real and they were about ready to get very close to it for a picture.

Had not been here in several years and found it pleasantly still excellent. The scallops were really good and we finished the meal with an excellent dessert.

Lovely living history museum. Well maintained grounds Historic homes of Cajun and creole era. Where possible items have been restored. When we were there there was a wonderful Cajun music jam which was a lot of fun!

Being in Lafayette we wanted to learn more about South Louisiana culture so we visited Vermilionville which was great. It's a living history museum where you learn about Acadian, Native American, and Creole cultures.

This is one of the best living history museums I have ever visited. Not so big that you get tired. We spent about four hours exploring the village. Even though we visited during the winter, and the National Park next door was closed due to ice, there were still six people in period costume spread out throughout the village. They were all very knowledgeable and I came away with a long list of facts that I had not known before visiting. Everyone was friendly and happy to answer all of our questions. The restaurant is small and the food was excellent and moderately priced. We are not from the area so I had gumbo and a shrimp poboy to taste the local cuisine. Both were delicious. They also hold music events so you can experience the local cajun and zydeco music. If you only have time for one activity while in Lafayette I highly recommend Vermillionville.

A living museum of Cajun history. This was a fun visit to learn cajunhistory and view actual, restored homes. The costumed docents were wonderful in answering many questions and providing information about life ages ago. A wonderful day trip for a family with children of all age So!

Beautifully preserved Littletown. Historical part of Lafayette. Definitely a must see to learn the history behind the beginning of Acadians.

We had a great tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the area and the separate subject matter experts were a lot of fun to listen to as well. I would definitely recommend this tour.

We thought the place was a great experience! We ate lunch at the restaurant and it was very good! The special was crawfish etouffee, cup of gumbo, green beans buttermilk biscuit and dessert either chocolate chip brownie or bread pudding! Great value and good food as well as service! We then did the self guided tour of Vermillionville! We were disappointed to see that all of the buildings were in need of repair, rotting boards on several buildings, mildew and peeling paint. The white picket fences rotted and were falling down. They surrounded most of the homes! There was only one actual person doing a demonstration! She was spinning cotton into thread and told us a little bit about the process! The cashier in the gift shop informed us that the staff had been cut drastically since COVID leading to the area buildings lack of upkeep! I don’t know how it’s funded but it would certainly be a shame for it to continue its decline.It’s a very beautiful and fun place to visit!

My wife,two kids and I had a great time here . The setting is very nice, reminds me of my grandparents . The old cottages and the people who dress up and tell you about the past I very mush enjoyed it. Step back in the past Cajun country !

Spent a very pleasant morning wandering around the various exhibits and listening to the knowledgeable period-costumed 'interpreters' performing old-time tasks e.g. soap and candle-making. Some special Christmas themed activities enhanced the experience. Food in the restaurant was good too.

Visited Vermillionville today and loved it!! The village was amazing and the people and knowledge they have about the history was wonderful. I highly recommend a visit here if you visit Lafayette. Have lunch at the restaurant. Great food!

Interesting view as to what life and living would have been like back many years ago. Many houses have been brought to this site and preserved to show how people lived then.

Had lunch with friends here and enjoyed the experience. The staff was friendly, the prices are reasonable, and the food was very good. Shrimp chef salads were excellent.
The ham and cheese Po boy was excellent. We expected a visit of an hour or two but spent 3.5 hours on the visit due to talking to several of the attendees.

This is an excellent one stop place to see the history of Cajun country from the native tribes era to the 20th century. A reasonable price for a multi hour experience. Highly recommended.

I came here mainly to check out the weekly Cajun jam session (Saturdays, 1:00 PM). The venue was a little on the dark and cavernous side, but the music was awesome. I also took a look around the village, which seemed quite empty for a Saturday afternoon. Even so, it was very picturesque and there is some interesting history with several of the buildings. For $10, the jam session and a quick tour of the grounds made for a nice little visit.

Interesting enough if you’re in the general area. Full of houses that were moved to the site. Some houses have re-enactors.

We found all of the staff located in the various houses to be a wealth of information and they told their stories in character. We finally got the difference between Cajun and Creole!

Vermilionville is a living history museum park which offers tours of historic houses with docents explaining the crafts of the 1800s. The Lafayette Parish Master Gardener Assn has a medicinal garden at one of the homes. Vermilonville has special programming on weekends which coincide with holidays. These are geared for the whole family. There are also speakers and demonstrations on various topics, music and dancing and once a month paddling tours on the Vermilion River. Boat tours of the Vermilion can be arranged for groups. The grounds are beautiful. It is a great place to walk around as an individual, couple or family.

Well-kept historic village with a fun gift shop full of local artisan pieces as well as souvenirs. It’s a quick walk into history in a lovely shady part of the river. Be sure to use the hand-pulled ferry between the banks of the Petit Bayou. Quirky fun!

Wonderful place to see the history of the area. Great walking trails. A trip back in time. Staff very nice and helpful at entrance.

We have the story we can. It's not exceptional, but it's not uninteresting. On weekdays, extras are not very numerous (3)

I thought this place might be a tad 'twee' but it wasn't. had some fascinating conversations with the artisans in some of the buildings. An enjoyable visit.

At the recommendation of our hostess at our Lafayette B&B, we visited this historic village and cultural center. It provided a very nice overview of the Acadian, Native American and Creole cultures and how they came together to form a thriving community in this area. The historic homes were very interesting and the artisans on hand were knowledgeable and willing to answer questions. We also visited on a day when there were live musicians so we heard some great zydeco and Cajun music. We enjoyed the self-guided pace of this historical area and spent about 4-5 hours there, including eating a nice lunch in their restaurant and enjoying the music.

The city of Vermilionville is a place to visit and experience the history of Louisiana. The culture is so different here and the southern hospitality is at the top of the list. Will always remember my time here and so will you.

Acadian village – collection of homes, plus school house, blacksmith shop, hand-pulled ferry, church and more. Would have been pretty if the weather hadn’t been so cold, gray and damp, but still interesting. Best part were the helpful and interesting docents, who were very happy to explain their activities, from the blacksmith to the native American basket weaver. They have live music, but not when we visited, sadly.

Took my daughter one afternoon and her God sister. What a beautiful look back in time. So many interesting things to see. History in the back yard. OMG

A walking tour thru a recreated, historic village. Some of the buildings are original and have been moved to the site. Others are reproductions. Artisans staff several of the buildings sharing history, spinning cotton, weaving fabric, playing music, and role playing period residents. An informative history of the area.

I had a tour guide and that made it a great educational experience. I was able to get a lot of information and learned a lot of things. I asked questions and she was able to answer all of them. Great experience!

If you have any desire to learn the local history, this is a must stop. The employees, in character are friendly and educational.

