MOST BEAUTIFUL
SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA
Located in the heart of the Bluegrass State, Bardstown offers small town charm with rich history and that good ol’ southern hospitality. You’ll see how our picturesque farmland mixed with a historic downtown makes it easy to understand why Bardstown was named The Most Beautiful Small Town in America by Rand McNally and USA Today.
Our
HISTORY
Settled in 1780, Bardstown is Kentucky’s second-oldest city. Throughout Nelson County, there are more than 300 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, with nearly 200 of them located in the historic downtown district. In fact, the stagecoach stop that was built in 1779 still stands today as a tavern, restaurant, and bed & breakfast.
Bourbon Capital
OF THE WORLD
A town rich in the spirit, Bardstown has been producing bourbon for over 230 years, and celebrating it through a culture steeped in its traditions. From generations of local families passing down recipes and secrets, to residents who help craft it each and every day, to the endless rolling hills of rickhouses, fields of corn, and restaurants, bars, shops and museums filled with and focused on the spirit, we’ve earned the title and proudly boast to be the Bourbon Capital of the World™.
Our
DOWNTOWN
Our Main Street is full of small town shops and charming restaurants. A stroll down the street on a horse-drawn carriage or through our historic neighborhoods will be sure to make you feel that Southern charm.