Breaux Bridge

In 1771, Acadian pioneer Firmin Breaux began buying the land from which the present-day city of Breaux Bridge would evolve. In 1799, Breaux built a suspension footbridge across the beautiful Bayou Teche to help ease the passage for his family and neighbors. In 1817, Firmin’s son, Agricole, built the first vehicular bridge, allowing for the passage of wagons and increased commerce in the area. This bridge distinguished Breaux Bridge as the only city on Bayou Teche to evolve from both sides simultaneously. The town received its official founding in 1829 when Scholastique Picou Breaux, Agricole’s 33-year-old widow, drew up plans for the city and began developing her property by selling lots to other Acadian settlers.

Restaurants in Breaux Bridge were the first to offer crawfish openly on their menus, and it was here that the now world-famous crawfish etouffée was created. Breaux Bridge became so well known for its crawfish farming and cooking that, in honor of its centennial celebration in 1959, the Louisiana legislature officially designated Breaux Bridge as “la capitale Mondiale de l’ecrevisse” or “the crawfish capital of the world.” Since this designation, Breaux Bridge has hosted the annual crawfish festival, recognized as one of the state’s finest festivals.

Today, Breaux Bridge is a closely-knit community of friendly people with a bustling downtown historic district filled with unique shopping and dining. It also has a thriving business area near Exit 109 on Interstate 10.