A must see if you are in the area. There are a lot of old home places to walk through, a school house, and a pretty little church too. My husband and I went on the self guided tour and loved it. There is a restaurant located there that is open for lunch. We had lunch and the food was fabulous. Flavorful gumbo, red beans and rice, and more. There is also a small gift shop where you can buy souvenirs. I definitely recommend that you go and visit!

I learned a lot of history of Acadian people. It was fun to tour the old houses. I loved the herb garden with the signs of what the herbs were used for.

The compound was quite large with a little ferry and all, but the place could use a little brightening up. There weren't enough staff to give explanations at the different sites. Unfortunately, the Acadian Cultural Center is not open on Sundays and Mondays, so we have to come back on Tuesday.

Vermillionville is a beautiful place to visit and learn about our ancestors and how they lived here in Lafayette and the surrounding towns. Also to learn what tools they used to build their homes and work the fields. And about the french language and the music. Please go visit this incredible place. Just dont waste your money on the restaurent because the food is not very good. And dont forget to visit the gift shop before you leave.

Vermilionville is a great place to learn about the history of the area. It's houses, live demonstrations and jam sessions are a great way to enjoy Acadiana at its best.

Vermilionville (closed on Mondays) is devoted to preserving and demonstrating the Acadian (Cajun), Creole and native American cultures of the old Attakapas Parish from 1765 to 1890. The Attakapas Parish which was delineated by the Mermentau river on the west, the Atchafalaya river on the east and the Gulf of Mexico on the south. The 23-acre site on the banks of the Bayou Vermilion includes resorted original homes, church, blacksmith shop and boat shop. Volunteers demonstrate the crafts of the early settlers. A very articulate young lady from the Chitimacha tribe demonstrated basket weaving and recounted the history of her tribe in Louisiana. A Cajun dance (alternates weekly between traditional and zydeco) is held each Sunday from 1-4 pm in the large, smoke-free dance hall located just past the restaurant. Beer is available at the dances. We ate lunch at La Cuisine de Maman located on the left after you leave the admissions office and store. We ate after 2 pm, so we were not able to order from the menu. The only food available was the buffet which was not very good. So, make sure you arrive early enough to order from the menu. Vermilionville provides a very interesting account of the settlement of the Acadians in Louisiana, and we highly recommend it to travelers and students of history.

Fun day trip from New Orleans. Beautiful grounds and interesting glimpse into daily lives and living situations of early Louisiana.

When visiting the Lafayette area, be sure to include Vermilionville as part of your visit. You will learn a lot about the history of the Acadians who came to Louisiana. Original buildings have been moved here and everything is set up to give you a feel for how things were for the Acadian people as they became an integral part of their new home. Grounds and buildings are well maintained. There are people in period costumes at various locations to tell you about the history and about arts that have been passed down to today. Guided tours are available on some days. We were too late to try the restaurant, but they apparently serve very good lunches each day. After our visit we returned to the performance center on site for an evening concert. These are scheduled regularly and it is a great venue for seeing the entertainers close up.

Vermilionville is an Acadian living history park with costumed docents who share tidbits of history while they craft or work at trades of days gone by in the period homes and buildings. Some of their crafts are available for purchase in the gift shop. All of the staff we encountered were friendly and outgoing. It was a fun way to learn about history. Admission fee charged.

Don't forget to buy a sack of food in the gift shop for the golden girls - Blanche, Rose, Sophia & Dorothy (three sheep and one donkey).

The Acadian Cultural Center is located nearby. It is part of the federal park system with no admission fee for the film and museum. Tour it first if visiting on Saturday as it closes early.

I took out of town clients and they loved the food and Cajun ambience. Gumbo is best in town. Buffet on weekends but extensive menu the rest of the week. Too bad it is not open for supper.

A chance to learn about history while hearing amazing live music!!! Great dancing too. The restaurant had a wonderful southern buffet for only 12.99 including drink and dessert!!! This is a must do for anyone wanting to learn more about the bayou, Cajun music, good cooking and so much more!!!

Vermilionville is a delightful place that gives you a real idea about life in the Acadiana area, in the past. Their staff is very professional and knowledgeable. We especially enjoyed the lady who was spinning wool. She is a fountain of knowledge. You get a real feeling for the way real people worked to provide and prosper.
They also have regional music performances, and you can dance there.
\We had a great time there.
Highly recommended!

Learned about the Creole and Acadian culture. Authentic homes to tour, had some fun live swamp music. Stopped for food afterwards, was good. Enjoyable and affordable family event.

Interesting tour around the history of the region. A bit like Bokrijk in Belgium. The various cottages were well preserved and are often free to enter. The entrance fee is very economical.

Our guide was very pleasant and we enjoyed spending three houses touring the houses and hearing the stories about the Acadians .

Walking around the historic village and learning about the way of life of the Acadians (Cajuns) was wonderful -- it's a beautiful, peaceful setting, and you learn a lot. But the highlight was the Zydeco music and dancing in the performance hall. It attracted quite a few locals who really enjoyed themselves, and we loved the music (though were too chicken to try out the dance steps). Check the event calendar and don't miss if you're in the area.

Visit this site on a Saturday, folks are dressed in period and demonstrate times of old. Nestled in a swamp like setting makes for beautiful surroundings.

Rude, miserable employees. From the moment we stepped in to pay for tickets to the mystery scavenger hunt. One woman kept yelling at everyone, the others were distracted. And it was a horrible experience from start to finish. Limited lighting created a dangerous path to walk between buildings. Zero organization. A complete waste of time and money. They need NEW management because this place is not representing Lafayette well.

Happened upon Vermilionville when I was looking for something to do the afternoon we arrived in Lafayette. They had live entertainment and informative workers on the self tour guide. Great buildings and history!

The history of these buildings and the culture is amazing. We got to talk with one person who was a reenactment artist. He was great. However, the only other person we encountered was the gentleman who was supposed to be playing the accordion. We never got to hear him play. He was too busy talking to another guest in French to play the accordion. Oh well, we did get to feed the animals which was cool. The woman in the gift shop when we arrived was great. The one there when we left wasn’t very friendly with folks. Also, no T-shirts. Where were the tshirts? If you like history, this is a great place to go. However, I am thinking that the weekend may be the better time for re-enactments.

Lots to see, and we spent way more time than we expected. Many of the houses have people dressed in costume who answer questions and perform demonstrations.

Vermilionville is a village of historical Cajun homes and a church brought in from the country. Visitors can travel back in time by seeing the homes inside and out. They can grasp the feeling of Acadiana and life before modern automation. The name comes from the original name for Lafayette. A suburb in New Orleans prevented the city from taking the Lafayette name. When it was incorporated into New Orleans the name ws available and Vermilionville became Lafayette.

