Is Orleans France Worth Visiting?
Is Orleans France worth visiting? What can you see in Orleans? What to do in Orleans? Orleans day trip from Paris, etc. This page is an Orleans Travel guide in wich you will numerous tools, links, and ideas for things to see and do to ease your visit to Orleans, a great weekend destination, the closest Loire Valley point from Paris (+/- 115 km).
Orleans, France: Pavillons d’Escures 17th century hôtels particuliers (mansions) © Broaden Horizons.
Orleans France travel guide
- 1. Why Visit Orleans
- Orleans, France, in a Nutshell
- Importance of Orleans in French and European history
- 4. What to See in Orleans
- 5. Orleans Green City
- 6. Orleans Museums
- 7. Tradition & Gastronomy
- 8. Where to eat, where to drink
- 9. Festivals in Orleans
- 10. What to see in the urban area
- 11. Orleans surrounding between castles & forests
- 12. Off the beaten track Orléans eastern Loire Valley
- 13. Orleans practical tools & information
- 14. Is a day trip to Orleans from Paris feasible?
- 15. Loire Valley Castles easely accessible by train from Orleans
- 16. Cycling in and from Orleans
- 17. World Class Services Rent Your Own Private Castle
- 18. FAQs
Why Visit Orleans, France, in the Loire Valley?
Orleans is a key city in French history and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Loire Valley.
The immense heritage of the town is highlighted in the recently renovated old city center, from Ancient Rome to Medieval or Renaissance periods, from the 17th to 20th centuries.
However, Orleans is not stuck in the past, and the city is not only a major Loire Valley sight with its cobblestone streets and its whitewashed facades. It is also the head of the Centre-Loire Valley region, a big and dynamic city with nightlife, a bustling town center, and a lively Loire River Waterfront.
Visit Orleans is not only visit a city but also a great surrounding which includes amazing natural and historical sights, as easy access to famous Loire Valley Castle (Châteaux).
Orleans France in a Nutshell
Capital of the “Région Centre-Val de Loire” (The Loire Valley Region)
A human-sized city of a little more than 100,000 inhabitants in the earth of an urban area approaching 450,000.
A City With More than 2000 Years of History
A heritage twice recognized nationally and internationally as Orleans is part of:
- Villes d’Art et d’Histoire Label (City of Art and History Label)
- UNESCO World Heritage Listed Loire Valley
Orleans has a famous Museum of Fine Arts and an interesting Museum of History and Archeology.
A City Know for its Two Famous Festivals
The Joan of Arc Festival, each years in spring, since Joan of Arc saved the city from the English (1429). The Loire River Feast (Fête de Loire), each two years in September.
Orléans is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Loire Valley area. Since 2003 Orleans’s old city center has been systematically restored, and there are now plenty of multicolored half-timbered houses to see there. © Broaden Horizons
An Amazing Green City
- The old city is now a large pedestrian walkway, there the Loire quaysides are a popular stroll place, where will life (birds) can still been seen.
- There are plenty of nice public gardens in Orleans city center.
- The south part of the town is partially buit in the begining of the Sologne Forest.
- Orleans as a nice Museum for Biodiversity and the Environment (MOBE)
A City Surrounded by Nature
- The Forêt d’Orleans: France’s largest national forest
- The Sologne: Natura 2000, the largest European Site of Community Importance
Loire Valley Heritage Sites also Surround Orleans
- Some of the famous Loire Valley Châteaux with first of all Chambord Castle are easily accessible from Orleans.
- East of Orleans is an off-the-beaten-track Loire Valley with one of the most impressive Loire Valley Castles: Le château de Sully-sur-Loire.
The Intersection of Tree Famous Routes
- The loire by Bike
- Camino de Compostela (Way of Saint James)
- Way of Saint Michael: from Monte Gargano (Italia) to Mont-Saint-Michel (France)
Loire Valley Wines
Until the 19th century, the Orleans region was one of France’s most important wine producers. The city is still bordered by two vineyards, the Orleans and Orleans-Cléry.
The closest Loire Valley Sight From Paris at Only +/- 115 km
A highway easily connects the city to Paris, and Intercity or regional trains drive you from Paris-Austerlitz station to Orleans in +/- 1 hour.
Orleans is an ideal weekend destination for a city break in the south of Paris.
View of George V Bridge and the cathedral from one of the city’s green areas on the south bank of the Loire River. Credit Zebulon72 Pixabay.
