Our history

circa 1840

Located in the heart of the Atchafalaya Basin adjacent to the Nature Conservancy’s 9,300 acre Cypress Island Preserve sits the historic Maison Madeleine. Established as a Bed & Breakfast in 2005 under the direction of its owner, Madeleine Cenac, it has enjoyed 13 years of successful operation, consistently garnering accolades from the travel and tourism industry for its superior service and hospitality. 

The main historic structure - a circa 1840 French Creole cottage - was moved to its location on Lake Martin in St. Martin Parish from property on the Vermillion River near Perry, Louisiana in 1997. Painstakingly restored and authentically furnished to its original grandeur, it serves as the centerpiece of the Bed & Breakfast. One of less than 50 such surviving 19th Century structures in the Acadiana Parishes, Maison Madeleine
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors from around the world travel here to witness the annual migration of Roseate Spoonbills, Egrets and Herons that nest and breed each February through June. Tour guides usher tourists year round through primordial swamp to observe the abundant alligators, wildlife, flora and fauna that designate Lake Martin a premier destination for kayakers, nature photographers and birding enthusiasts.