The historical village commemorating the original town has more than historical homes. It includes a wonderful restaurant, a music hall with live Cajun and Zydeco music, and ferry crossing a small body of water, and often demonstrations of different arts and practices of the early Cajuns performed by people knowledgeable of the practices wearing clothing from the early period. There is plenty to enjoy and learn in Vermilionville that is a favorite of locals as well as tourists.

We were staying in the area during the middle of the week, and so things were quiet. I wished there was more hustle and bustle to make this village come to life.

We have been at living museums throughout the United States, as well as to other parts of the world. While the homes have been lovingly restored at Vermilionville, and there were some artisans, there was a lack of vibrancy to the village. I enjoy feeling like I have stepped back in time, but for some reason I didn't get that feeling at this village.

The village definitely has potential, and maybe on a weekend, or during summer, it comes to life, and so I am rating the attraction very good.

The amount of detail that went into restoring the old houses and out buildings is impressive. The staff, dressed in clothing appropriate for the period represented, who man the buildings provide a surprising amount of information. Well worth the price of admission. We were there on a Sunday and were treated to a live performance by a local Cajun band that provided the music for an afternoon of dancing. The band was very good and it was fun to watch all the local dancing.

Very good visit, a good way to learn more about the history and ways of life before. The explanatory panels are in English and French, very appreciated! Cheap entry, visit lasts around 1 hour.

Lovely setting. GREAT crawfish etoufee and bread pudding. Highlight was definitely Chief! Very knowledgeable and witty. Learned about his tribe, among others that called Louisiana home.

We thoroughly enjoyed this re-creation of history of the Acadian people and mixture of other races of Black, Spanish and Indian. Several guides were dressed in period clothing and explained different arts, like spinning and weaving. It was $10 per person to get in. The restaurant on site was good and reasonable. Thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

I wish we had more time. We got there late and thoroughly enjoyed the Cajun music jam but we wanted to see some of the village so we left the jam to explore. It poured rain that day and we got stuck on a porch until it slowed down. We will have to come back again some day. It is a great concept.

We spent some time with the woman demonstrating the quilting. She was a delight.

Oh and our favorite volunteer was Louie the cat! Long live Louie!!

peacocks everywhere enjoyed their history, home tour, and their place very interesting a good stop to see

We visited vermilionville on Earth day with our kids, and it was free to get in. They have free admission 3 times a year. This is an old historic village of what life was like when the Acadian settled the area years ago. On Earth day, they had many activities for the kids to do to keep them busy. If there sun is out, it will be a hot day, so prepare for that. If you want to learn about the settlers of this area, then this place is a must. I have some video of our experience there on YouTube. We had such a great time and will be back on another Earth day

Loved Kevin the first docent at the first cabin. We learned so much from him and the educational signs. The homes and tools. Traps, boats, wood working tools, primitive beds and kitchens were good to learn about. The live alligator on the dock was a wild touch!

This is a lovely, interesting recreation of a Cajun/Creole village 100+ years ago. The interpreters helped the houses come to life, and learning about the history and the activities that would have gone on in such a village was educational as well as fun. Lunch was great, too.

Nice little walk to do freely... The buildings are well maintained and the “guides” along the way are very interesting, available and smiling!

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here, as well as our two kids (5 & 7). So much to see about our state, how our actions of the past have affected things today. How our actions of today will have an impact, etc. So much to learn here. Amazing preservation of homes and artifacts. Beautiful scenery.

Great experience learning of the area & the settling of it. The houses & building are very interesting & a different view of the south. The history of the Acadians (Cajuns) is an eye opener & it shows that this group was a strong group to come through all their adversity . Just history all through this & you can just enjoy the peace & quiet as you stroll around.

It was well worth seeing. It was well planed and executed. All of the loaned family air looms that were loaned out were wonderful

Village that includes a blacksmith, teacher, spinner and weaver, fur trapper. Each tells the story of the people during the 1700-1800's...Excellent and fascinating! There is a chicken yard with chickens, a church, donkies and sheep. Very well worth the visit. I never knew there was brown cotton or that it took 8 hours to remove the seeds from cotton before it could be made into yarn.

This portion of american history gains of being better known.
The village shows how Cajun / Creole “french” Americans were living.

As a Canadian, we learned a lot how and reasons why that happened but not how these people were living down south.

Actually, you’ll never see “Le Grand Dérangement” the same way.

Recommended.

Must eat at the Vermilionville restaurant. Best ever. If you are lucky enough to go on a Friday, be sure to get the seafood gumbo and the biscuits. Both are over the top and the best we have ever had. Special thanks to the friendliest people ever.

Vermilionville is such a learning experience about Acadian, Cajun and Creole people. Really enjoyed the experience and the knowledge gained.

Sharon and JD from North Carolina.

I took the guided tour and my guide was incredibly knowledgeable and interesting. This was my first time visiting Lafayette & I wanted some historical background on the city. As you move from home to home, all relocated to the area from around Louisiana, you are led through a domestic history of life in the area. From trapper cabins to urban multi-room turn-of-the-century (19th) houses, you get a glimpse of Bayou life & the migration waves that made Lafayette what it is today.
What I would love to see: the addition of replica early American Indian shelters (the differences between native tribe building techniques.)

Vermilionville is one of Lafayette's main tourist attractions, and is definitely worth a visit. They invite live bands to play on the weekends, where one can hear authentic Cajun music. The walking tour is easy going and gives you an idea of the various home styles of different period in Louisiana. There's also an excellent restaurant on site and a stocked gift shop. If you're doing a road trip through the the South or if you are in the area visiting Avery Island, I'd recommend putting this on your list to learn more about Cajun and southern culture.

Vermillionville is a great place to hang out for a few hours if you're into history in general or if you are interested in the Acadian culture. We were surprised the park was quite large. Next to the many interesting houses, it's full of nice artefacts that make everything come alive.

This is a wonderful tourist site which shows and explains how life in the area was back in the late 1700's and 1800's.
A must see for the low price of $8.00.

Was a great experience getting married at Vermillionville, this is a classic Louisiana cajun experience and I am glad I did it.

Great way to pass a couple hours and learn the history of the Acadian culture. Homes, barns and a chapel from the era are on site. There is a restaurant but it was closed. There was also a building for entertaining but it was also closed during our visit. We did see a woman quilting and another spinning cotton which was neat. Hadn't seen someone making a quilt since my grandmother passed.

We were there on a weekday in the early afternoon. There may be more happening in the evening or on weekends. If we're ever in the area again we'll surely check it out.