Starting in the south of Orléans city is the Sologne Forest, Natura 2000 largest European Site, with its magnificent ponds – Credit Emlew Pixabay
Visit Orleans: Château de Sully-sur-Loire. © Broaden Horizons.
The Importance of Orleans in French and European History, main milestones.
Orleans is, before all, a city in the Loire Valley with an exceptional location on the northern point of the Loire River (the nearest to Paris). This strategic location contributed to giving Orleans an important place in French history:
- 451: Attila, Hun King, gave up the siege of Orleans.
- 848: Charles the Bald was crowned king of West Francia (the earliest stage of the Kingdom of France).
- 511: Orleans Council, Clovis gather Gaule’s Bishops.
- December 987: Robert le Pieux coronation in Orleans.
- December 1022: first stake of medieval Christianity.
- 1108 Louis VI le Gros coronation in Orleans cathedral.
- 1306: founding of the Orleans University (4th in France).
- May 8, 1429: Jeanne d’Arc, English, gave up the Orleans siege.
- 1567: Prince of Condé made Orleans the capital of Protestant France.
- In June 1940, after WWII Bombings, 20% of the city center was destroyed.<
What to see, what to visit in Orleans?
Joan of Arc
France has a long and rich history, with many historical milestones, including Joan of Arc’s role in the siege of Orleans in 1429.
- Joan of Arc, often called the Maid of Orleans, is the city heroine. Orleans is the right spot to learn more about her.
- The Maison de Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc House) is a documentation center that shows a short movie about her life.
- Ten stained-glass windows show the main scenes of Joan of Arc live in the Orleans Cathedral, where she prayed during the Orleans campaign.
- The world famous Joan of Arc equestrian statue in Orleans main square: Place du Martroi.
Joan of Arc sculpture by Princess Marie d’Orléans © Broaden Horizons.
Orleans Rich and Diverse Architecture
In the recently renovated old city center, you will find plenty of historical buildings covering a vast variety of styles and periods :
- Gallo-Roman city wall vestiges
- Medieval stone houses
- A gothic belfry (city tower)
- Timbered houses of different periods
- A rich Loire Valley Renaissance heritage, from traders’ houses to prestigious royal-related mansions
- 17th-century mansions in Paris-Le-Marais” like style
- Classic and Neoclassic buildings
- An Art Deco district
- Some Art Nouveau houses,
- A post-WWII experimental reconstruction district.
A detail of the facade of hôtel des Créneaux, an emblematic monument of the transition between the Gothic and Renaissance periods. © Broaden Horizons.
Orléans’ Sainte-Croix-Cathedral © Broaden Horizons.
Monuments to Visit in Orleans
- Sainte-Croix’s huge Gothic cathedral is an exceptional monument in many ways. Check the cathedral’s mass schedules if you want to attend the mass there. If you want to know more about the monument, we propose a dedicated tour of the Cathedral Sainte-Croix.
- Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier 12th-century Romanesque collegial church. The former collegial is now dedicated to contemporary art exhibitions.
- 12th to 13th-century choir columns of St.-Donatien church and its “La Salette” Marian chapel.
- Notre-Dame-de-Recouvrance church and its 16th-century (1525) stained glass.
- Hôtel Groslot is a Renaissance historical mansion where the young king of France, François II, died. His wife was the famous Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots.
Visit Orleans With our Guided Tours
Orléans Walking Tour (1.5 h)
Private tour from 79 € for 2
This tour is ideal for a first visit of Orleans, to discover the different aspects of the city from timber houses, Renaissance heritage to post WWII reconstruction. The tour focus on the historical city center. The tour route passes through the cathedral and also evokes Joan Arc.
Orléans Joan of Arc Tour
Private tour from 89 € for 2
This visite of Orléans focus on the Orléans places related to the Joan of Arc’s saga and on her numerous dedicated iconography. The tour also focus on some vestiges of the medieval period and is an opportunity to discover some of the eastern part of Orléans old city center.
See All Our Orléans Guided Tours
Private tour from 59 € for 2
See all our guided tours in Orléans Loire Valley.
Orleans, France: A Green City
Easily find the Orleans parks and gardens with the Orléans city interactive MAP
Right Bank Loire Quaysides
The Loire quaysides On the Right bank of the Loire River can be divided into three zones:
- The central part of the quays (between Thinat and George V bridges): the remains of the former Orleans port are now a popular promenade along the river. Since the beginning of the year 2000, the “Place de Loire” has been the heart of this strategic touristic area in Orleans.
