Abbeville, which hugs the Vermilion Bayou, is a curious mixture of French, Acadian, Spanish, and American Culture.
     Named after Abbeville, France, the home of Abbeville’s founder, Pere (Father) Antoine Desire Megret, Abbeville has worn its cultural mixture well.  However, there is another belief that perhaps Abbeville received its name from the word abbe  (French for “priest”) and ville (French for “town”).  Pere Megret was born May 23, 1797, and was Capucian missionary.
     Pere Megret arrived in Louisiana in 1842 and was sent to Vermilionville (now Lafayette) as pastor of St. John’s Parish.   His duties carried him to distances far removed from his first assignment.  He traveled about in a pirogue (canoe).  Often he was away for weeks ministering to whoever was in need.  On one of these trips he came upon Vermilion Bayou and to the land south of the Teche.
     The town of Abbeville owes its existence indirectly to the revolt of St. John’s Church, and directly to the pastor against whom the revolt was raised.  The Parish of St. Mary Magdalen of Abbeville owes its existence directly to both.  It was customary at that time for many parishes to be managed by boards of trustees or wardens, representing civil corporation, designated by the French term of “Marguilliers.” In many of these church parishes, the laymen’s corporation and the pastor worked together in harmony.  In others, the wardens sought to make themselves masters of the church  and of the pastor as well  and to direct everything, while they regarded the pastor as a hired hand.  This was the situation at Lafayette when Pere Megret arrived.  Dissatisfied with such conditions, Pere Megret (1842) began to devote his time to traveling to other spots.  He reached Perry’s Bridge (South of current day Abbeville) on one of his journeys.  Contacting a Mr. Robert Perry, who owned land in and around Perry’s Bridge, he was given a site which was not exactly suitable to Pere Megret.  So the dissatisfied priest then made arrangements to purchase another site.  On July 25, 1843, Pere Megret purchased from a Mr. Joseph Leblanc a tract of land in the Parish of Lafayette (now  Vermilion) on the Bayou Vermilion, measuring four arpents by forty arpents deep.  It is interesting to note that the price was 900 dollars, payable 400 dollars in twelve months and 500 dollars in eighteen months.  The land bought is that portion of Abbeville lying between St. Victor Street on the north, Lafayette Street  on the south, and extending from Bayou Vermilion to the public road on the eastern limits of Abbeville.
     The residence of Mr. Leblanc was converted into a church and presbytery.  

     Statistics from the 1990 census state that Vermilion Parish is the most “Cajun place” on Earth.  Authentic Cajun culture can be witnessed through the daily activities of its residents. 
     On your journey through Vermilion Parish, you will encounter expansive fields of rice, sugar cane, soybean and cattle.  Look for the alligator, crawfish, sheep, and emu farms as well.  World-renowned hybrid dayllies, touting one of the oldest blood lines, are also cultivated here.
     Vital to Vermilion’s cattle industry, the Cajun cowboy is a living legend in his own right. The Cajun cowboy’s love of the land and pride of his herd can be appreciated as he masterfully steers hundreds of head of cattle  Twice yearly, tourists can experience these cattle drives either on horseback or aboard wagon trains.
     Driving the back roads of Vermilion Parish, you are destined to spot some exceptional birds.  A myriad of colorful, eccentric, and exquisite birds mesmerize even a novice bird watcher.
     Through your explorations and adventures, you are sure to find a treasure that you will want to bring home:  art, antiques, authentic Cajun foods and products, curios, homemade jellies, jams, and crafts.