Passing through Lafayette La on business and came across this historical village called Vermilionville. I wasn’t really expecting much ,just a respite from the grind of work.
It was just a delightful place to spend 2-3 hours and step into another world, The guides were friendly and able to describe the crafts they were making. If youre not interested in learning about Cajan Life in the late 18 and early 19 centuries , then just step outside and enjoy peace and quiet of bayou life. I went in March so the temperature was perfect and there weren’t very many people. It’s very close to the airport so you could easily visit it on your way in to or out of town, Admission is fairly cheap $8-10 for adults.
Restaurant on the grounds as well.

We enjoyed a beautiful Sunday afternoon walking around the buildings and listening to the free live Cajun music! The site is well- maintained with excellent information displayed throughout the village. The restaurant had a reasonably priced and delicious buffet of typical Southern Louisiana cuisine. We didn’t plan to eat there, so didn’t have time for a meal, but took it to-go and enjoyed it immensely later that day!
I highly recommend visiting the nearby US Park Service Acadian Cultural Center before visiting Vermilionville to get a better understanding of the history of the Acadian people who settled the area. The Center is free, located on the adjoining property a few minutes away and has a movie that helps you understand the background to Vermilionville.
The site is beautiful and interesting on its own, but even better if you know the history!

Back in time in the Acadian period. Beautiful houses from way back when. The band playing in the hall is great. Fantastic experience. We from Holland loved Vermilionville!

This was a neat little stop on our trip. It was cool that everyone spoke french. We enjoyed learning a tid bit of the area history.

If you love cajun music and dance this is the place to be Saturday or Sunday afternoon. We went into the music barn and never left until ,closing and thus did not see the other offerings.

We happened on to this place while taking a bicycle trail through Lafayette. We had a great time. The Acadian buildings were well restored and expert volunteers shared history and music. The restaurant on site had an amazing menu with excellent prices. We had fried chicken, gumbo, greens, drinks, and dessert for $10. It is not as big as Acadian Village, but just as nice.

Exciting tour of the old village with Kevin who conveys to us with humor and full of anecdotes his passion for the history of the Acadians and the Cajun world. Almost 3 hours: we don't see the past time! Thank you, Kevin!

This is a live museum, with people dressed up who speak about lifestyle, culture, language and many other unusual information about the deportation of Acadiens, their struggle for survival and the help they received from Native Americans. There is a lot of history to learn and in live music to hear as you visit the original homes and buildings that were moved in order to preserve and recreate an Acadian village.

Bayou boat ride, Acadian village self-guided tour and lunch buffet is a good value tour package. The boat ride is an hour and 1/2; mostly consisting of water and landscape scenery. Buffet items consisted of two entrees & sides. The food was fair; with a tender and tasty smothered pork chop. The cup of gumbo the server brought out tasted like it was prepared from box mix. Chocolate marble cake served was delicious. The Acadian village was a nice cultural experience; with interesting architecture, well kept grounds, quality artisans, friendly and knowledgeable blacksmith.

Very interesting private tour of Vermilionville, reconstituted historic village. Thanks to Jay, village manager for accompanying us and for his passionate comments in French

On the heels of the Cultural Center, Vermillionville was perfect - to literally see in this place what we had learned in the other. There also happened to be a week-long music "camp" for adults going on, which was so special, to add the sounds of music to the living history. We didn't have a chance to go back for the evening dancing and jams but do go if you can.

We arrived on a Thursday when they opened at 10am. The historical preservation and restoration work is wonderful. We talked to people dressed in period clothes. They shared historical details in a fun way, bringing the old houses and artifacts to life. The restaurant is onsite so we ate lunch. The food was absolutely amazing! The etouffee arrived in a cup with great flavor and plenty of crawfish. The etouffee menu item comes with a choice of 2 proteins, we selected shrimp and fish. We also ordered the daily special which included a cup of gumbo, pork jambalaya, vegetables, a honey biscuit, and dessert. You get plenty of food. Every thing we ordered was perfectly seasoned. The bread pudding with praline sauce was wonderful. We would definitely recommend the restaurant as its own destination! The restaurant hours are 11am-2pm and the historical views are available 10am-4pm. We found some must-have items in the gift shop, so allow time to linger for fun memories and purchases.

Wonderful experience. We’re originally from this area but moved away 20 years ago. We learned so much about the history and culture. I also learned the difference between Cajun and Creole!

This is a neat concept. Unfortunately it wasn't very exciting. They did have a few people dressed up and teaching things but other than that, not interesting. Lots of reading. Easy walk though. Pretty area and homes/buildings. Costs $10 per person which I think is too much. Restaurant on site but we didn't eat there. I saw good reviews for it though! Gift shop as well. In Layfayette.

Good restaurant. However, for the money I believe there are better choices in Lafayette. However, it’s definitely worth a try. No complaints but it’s got a lot of competition in this town famous for its good food.

No Notice in town or on line. Nothing at the gate. Tried to walk around to look at the grounds but its all fenced off Don't bother to go out of your way to find it.

Such a beautiful and informative place. The staff are all in costume and ready to answer all your questions. We are so glad we stopped by. Make sure you make it to the ferry and pull yourself to the other side!

First of all, my husband was fascinated with the watershed exhibit. We also thought the costumed docents made the history come alive. .Morning Sun, of the Choctaw tribe, told us about marriage and living customs, and at the schoolhouse we received an introduction to zydeco music. We learned how the French spoken here can sometimes differ in meaning from French spoken in France. Also, French was forbidden to be spoken in school for many years. The village contains many examples of Acadian houses and buildings. We were supposed to take a boat trip and advance reservations (2 weeks) are required, but first, the boat needed repairs and then the water level was too low. It was actually a little too cool for a boat trip anyway, so we would recommend visiting a little later in the season and on a weekend when musical performances are given.

A good way to get an idea as to how the Cajuns lived with restored buildings. It was a nice stroll building to building with locations having a person to share some tidbits in Cajun culture.

Visited Vermilionville during a weekend getaway. It was an overcast Saturday and after we paid and started our trek around the village we found out that several of the staff took the day off and that there was no music playing like on typical Saturdays, because of it being close to Mardis Gras. Of course, no one told us this when we were paying $16.00 to get in. It probably is not a bad visit in the summer, when they have a full crew available. But, its nothing but a rip-off right now.

We really enjoyed the property and especially enjoyed the docents and their extensive knowledge of the subject matter. We didn't eat at the restaurant but the smells were wonderful!

Lovely village to stroll through with houses open & dressed to show how different families lived there.
Very relaxing & easy to follow tour...very enjoyable.
There is a self propelling (pull the rope) ferry which was fun.
Ended our tour with some authentic local cajun music in main hall.

This was a good historical visit to help understand how folks lived back in the 1800's in this part of Louisiana. The village s set up like the folks lived. You can really understand and feel how they fared. Some houses had interpretive guides that had good knowledge of the history of the place. Good for a few hours in Lafayette.