- West of the quays (from George V to “de l’Europe” bridges) where the promenade continues.
- East of the quay (from Thinat Bridge to “Chemin de Hallage“) takes place every Saturday morning at the Orleans Food Market. Furthermore, you will also find there the first lock of the Orleans Canal and, at the end of the promenade, the beginning of the “Chemin de Hallage.”
Orleans Canal Towpath (chemin de hallage)
This walk follows the Orleans Canal and the Loire River to the east. It is a must to walk along this path on a sunny day to enjoy the most authentic and typical atmosphere of the Loire Valley.
Photo of the “place de Loire”. Orleans’s quays on the Loire are in the background. These are the remains of the former Port of Orléans, now a popular place to stroll along the Loire River © Broaden Horizons.
Orleans City Center Parks & Gardens
Among all the Orleans parks and gardens, the most central and famous are the next:
- Parc Pasteur: a 19th-century garden ideal for children with children dedicated to small trains, merry-go-round, etc.
- De l’Evêché Garden: This garden, located just behind the cathedral, is the former bishop’s palace’s garden.
- Veille Intendance Garden alongside a historical Renaissance mansion.
- Campo Santo: a lawn where the medieval market is organized during the Joan of Arc Festival.
- The Jacques Bouchet garden is situated behind the house of Joan of Arc; a small late Renaissance building also stands there.
- The hôtel Groslot Garden: this 19th century houses the remains of the Saint-James’s Chapel.
Photo of the Jardin de la Charpenterie, a strategic location in the Orleans historical center. © Broaden Horizons
Two New Gardens in Orleans City Center
Two new gardens were created as part of the city center renovation in Orleans.
- The Jardin de la Charpenterie is a terrasse, a hanging garden open on the Loire River. This garden is in a very strategic place in the heart of the historic city center, a walking zone full of restaurants and monuments.
- Hélène Cadou Garden: this garden lies alongside the hôtel de la Motte-Sanguin mansion built during the French Revolution by Louis-Philippe II, Duke of Orleans father of the last King of the French.
Jardin des Plantes (Botanic Garden)
The Botanic Garden (Jardin des Plantes) is a 3.5-hectare park that is organized each year in September for the Orleans International Rose Contest.
Parc Floral de la Source
The La Source Parc Floral is a 35-hectare garden with its 17th-century château. Apart from the huge numbers of vegetal species in the park, the main attractions are the following:
- Exotic butterfly glasshouse (a magic place)
- Small Tourist Train
- Menagerie (small zoo)
The interactive map of the park will show you all of them.
Amazing view of the Orleans Parc Floral. © Broaden Horizons
Orleans Museums
Visit Orleans; the FRAC Museum © Broaden Horizons.
The CERCIL (Part of Paris Shoah Memorial)
The CERCIL is a Memorial Museum to 4400 Jewish Children detained in the Loiret internment camps of Beaune-la-Rolande and Pitiviers and eventually deported to the Auschwitz and Sobibor extermination camps.
The Charles Péguy Center
- Housed in a Renaissance building, the center is dedicated to famous French writer Charles Péguy, who was born in Orleans.
The FRAC (Regional Contemporary Art Collection)
The FRAC, in its impressive new building, presents recent artistic expressions.
Orleans Historical Museum
Hôtel Cabu Historical Museum exhibits an exceptional Gaul and Gallo-Roman bronze treasure showing a unique expression of Celtic art.
The Museum of Fine Arts: Must See in Orleans
With no doubt the best art gallery of the Loire Valley
Study for the Massacre of the Innocents by Léon Cogniet © Orléans Museum of Fine Arts, credit François Lauginie.
With five levels dedicated to its permanent collection, the Orléans Fine Arts Museum is definitely worth visiting. Its considerable collection dates back to the end of the Middle Ages and the 20th century.
If this museum is famous for its pastel gallery (known to be the second one in France after Le Louvre), it also shows an impressive number of works by foreign old masters such as Correggio, Annibale Carracci, Guido Reni, Velázquez, Van Dick, Jan Brueghel the Elder, Batoni... and also French ones as de La Hyre, Le Nain brothers, Rigaud, Fragonard, Boucher, Quentin de La Tour, Chardin, Delacroix, Boudin, Courbet, Gaugin… or sculptors as Rodin, Maillol, Bourdelle, etc.
If you visit Orleans Loire Valley, don’t miss this rich museum. We will happily guide you in this exceptional place, so do not hesitate to follow one of our Orléans Museum of Fine Arts tours.
