The 11 things to do in Orléans

On holiday in Centre-Val de Loire? Make a stopover in the Loiret and discover the must-see in Orléans!

Préfecture du Centre-Val de Loire, Orléans is best known thanks to Jeanne d’Arc and his release from the French headquarters in 1429.

For a few years, the city has become a beauty and boasts beautiful wood-paned houses with antique colours. Orleans animates on the banks of the Loire where walkers and cyclists escape in the middle of nature.

For a weekend or extended holiday, discover the must-see in Orléans.

1. Sainte-Croix Cathedral

Come and visit Orléans and its cathedral above the city. Classified Historic Monument, the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix opens its doors and presents its history to you.

Almost six centuries have been needed to build this architectural jewel. The work began in 1287 to officially end in 1829. The construction time left prints. There are the styles specific to each century and the various royal estates.

The history of the cathedral is extremely rich. Jeanne d’Arc, Henri IV or Louis XIV, all went there. Inside, you will discover the stained-glass windows telling the history of the Orléans pucelle, as well as its eleven chapels dating from the 13th century.

Today, the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in France with its 140 meters in length, 53 meters wide and its arrow peaking at 106 meters.

2. Source floral park

Located in the district of the Source, the floral park with the same name is one of the most visited places in the Loiret. The park has also been labeled Garden Remarkable by the Ministry of Culture. It’s definitely one of the must-sees in Orléans.

In the heart of the park, the Loiret river takes its source. His two resurgences; the Abyss and the Bouillon embellish and sublime the garden.

Within this green space, the diversity of flora will seduce you; iris, dahlias, roses, admirable trees, etc. Each season, the park has different colours.

And to discover wildlife, a zoo is waiting for you. More than 350 animals are present there. You can discover pink flamingos, exotic birds, or mammals. The butterfly greenhouse presents its different species by recreating the climate conditions of the tropics.

For a full visit, take the small-train or rent a pedal car and explore every corner of the Source's floral park.

3. Hotel Groslot

Special hotel dating from the 16th century, Hotel Groslot is an architectural treasure. The magnificent brick facade hides many treasures inside the building; breeze ceilings, painted canvas walls, Aubusson tapestries, mouldings, etc.

This Historical Monument has known several names; Large House of Stage, House of Governor or Stewardship. In opposition to Jérôme Groslot (Partisan of Protestant reform), King François II and his court settled there.

Then it was Charles IX and his mother, Catherine de Medici who resides there for only five months. After the court leaves, the hotel returns to the Groslot family. He then became the Protestant headquarters.

Today, it is a place for the celebration of marriages. After the French Revolution, the building also served as a city hotel in Orleans.

To understand the history of the Groslot hotel, download the Geologic application that reveals the secret of the place through the various motifs present in the monument.

4. Maison Jeanne d’Arc

What to visit in Orléans to discover his story? Meet at the Jeanne d’Arc house. It was here that she stayed at the headquarters of Orleans and her heroic participation in the liberation of the city. To pay tribute, a historic museum was inaugurated in 1974.

It is a medieval style house with wood-paned bricks and traditional doves. At the time, it was Jacques Boucher’s residence, then treasurer general of the Duke of Orleans, who welcomed Jeanne d’Arc. The old residence was restored in the 1960s.

Today, the house hosts a multimedia room retracing the history of Jeanne d’Arc. Thanks to various media (interactive stands, cartography and chronologies, panoramic animation films), you will leave in the footsteps of Jeanne d’Arc through the centuries.

Upstairs, a documentation and research centre hosts more than 37,000 documents on the Orleans Pork.

5. Place du Martroi

To visit Orléans is to discover its central place; the Martroi square. Here stands an equestrian statue representing Jeanne d’Arc.

The place is in charge of History. In the Gallo-Roman era, the place was home to a cemetery. In the Middle Ages, it is in this place that the convicts were executed. In Latin, Martroy comes from the word martyrium in reference to these executions. Later, the square was used as a wheat market in the Beauce natural region. The market was also renamed Le Martroi au wheat.

Today, the square offers numerous bars and restaurants to enjoy a drink and enjoy local specialities.

6. Fine Arts Museum

The Musée des beaux-arts d’Orléans presents an impressive collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures or art objects dating from the 15th to the 20th century. Italian, Flemish or Dutch paintings, and of course French works are present.

In the sunshine, it is a panorama of neoclassicism to romanticism that stands before you, with several collections of the nineteenth century.

On the first floor, the French paintings of the 17th and 18th offer real masterpieces to admire through religion, mythology and history.

In the Pastels office, you will discover major works such as the self-portrait to the Chardin Besicles or the portrait of a young black man from Maurice Quentin de la Tour. The pastels office in Orléans is also the second most impressive in France, after that of the Louvre. It is therefore one of the must-see places to visit in Orléans.