This is the nicest place to visit. It's a secluded place, it's surrounded by shade trees that make it so nice. And every saturday, they have a cajun jam session for any cajun band members, that want to join in. And the original old homes that were lived in years ago. You will feel so relaxed and really enjoy it.

Numerous historical buildings showing different ways of life depending on the times or economics, of various people living in Vermilionville. Also some displays on water and weather. This little village sits right on the water and has a nice restaurant.

The village was well done. It was interesting to learn the differences between Creole and Cajun culture.

We like going to historic villages while traveling. This village is well maintained and offers a excellent insight to the local lifestyles from the past.

There were many buildings but all were not original. The reproductions were well done and based on actual building that did exist once.

A few buildings had interpreters to help with the visit - they all were knowledgeable and friendly.

The restaurant on site was excellent - look for separate review.

Our tour guide (Cecily?) Was amazing and she's a great singer. We learned alot during the tour. Would highly recommend it when in Lafayette.

While not in the great location, a little hard to find and a little short on parking spots...with a deceiving look from the outside...it is A JEWEL once inside! Large, spacious, with an interesting combo between rustic and Cajun styles... very friendly and knowledgeable staff and A+ food! It's not every day that everything, from the appetizers to the desert is excellent! We were a big group so people tried different things... all I can say: choose whatever you want, without any fear, you won't be wrong and you won't be disappointed! Truly everything is delicious! They also have a great wine selection, with great original French wines on the top! Try the turtle soup, the fried alligator and anything else on the menu... The biggest challenge is to find it and to find a parking spot, once you enter you will have a fantastic time!

You start out in the gift shop, which has all sorts of locally made products. Hubby bought a skunk skin and named him Toby. There was a tour of the grounds that included many buildings with period garbed people making period items. They explain what they are doing. It's very educational. There is also a ferry across the bayou that is operated by pulling on a rope. There is a restaurant and pavilion with old south zydeco music.

This is a e-creation of an old Lafayette settlement along the Vermilion River. Several houses have been built or rebuilt to put together a little village on the river. Interesting to walk through.

Even on a grey January day this is a worthwhile attraction. The grounds are manicured, the re-enacted village interesting, good posters of historical points. Even though we were disappointed not to see any artisan at work, the watershed exhibit won our respect.

I have been to Vermilionville several times over the years. Most recently, I attended a business group event there. It is a wonderful place to learn about the Acadians and their rich culture and history.

This is a great living history museum, we learned so much about the Acadian, First Nations & Creoles of this area. The in costume & character artist in each building were so knowledgeable and interesting to talk to. Spent so much time talking & listening we closed the place.
Learned so much.

Very intestesting visit through the almost true Acadian village! We have learnt a lot and the employees on each spot (school, houses, forge etc...) were much open to discussion. Not many people on a Saturday morning, thus relaxing when roaming in the beautiful gardens.

We chose to explore Lafayette, Louisiana after spending some time in New Orleans. We were there on a Tuesday/Wednesday. The town of Lafayette has a fine cathedral to visit and next door to that is a 500 year old oak tree that was amazing. The town itself didn't offer much in the way of evening entertainment as it was midweek. We went to Vermilionville the next day on our way back to NOLA. It was a fabulous place with very well-informed docents in period costume. If you are interested in history, culture, beauty, or Cajun/Creole cuisine, you would enjoy this.

A beautiful place, maintained, where the reconstruction of houses and premises of the past allows to understand the life of the Cajuns. The explanations are clear, precise. A visit is necessary to soak up this beautiful page of Louisiana history.

One of the coolest places to go in Lafayette la. Had a great time and a beautiful place to visit. Was great time

My husband and I spent about four hours here including time for lunch. What a wonderful experience. The staff members are really nice and very knowledgeable. We toured the houses, blacksmith shop and visited with the agriculturalist about growing cotton. The crafts people were awesome. We watched a lovely woman hand quilting as she told us about the house we toured. One lady was spinning cotton into thread and also told us about techniques used for spinning and weaving. The blacksmith was very interesting and was making knives while we were there and we had a great visit with him. We also took the small ferry across the water. That was fun! This was an amazing place and we were so glad that we went. We had lunch at the Cafe there and it was excellent. The gumbo was great. The service was also great and the staff was friendly. We spent a wonderful day here!

We didn't actually see many of the buildings there because we spent all our time there dancing to Cajun music on a Sunday afternoon. Good music.

If you are a history buff and interested in Cajun Culture then don't miss this attraction. Each area has a unique attraction that is clearly as exact to the time in history and so entertaining. The folks who show the craft or skill of the Cajun ways long ago are the most informed and willing to tell it all! The food menu is as close to perfect as it can get. So many choices are available! This is a day trip for sure with the kids or grandkids!

Very nice discovery of its houses describing life in a village. We had a great time in this well-kept place.

We opted for the guided tour and were really glad we did. It was just us and our guide Jay, who had loads of knowledge about the history of the area including the native tribes. The people in costume added to the enjoyment of the experience and each added their own information and personal anecdotes as we met them. We were impressed by how many buildings were accessible and by how many original artefacts were there to view. It recommended 2hours for the visit - we were there for a good three hours and then visited the cafe for lunch which was delicious. Fabulous day!

We went in April the weather was great . I really enjoyed that we were able to take our time and walk into the homes and read the back story in each home . I would recommend

After reading all of the superlative reviews on Trip Advisor, I was somewhat disappointed by my overall experience. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The exhibit on water was interesting. But there isn't really that much to see or do. It is kind of a very poor man's version of Williamsburg or other historic villages. The buildings and grounds are somewhat run down and in need of repair and paint.

The grounds were nice & we enjoyed walking through them.
It was interesting, however guides in each house gave contradictory information. Some of them were knowledgeable & had good info. Others were odd & either seemed put off that we were there & said nothing, or ranted incoherently & we just wanted to get away from them.
If you live in the area it's worth visiting for some history, & something different to do, however if traveling through the area I would not make a special stop to visit.

Beautiful setting for a historic village. Great tour through it and the docents were very knowledgeable as you went from building to building.

This was one of the most interesting things we did the whole trip. I thought it would be hokey but it was great. The people they have working there are in period costume and very informative about the history of the area. The best thing there was the Saturday afternoon Cajun music jam. Absolutely incredible.

The historic village provides an impressive depiction of the history of the Cajuns and other cultural movements. The local people were all very nice.

Vermilionville is a nice way to spend a few hours when in Lafayette. It has historical replica homes, some educational rooms, a few animals (donkey, sheep), an air conditioned cafe with live music, and a nice gift shop. Reasonably priced. Lots of parking available.

This is an interesting place to visit if you have the time. The grounds are lovely and you walk from house to house to explore buildings as they were back in the day. Several of the homes have people dressed in period costumes that explain the purpose of the building and what they do there. Admission price is reasonable. However my husband and I found the national Park service center which is nearby to be more informative, and free.

this was awesome so wonderful that our cajun heritage is being kept alive. The guides are awesome love that they get in character to spin cotton, play music instruments etc.