With five levels dedicated to its permanent collection, this museum is definitely something you should not miss when visiting Orleans. The Orleans Fine Arts Museum is showing a huge collection going from the end of the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Ariadne in Naxos, Le Nain brothers © Orléans Museum of Fine Arts, credit François Lauginie.
If this museum is famous for its pastel gallery (known to be the second one in France after Le Louvre), it also shows an impressive number of works by foreign old masters such as Correggio, Annibale Carracci, Guido Reni, Velázquez, Van Dick, Jan Brueghel the Elder, Batoni... and also French ones as de La Hyre, Le Nain brothers, Rigaud, Fragonard, Boucher, Quentin de La Tour, Chardin, Delacroix, Boudin, Courbet, Gaugin… or sculptors as Rodin, Maillol, Bourdelle, etc.
Allegory of Astronomy by Laurent de la Hyre © Orléans Museum of Fine Arts, credit François Lauginie.
Don’t miss this rich museum if you visit Orleans Loire Valley. We will be happy to guide you in this exceptional place, so do not hesitate to follow one of our Orléans Museum of Fine Arts tours.
Visit Orleans Museum of Fine Arts With our Guided Tours
Orléans Fin Art Museum 1.5 hours
Private tour from 59 € for 2
Our most popular visit of the Orléans Fine Arts Museum a must-see of the city.
Orléans Fin Art Museum 2.5 hours
Private tour from 79 € for 2
The 2.5 hours tour is dedicated to those who want to take there time to discover the impressive Orléans Museum of fine Arts, one of the most interesting in France outside of Paris.
Food, Wine and Traditions
Orleans Markets
- Saturday morning (from 6h30 AM) “brocante” (flea market) on Alexandre-Martin Boulevard
- Orleans food market each Saturday morning from 7h30 AM at Quai du Roi.
- Typical Friday night market in place du Martroi. Usually organized from 5 PM to 22 PM: a place to find everything from local food and drink to secondhand books and local crafts.
Care than market schedules are never guaranteed and can be canceled or modified.
Orleans Gastronomic Tradition
- Martin Pouret Mustard & vinegar
- Famous Quince Jelly Cotignac – These famous sweets are depicted in the Cana Wedding painting by Paolo Veronese.
- The Orleans & Orleans-Clery Loire Valley wine, with red (Meunier & Pinot Noir grape), white (Chardonnay variety) and rosé (Meunier variety)
- Poiré d’Olivet: this eau-de-vie is a brandy made from pears
- The Pithiviers: a famous almond cake
- Cendré d’Olivet: a great local cheese covered with ashes
- Olivet au foin: a soft-ripened French cheese that resembles a Camembert in flavor
- Andouille de Jargeau: a traditional chitterlings sausage made for nearly 9 centuries
Two historical buildings (one Gothic and one Renaissance) house traditional French boutiques in Place du Châtelet, where the cover market is also located. Rose and Leon delicatessen shop is only a few meters away.© Broaden Horizons.
Gastronomic shopping in Orleans
- Covered market halls on Place du Châtelet with some cheese-dedicated stalls
- Rose et Léon épicerie fine (delicatessen), 5 rue du petit puits Orléans
- Cafés Jeanne d’Arc: delicatessen, tea, coffee since 1899, 7 rue de la République Orléans
- Comtesse du Barry · delicatessen, foie gras · 9, rue Charles Sanglier
Chocolatiers
- La Chocolaterie Royale · Orleans since 1760 · 51, rue Royale
- Sébastien Papillon · Artisan Chocolatier · 32, rue Jeanne d’Arc et 38, rue du Faubourg Bannier
- Victorine · Tablette d’argent (silver award) · 26, Rue Jeanne d’Arc
- Cordier · Meilleur ouvrier de France (French craftsperson of the year award) · chocolatier, pastry chef, ice-cream maker, baker and caterer · 20, Rue Bannier
The Chocolaterie Royale chocolate passion in Orleans since 1761. Photo © Broaden Horizons.
Where to Eat Where to Drink When Visiting Orleans, France
Rue de Bourgogne is not only a strategic street for its bars and restaurants, but also, for its historical buildings like the 19th-century neoclassical Orléans Protestant Temple © Broaden Horizons
Where to Go Out in Orleans
The rue de Bourgogne concentrates most of the bars and has a large number of restaurants offering. Besides the main square, Place du Martroi rue Saint-Catherine is also a strategic place for Restaurants.