7. Plant garden

What to do in Orléans for a bowl of fresh air? On 3.5 hectares, the plant garden of the city awaits you. This botanical garden was created in 1640. At the time, the goal was to cultivate medicinal plants. Progressively, the park becomes a place of acclimatization for rare plants from remote areas. Hot greenhouses and an orangery are then built to allow exotic plants to develop.

From the end of the 19th century, the plant garden has a more touristic vocation through the search for ever more impressive floral decorations. Scientific studies remain and gardeners in the park experiment with new environmentally friendly flowering techniques.

Within the park, discover the corner of the impressionists with the colorful shrub inspired by the chemist Michel-Eugène Chevreul. Find the four remarkable trees that hide in the garden (one Araucaria araucana , one Ginkgo biloba , one liriodendron tulipifera aureomarginatum and one sequoia sempervirens ). The plant garden also welcomes a hive to raise children's awareness of the life of bees.

8. A bike ride along the Loire

The Loire by bike is a cycle path that spans 900 kilometres. The road connects the cities of Cuffy to Saint-Brévin the pines through Orléans. During your visit to the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire, cook your bike or rent in one to discover the banks of the Loire a few kilometers.

Orléans is a must-see stage of this legendary road. The sections surrounding Orléans are mainly composed of green lanes and are prohibited for motorized vehicles. You will therefore be quiet throughout your walk.

On the banks of the Loire – ranked UNESCO World Heritage – you will discover a wealth of treasures. If you want to visit Orléans by admiring them, don’t hesitate to throw yourself in this walk.

9. The Forest of Orleans

Come and visit Orléans and its green spaces through one of France’s largest forests. Located between the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire and Gien, the forest is surrounded by three massifs. A total of 35,000 hectares of trees and 1,200 kilometres of forest alleys await you for a walk in the middle of nature.

On foot, by bike or by horse, the forest offers a multitude of routes all more beautiful than any other. Be attentive around you and admire the awakening fauna; deer, pheasants and thousands of birds live in the forest.

10. Castles of the Loire Valley

What to do in Orleans and its surroundings? The Loire Valley is renowned for their sumptuous castles. It’s time to discover them.

Among the most famous are the following buildings:

• The Château de Chambord : This Renaissance emblem is less than an hour from the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire. You will discover 500 years of history by entering the doors of this building. Around 5,440 hectares of forest surround the castle making it the largest park enclosed in Europe.
• Or maybe the Château de Blois : here, immerse yourself in the royalty, since this castle was the favourite residence of the kings of France who succeeded during the Renaissance.
• Also the Château d’Amboise : This former medieval fortress has turned into a royal residence under the reigns of Charles VIII and François Ie.
• Château du Clos Lucé : This is where Leonardo da Vinci lived his last three years. Go back to the artist’s privacy by exploring his workshops, his room or his kitchen.

11. Culinary specialties

Visiting Orléans is also tasting the region’s culinary specialties. Test local dishes with Orléans vinegar, used by many French chefs. Originally, Orleans vinegar was actually a wine from the Loire. Since it is unbreakable, the Orleanais transformed the unworthy wine into a vinegar with a thousand flavours.

Another speciality of the area, the life waters of Olivet pears. Thanks to a unique manufacturing method (the fruit grows directly into the bottle from its tree), this alcohol promises an exquisite taste. And for the most greedy, test the delicious fruit macarons from local 100% products.

How to go to Orleans?

To visit the must-sees in Orléans, several means of locomotion are available to you.

By car

From Paris , it will take 1h40 if you take the highway A10 up to one of the exits that lead to the center of Orleans. For those who want to avoid this highway, the national N20 will take you to the city of Jeanne d’Arc in just over 2 hours.

If you come from the South of France, Toulouse , this is the highway A20 which brings you to the Head of the Centre-Val-de-Loire. For that, it will take 5:30. Otherwise, starting from Montpellier , follow the highway A75 up to Clermont-Ferrand , then go on the highway A71 . The estimated travel time is 6h.

By train

The station in Orleans has the advantage of being served by many cities. You can leave Paris as well, Nantes , Tours, Bourges Limoges to join the capital of the Loiret. You arrive close to the city center and you can start your walk as soon as you arrive.

Where to sleep in Orleans?

The offer is missing in Orléans and its surroundings. If you're looking for a place where to stay in Orléans , you can find yourself in the city center, as well as in the district "Burney" or the Source. Hostel, apartment Airbnb or luxury hotel, there are for all tastes.

To find the solution that best suits you, do not hesitate to use a hotel comparison . Thanks to him, you will be sure to make the right choice.

Now that you know the essentials of Orleans, pack your bags to discover the city!