This place deserves it's top ranking in the list of place to visit in Lafayette. Is well presented the history of early settlements. The way of living in times past. Helpful, knowledgeable staff, the history is brought to live. And if you are lucky to visit on Saturday between 1pm -3pm, you will be able enjoy real wonderful Cajun music section included in the entrance fee.
We enjoyed this place a lot.

i'm a Cajun from the local area and have been away for several years and decided to stop by to see how this place has developed. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the facility has been maintained and improved over the years. I'm very glad to see the dedication to maintaining the Cajun culture. Great place to visit and get immersed in the Cajun culture. Highly recommended.

Great walk with all the family and in seeing the history. Most of these people live it as though they were still in that time. A few exceptions air conditioning being one of them.
La Cuisiene De Maman is great. Have a buffet on Fridays thru Sunday. That for all one price includes the entire meal.

Nice place to visit I did enjoy the area after finding another hotel. The restaurants are all really good in the area. People in general are friendly.

The building s were beautiful, the Buffett was so-so, the live music was fantastic. We enjoyed visiting the grounds and listening to the band. Our only suggestion was that there were lots of display items in each building, but nothing to identify what they were or what they were used for and no one to ask. The ferry was fun to use.

Outstanding, knowledgeable tour guide. I would highly recommend paying for the guided tour. Absolutely worth it. -We ate at the onsite restaurant which was good and stayed for the Cajun French music jam which was fun. An enjoyable time.

We come to Vermillionville once a year on Earth Day weekend. Its usually $10 for adults and a little less for seniors and kids, but on Earth day weekend everyone is free! It is a walk back in history to learn about Acadian and Creoles and how they lived. There is a school house, a kitchen, a church and couple of houses where certain family's lived. It is by the Vermillionville River where on Earth Day you can canoe 🛶 or take a guided boat ride for 45 min down the river. There are activities throughout the area for kids to do. They have live music and food available. All activities are free except the boat 🚣🏽 tour an it's only $5. Make sure to eat at the only restaurant on site called La Cuisine Maman! They only have the buffet when it's really busy and it is good but the menu items are awesome too when you can order them. Gumbo is good! You can take home a tree to plant when you leave!!

I liked that they had homes displayed for two different incomes so we could compare. I like that there were people inside some of the homes to answer questions.
I wish I would have known the cooking demonstrations were only on select days, I was really looking forward to that.

It’s worth the trip. It is interesting and gives you a real insight into what life was like in the 18 and 19th centuries. On Bayou Vermilion, you also get the atmosphere of the rivers edge.

So, we were looking for a place to spend a few hours before the B&B opened up. It had to be interactive and entertaining to keep my attention... and that of our 9 month old. Vermilionville met our expectations. They had live music, folks in period garb manning the exhibit, and livestock... all things that catered to my ADD, love for all things Frenchy, and love for historic trivia.

The restaurant was decent with HUGE portions and very friendly staff.

Overall, not a bad place to pass a few hours. Plus, they say that portions of th e nominal entrance fees go to cultural preservation. Win - Win.

Very interesting and informative, inexpensive, plenty of parking, very friendly staff, easy to find - near airport. Nice gift shop.

We thoroughly enjoyed the history that this site offered. Site is amazing and the staff are friendly and well-versed in history.

If history is your thing, like it is mine, you can experience it here. This is a living history museum as good as any I've visited. Nice café, too.

We signed up for canoe lessons at Vermilionville. The beginner lessons were in the pond on the grounds, it’s a beautiful setting, quiet & serene. The guide was very knowledgeable, not just about how to canoe, & equipment but also about the area, natural habitat & history. It was a wonderful experience.

I took the guided and it was the best way to go . She was able to give me so much more information than just the signs outside the houses. I would definitely recommend this tour.

I really enjoyed seeing that many old houses in the south. There was great. Good place to go on a date or with family.

Great family attraction. Privately owned and operated, the site has structures (some original and some replicated) relocated from parts of Bayou Country with staff dressed in attire from the era and making oral presentations to include folklore. Live presentations of Cajun music and dances by schedule (check the website for dates and times) are entertaining and amusing. There is a restaurant onsite (we didn't try since we had plans for lunch elsewhere) with a set menu and restroom facilities. A ferry crossing incorporated into the walking path added more fun for our teenaged kids. The entire experience is full of history and is educating to adults as well as school aged children. Some exhibits can be touched and explored and encouraged to be hands-on while others have "Do Not Touch" signs due to their historic and antique value. There is a barn with a donkey and a couple of sheep on display. The buildings and the walking path will take from a couple of hours to half a day to cover depending on your schedule and interest. For two adults and two children (high school aged) the entry cost $32 which is very reasonable considering a great history lesson.

It was great! There’s plenty to see and it’s a good day out. If we were passing we would return and also recommend!

If you come to Louisiana to discover its culture and background, then this is a place to discover! Very much enjoyed it!

My husband and I visited this living history museum and were absolutely delighted. Over a dozen historical buildings (homes, a church, and a school) are assembled in one location and most have an on-site historian who is very knowledgeable and passionate about sharing his/her story of the place. We were astounded by the depth of knowledge presented and left knowing a lot more about the local culture and history. There's also a great restaurant and gift shop.

Part of our Cajun food tour was a stop here. We went back after the tour ended so we could listen to the free music that started at 1pm. Local players having a fun time with Cajun and zydeco music. Family oriented.

Our two couples visited this very nice historic village near Lafayette and truly enjoyed it as French Canadians with ancestors who got deported in Louisiana centuries ago. We were very well received by the staff at the ticket office who enjoyed practicing their French with us and then walked around the site to see the different type of houses our ancestors were living in. We especially enjoyed talking to the different role players we could find from house to house except that a few of them did not speak much French, which is not a must.

We happened upon this great find on a cross-country road trip and first time in Louisiana. Great docents in period costume and interesting old houses. Delicious buffet lunch (12.95) in the restaurant on the grounds, and we happened upon the delightful Saturday afternoon Cajun music jam while there.

Great service good wine list and great food. The dining area has been updated and is clean and well appointed.

The site, with its various old houses, is truly authentic. It gives a great insight into life in the former Cajun country.
Note the friendliness and desire to make their history and culture known to the people who animate some of the houses. Except for the Indian chef who poses at the entrance...

On a beautiful day some friends and I toured Vermillionville, which consists of some period and some replica buildings that tell the history of Acadians. They have docents in some of the buildings dressed in period costume to give a more indepth history of the buildings and people. My favorite were the Native American grandmother and grand daughter. Both were gifted story tellers.

