Situated just 1 hour south of St Louis just west of the Missouri River, is the charming and laid back town of St Genevieve. This city is the oldest permanent settlement in Missouri, dating back to the 1740s and contains buildings that reflected a French colonial style of architecture as well as a multitude of distinctive vertical log cabins that are remarkably still intact to this very day.
Imagine a life with no cell phones, computers or Blackberries, just peace and quiet. That life may be impossible to obtain and actually, who would really want it? St Genevieve is the closest thing that you are going to find in the entire region that embraces this peaceful and tranquil way of life. Here you will find a charming and quaint little town that is filled with antique craft shops lining the bicycle packed verdant streets.
St Genevieve has a rich history with a wide selection of historic sites and museums on offer including the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum, the historic Stars and Stripes Museum and the Ste Genevieve Museum. This wine making region has some of the most beautiful wineries around such as Sainte Genevieve Winery and the Cave Vineyard that is scenically nestled in the rolling hills of historic Ste Genevieve County, Missouri.
Highlights
The Bolduc House: is an authentically restored Creole house that dates back to 1770 and is said to be the first fully restored home in the nation and is an outstanding example of French colonial architecture.
Chaumette Vineyards: have some of the most stunning vineyards in the region and provides some of the most delicious Missouri wines.
Magnolia Hollow Conservation Area: is 1,740-acres of steep bluffs and scenic hiking trails and is a perfect spot to take in some fishing or woodland game hunting.
Maison Guibourd-Vallé: is a restored home built by a pioneer French settler around the early 1800s and is the most elegantly furnished museum house in town.
Merchant Market: is filled with quaint shops and lovely antique shops where you are sure to find that little hidden treasure. The area also has numerous charming cafés and restaurants.
Modoc Ferry: runs during daylight hours approximately every fifteen minutes and offers spectacular photo opportunities, and did I mention, it’s free of charge.
National Tiger Sanctuary: on this 450-acre reserve, you can see tigers on tours as well as an education center.
Ste Genevieve Museum: contains a wide selection of local memorabilia, prehistoric and historic Indian relics as well as Spanish land grants and priceless old documents.
Ste Genevieve Catholic Church: as it stands today was completed in 1880, with the original church that was built in 1750 was built entirely of vertical logs.