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New Orleans, Orleans Parish / History

Gardette-LePretre House

An architectural gem of the French Quarter, this 1836 mansion is famous for its ornate cast-iron balconies and a dark legend involving a fugitive Turkish sultan's brother.

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What is the Gardette-LePretre House known for?

It is renowned as one of the most photographed buildings in New Orleans and is commonly referred to as the 'Sultan's Palace' due to local legends.

Where is it located?

The house is located at 716 Dauphine Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana 70116.

What is the history of the house?

Built in 1836 by builder Frederick Roy for dentist Joseph Coulon Gardette, the house was sold to Jean Baptiste LePretre in 1839. The LePretre family lived there until 1878, after which the property went to a bank following a lawsuit.

What are the legends associated with the building?

Local legends claim the house was rented to a fugitive posing as a sultan's brother. Ghost stories suggest a Turkish renter kept a harem of kidnapped women and that a grisly mass murder occurred on a stormy night, with blood reportedly seeping from the building.

What does the building look like?

It is an unusual 3½-story stuccoed brick building featuring cast-iron balconies that were installed around 1850.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Located at 716 Dauphine Street, the Gardette-LePretre House is an unusual 3½-story stuccoed brick building. It was constructed in 1836 by builder Frederick Roy for Joseph Coulon Gardette, a local dentist. Before this grand structure rose, the site was home to a smaller brick-and-wood dwelling dating back to 1780, which was owned by Victoire Durrilet, a free woman of color. In 1839, the property was sold to Jean Baptiste LePretre, a wealthy plantation owner. Under LePretre's ownership, the house received its signature cast-iron balconies around 1850. The LePretre family maintained residency until 1878, at which point the mansion transitioned to a bank following a lawsuit against Jean Baptiste himself. Over the decades, the building served various purposes beyond a private residence. During the 1930s, it was subdivided into the Saba Apartments, and by the 1940s, it briefly housed the New Orleans Academy of Art. Today, the property has been restored and converted into six independent apartments. Beyond its architecture, the house is renowned as one of the most photographed buildings in New Orleans and is the center of a grisly local legend. Known as the Sultan's Palace, stories claim a Turkish renter kept a harem of kidnapped women here. The most infamous version of the tale describes a stormy night where assassins murdered everyone inside, with blood reportedly seeping from the building's walls.

Visitor tips

  • Bring a camera, as this is widely considered one of the most photographed buildings in the city.
  • Keep your voice low when photographing, as the building now contains private independent apartments.
  • Visit during the day to clearly see the intricate 1850s cast-iron balcony details.

Nearby context

The mansion sits on Dauphine Street in the heart of the French Quarter, where it stands as a prime example of the area's transition from early colonial dwellings to the opulent 19th-century mansions of the city's wealthy elite.

Sources

Evidence and links