Give yourself time to stroll and talk to everyone who works there. That is the pleasure of the place. It is a living place with kitchen gardens, animals and more. And take the ferry.

A must do in Lafayette.

Four of us toured, the local part of our group didn't knowit was there. Small scale of Williamsburg. Nicely done, the participants in the homes were knowledgeable and friendly. Surprise, quilting lady asked where we were from, "Pennsylvania". Where? "North Central, Tioga County", never heard of it. "Right by the NY State line". She says, near Potter County? Galeton? Cherry Springs? "Yes, mam, my home town." So funny.

All the family enjoyed it! You live for a 2h or so at the Acadian times, see the artefact of this mixed culture based. You will meet a Native chief, learn how you craft a shirt from cotton wool...
You can feed the adorable donkey and sheeps with the grains bought at the ticket area.
The people working here are so kind and passionate, you won't regret it! It's fun and instructive at the same time.

This centre has many old Cajun houses and artefacts in a village setting. It is very well organised and laid out and the guides in some of the houses and the information boards enhance the experience. Highly recommended

It 's a place where you can spend a day and has interests for all ages.t
The Idea is the maintenance of Cajun culture showing us the Aadian, Native, Creole buildings in a peaceful landascape.
Articrafts, boat tours, gardens, gift shop, restaurant can be visited as well.
During the week ends there are balls, since 1-5 PM , live music and excelents dancers.
A lot of happiness in these balls.
Vermilionville is a place where History is hands-on.
Everybody must know because is Louisiana' s heritage.

One of the earliest settlements along the banks of the Bayou Vermilion. Two hundred years ago! Very historic and the interpreters are wonderful. They are in the time period wardrobe and give detailed history of life and crafts of the time period 1765 to 1890. We were totally impressed with this historic village! Spend as much time as you have in this place.

Interesting, informative, relaxing place to spend a few hours. We loved the local musicians that played while they described the history of music from the area. If you speak with the artisans in each building you can get a good picture of life from the Acadian, Native American, and Creole points of view. There is a small restaurant on the grounds that you should not miss. Even if you just have a cup of jambalaya...do not miss it! The park official also told us we could camp there in the parking lot if we wanted...a nice bit of information if you have a self-contained camper.

This is the kind of place you set your own pace - so you can spend as much time as you want. I found this aspect relaxing. Fairly shady with lots of trees help keep the heat down a bit. Restaurant on premise is decent and convenient.
Best part for me was the jam session (saturday afternoon).

A must do in Lafayette! My kids really enjoyed the experience. The restaurant serves delicious food.

I highly recommend that anyone looking for something to do with company or visiting friends, take them there!
It is like a view into the life of out Cajun and creole ancestors. Many people do not know that we had a great relationship with the native Americans. One visit here will show you the love of life the Cajuns had.

The authentic homes and people showing you how they were able to make something out of nothing. You can watch them make beautiful art pieces just the way they did in the old days.
You go at your own pace, so it can be as long or short of a day you want to. We spent about 4 hours with the kids.
The kids asked a lot of questions, thank goodness they had the patience.

We enjoyed this tour very much. I’m not here to write a book of our experience. The short version is we really enjoyed the tour.

IWe had a free morning and stopped here. I'm glad we did, although I wanted to go to Lake Martin instead. My wife and son voted for Vermilionville, so living hsitory it was. Historic villages like this are one of my wife's main travel interests so I have been to many and am usually ready to go after after a quick glance at a couple buildings. Not this time. Sorry fellow Buckeyes but this beats Lyme, Zoar, and other places closer to home. Even my autistic son thoroughly enjoyed his visit. All buildings, rest rooms, and walks are accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, especially on an uncrowded fall day. I must have spent a half hour just listening to and talking with the zydecko fiddler. I learned more about cajun hsitory, culture,and music from him than from any history or music class I ever took at any level. There is a restaurant on the premises and the gift shop sells wood animals and other items made on the grounds. I would suggest visiting the culture center just down the street first to get a good grasp of the area's history then experiencing it first hand at Vermilionville.

Absolutely the best homemade Cajun food I had. Walking through the village and experiencing the demonstrations and interpretive was fun and educational. Even pulling yourself across a bayou on a ferry was fun.

Brought a friend here from out of town. Really cool to walk around and see the Acadian history and loved the people working in each house! So informative!

We enjoyed a self tour going through the building as we were driving by on our way to New Orleans. The guided tour would have provided a lot more information if we had planned ahead. It took us about 2.5 hours to walk through. We ate at the restaurant onsite. It was really reasonably priced and enjoyed their homemade gumbo soup. Our five year old left with a new wood toy and best of all tired from all the exploring.

Small open-air museum with old houses. We had read that people dressed in period clothing tell stories, but there was no one there. Only an older gentleman sat in the school who talked very interestingly about music, sang and played the accordion.
Live Cajun music was supposed to take place here today, but it was cancelled.
A nice facility, but not a must-do

You can spend half a day or more viewing the cabins of the time and interact with the people performing the functions of the day...a school teacher....a quilter....a seamstress...etc. The food at the restaurant is Cajun perfect.

The Stesk Louie(Filet) was very tender & delicious. It was cooked to perfection, but the mash potatoes were kind of stiff. The asparagus that came with it was bland. Don't get the carrot cake because it is so sweet I couldn't eat it. Taste like pure sugar.

Definitely an interesting visit that deserves a walk of a couple of hours. The reconstruction of the homes and lifestyle of the first Acadian settlers is interesting. Each building has panels with history and other information.
Above all, I appreciated the "actors" and their narratives (moreover some of real life and therefore full of passion and emotions).
I definitely recommend the visit

We really had a great time here, some of the older venues were better than the new venues, like the museums in downtown that were a bit underwhelming comparatively

Fascinating visit of our guide in French!
What a beautiful moment, a must!
Friends Francophones do not miss out

Interesting and well kept, but some of the actors keep rambling forever and one cannot escape gracefully.

We had a couple of hours before an afternoon bayou trip to visit Vermilionville. We had already visited the Acadian Cultural Center and then came here. The whole 'village' is well laid out and is manned by people with a real passion for their subjects. We went midweek when it was very quiet - although there were a couple of school groups in - and were almost pounced on by the docents who wanted to engage us and share their knowledge.
We learned about the geography and weather of the area, the challenges of living there, and then how people have lived through the ages. We were able to ask questions and have real 'conversations' with the staff and I came away feeling I had learned a lot, in a fun and interactive way.
We saw that one of the school groups was also having a cooking lesson, but we didnt have the time to spend doing that.
You can spend anything from an hour to a day here, look out for some of the events that they schedule. We finished our tour with lunch in the restaurant which was also good.

