The heart of Lafayette centres on its historic downtown, home to the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist with its grand interior and a 500-year-old live oak in the churchyard, along with Parc Sans Souci and the surrounding streets of shops, restaurants and music venues. Strolling the walkable centre, taking in the cathedral, the oak and the lively squares, offers a sense of the citys history and its role as the cultural capital of Acadiana.