A good way to learn about the area in one place. Lots of rebuilt and renovated (and moved) historic buildings. The guides in the buildings were informative and interesting.

Wonderful area set in an old cajun town setting. Food and drink available along with friendly knowledgeable employees!

Vermillionville is a great place to spend a couple of hours learning about the Acadian history.
Each period house has a plaque in front outside that tells you it’s specific history. There are people in period costumes that could tell you even more and spoke French too.

This was a really different experience.
Good intro at reception, with detailed map.
Really is a living history park. There was even a lady quilting.
A lot of original houses, most of which you could go in.
Amused by the accordion player in the school house. We had a chat with him in French, then he played some Acadian music from Missouri on his iphone!
The boat was fun. A grand time had by all!

This was a outstanding example of a historic Cajun village. My children were impressed and found it fun even though you learn stuff. Great outing for families.

Interesting to see the restored older buildings and learn about the history of the people in the area. Houses were accessible and it was pleasant to walk around on a warm spring day.

This was so nice! The employees were so friendly, from the first step in the door until the end. We did the self guided tour and loved being able to take time at each building, reading all the information and interacting with the artisans. The artisans really do a great job. They really seem to love their jobs and really take their time answering and explaining things. We kinda highjacked the lady doing the quilting, she was so sweet and we had the best conversation about old memories. The weather was great but even if it wasn't I don't think it would have really effected the outcome and enjoyment. Don't forget to cross the water on the rope ferry! We got to see turtles and alligators. Oh and I got to love on a friendly cat that probably would have enjoyed his nap more if I just let him sleep but even tho he was annoyed he happily allowed me to get some cat love. Lol

This is one of the finest recreated villages I've ever seen. Some buildings were original and some were recreations. From the minute we entered the "village," everyone was very helpful. The ecological exhibit explained the special relationship of a bayou village with its surroundings and with the world in general. The villagers were ordinary Acadians rather than plantation owners. We were graciously allowed to join an ongoing group tour of the village. I particularly enjoyed the do-it-yourself ferry. Lunch is a must---excellent food and a great value, even if you don't eat everything (which we didn't). We spent 4 or 5 hours there.

My wife and I spent about three hours here and really enjoyed ourselves. The self guided tour takes you through more than a dozen homes from the 1800’s that were relocated from the region and restored. The “village” includes houses, schoolhouse’s, a church, blacksmith shop, livery stand and even outhouses. Each house is decorated with furniture and fixtures from that particular period.

There is even a building set aside for authentic Cajun-style music with locals playing guitars, banjos, fiddles and of course, harmonicas. The place even has a restaurant and a beautiful gift shop. (We did not try the Cajun traditional-style restaurant)

We would have given it a 5 but there were only two ladies dressed in brood clothing and no one in the other buildings like the blacksmith shop even though this was a Saturday. We were told that they are having a hard time getting folks to volunteer.

A wonderful day to go. The place was busy with other tourists and from what I did see they came from far, out of state. Be sure to bring your camera..there are many sights for you to see and you will want to capture all of it. It is self tour which takes about 2 hours. If you are hungry they do have a neat place for you to eat at. Great southern food.

We enjoy going to places like this where we can stroll around seeing and reading the history of an area. But what made this visit special was the man in the schoolhouse sharing his accordian music and his families history and the man at the church with a detailed description of the evolution of the terms 'cajun' and 'creole'.
The grounds were a wonderful mix of well-kept wildness, homestead gardens, cultivated flower beds, and bayou. The paths all under huge shade trees.

Extremely interesting, informative, and fun. The people were great and I would recommend visiting the village.

On this rainy and cool Sunday in December, we took this tour a little randomly. The access is quite poorly signposted, but there is ample parking. The different buildings are beautiful, very well presented (English and French). Many people in period dress present various activities... sometimes in Cajun French, a pleasant surprise. To have been able to resist the Anglo-Saxon yoke (French was forbidden in schools at the beginning of the 20th century) is magnificent. The village is visited in one morning (or afternoon).
He makes use of the ferry that advances with the strength of the arms (pull on ropes). Nice.
The restaurant "Chez mamma" is very good too, rustic but nice
And on Sunday afternoon, there is a dance show in the lobby towards the entrance. Fantastic Country Cajun Mood... and Unexpected

We go there every month or so, they don't have new buildings or anything but there a great 3 hour adventure!

The layout of the village was easy to follow with a simple map. Boards outside each building explained the history of the people and the development of styles and building materials. However, unless the visitor was particularly interested in the ideas that drove construction then after about 20 minutes the tour might be repetitive. A visit to the nearby visitor's centre before Vermillionville would probably be a good idea.

This place has so many original buildings and artists who come in and share their talents with the visitors. The stories they tell of long ago are so enlightening! They also host great camps in the summer time!

Very interesting visit and the explanations are also in French. We met volunteers, in old-fashioned costumes, who gave us explanations about life at the time, in French. It’s a good way to learn a little more about life in Louisiana at that time. Most of the houses can be visited and are accessible for wheelchair users.

Vermilionville gives a really good impression of how the Acadien people had to cope with plenty challenges. How their French culture merged with other cultures. Very good restaurant and swell music. So go out and visit Vermilionville!

So much historical information! Our guide was absolutely the best. Plus you can stay and enjoy a proper Louisiana lunch. The Gumbo was excellent.

My wife and I spent two hours here one afternoon recently in March while on a road trip of the Deep South USA. I think it was here for the first time that I really got to the bottom of the difference between Creole & Cajun! We also got to learn about the native americans who inhabited these parts before either the Creole or Cajun moved into Louisiana.
This is a really interesting Arcadian village with some real characters acting our roles of the time, including a blacksmith, fiddle player, cotton spinner and others.
Leave at least two hours to explore, more if you want to eat here as well.

If you get there before 2:30 you can eat lunch at the Cafe.
The grounds and exhibits are super interesting. The houses you go into for the exhibits are air conditioned.
During the fall the neighboring state historic park offers boat trips up the Vermillion River with a Wildlife and Fishery person.
Worth seeing both since they are next to each other.
The gift shop a Vermillionville is a great one

Definitely worth an hour's visit.Buildings have been restored and give a good picture of their original use. Staff are helpful and explain their activities such as weaving and blacksmithing

As part of a recent tour of America's South, our group visited Vermilionville, which is an historic village depicting life in the time of the original Cajun people in Louisiana.
It was very well set out and although it involved walking around the village to see all the buildings and read the information, it was over easy ground amongst lots of shade and it was beside part of a bayou, so there was water nearby - we even saw a small alligator on the far bank!
We visited on Easter Saturday and we were lucky enough to be there when a lot of local musicians came to have a 'jam' session, so we were treated to to some great Cajun music - really made our day there!
We really enjoyed this slice of history.
Moira, Palmwoods, Queensland, Australia