Bar à Vins
- Ver di vin (2, rue des Trois Maries) to have a drink in a 13th C basement
- Another choice is Les becs à vins 8, place du Châtelet (also a restaurant)
Bars
Make your choice from the vast range of offers in the rue de Bourgogne and around.
Restaurant
If you are looking for gastronomy, don’t miss le Lièvre Gourmand (28 Quai du Châtelet), which is a Michelin-starred restaurant.
What to Do When You Visit Orleans: the Festivals
The Orléans Joan of Arc Festival
On 8 May 1429, after having besieged Orleans for months, the English army finally gave up the place.
This event is the watershed of the Hundred Years between France and England, and Joan of Arc is considered the main actor of this French Army success.
Since then, Orleans has been eternally grateful each year for celebrating Joan of Arc from April 29 to May 8th, a time of fireworks, parades, and medieval fairs. The Orléans Joan of Arc Festival in French, “Les Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc,“ is one of the oldest ones in Europe.
The Loire Festival in Orleans, summer 2017 © Broaden Horizons
Orleans Joan of Arc Festival in spring 2018 © Broaden Horizons
The Loire Festival
Orleans stands at the northernmost point of the Loire River and, therefore, the closest to Paris. This strategic position is one of the explanations for the weight of the city in French history. Orleans’ economic prosperity was also directly due to this position. The Port of Orleans was also the port of Paris. Orleans was then one of France’s more considerable economic centers until the arrival of the railway, which rapidly ended with the activity of the Port of Orleans.
Every two years, in September, Orleans is celebrating its Former Port. The Loire Festival in French, “Le Festival de Loire,” is the most important gathering of river-going vessels in Europe.
The Jazz in Orleans
Since January 2018, the cities of Orleans and New Orleans, USA, have been twinned. However, the link between Orleans and Louisiana is also reinforced by the Orleans Jazz festivals each spring: the “Jazz or Jazz” and the “Jazz à l’évêché,” the last of which is organized in the garden of the former palace of the bishop of Orleans.
The Flowers in Orleans
Orleans has a very old tradition of growing roses. The Orleans International Roses Contest, which is organized each September in the Botanic Garden, witnesses this tradition.
The Saint-fiacre feasts are a flower festival organized each year during the last weekend of August. 2020 will be its 212th occasion.
What to Do When you Visit Orleans: the Festivals
Visit Orléans : Orléans Joan of Arc Festival in spring 2018 © Broaden Horizons
The Orleans Joan of Arc Festival
On 8 May 1429, after having besieged Orleans for months, the English army finally gave up the place.
This event is the watershed of the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, and Joan of Arc is considered the main actor in this French Army’s success.
Since then, each year, Orleans, eternally grateful, has celebrated Joan of Arc from April 29 to May 8th, a time of fireworks, parades, and medieval fairs. The Orleans Joan of Arc Festival in French, “Les Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc,“ is one of the oldest ones in Europe.
Visit Orléans the Loire Festival summer 2017 © Broaden Horizons
The Loire Festival
Orleans stands at the northernmost point of the Loire River and, therefore, the closest to Paris. This strategic position is one of the explanations for the weight of the city in French history. Orléans’ economic prosperity was also directly due to this position. The Port of Orleans was also the port of Paris. Orleans was then one of France’s more considerable economic centers until the arrival of the railway, which rapidly ended with the Port of Orleans’ activity.
Every two years, in September, Orleans is celebrating its Former Port. The Loire Festival in French, “Le Festival de Loire,” is the most important gathering of river-going vessels in Europe.
What to See in Orleans, France Urban Area
Once you have visited Orleans, you will see that the urban area offers much to discover.
- Loire, Nature, and Forest
- Chemin de hallage canal stroll (starting from Orleans to the east)
- Combleux Loire banks and canal village (+/- 9 km)
- Watermills along the Loiret River banks in Olivet (+/-4 km)
- La Ferté Saint-Aubin Château (+/- 24 km)
- Orléans & Orléans-Cléry Loire Valley Vineyards (+/- 16 km)
- Saint-Mesmin 263 hectares Nature Reserve (+/- 5 km)
- The Saint-Ay Herboretum biodiversity park (+/- 14 km)
- Listed Prés des Culands Ilex (holly) Arboretum (+/- 23 km)
- Les Jardins de Roquelin remarkable garden – Meung-sur-Loire (+/-20 km)
- The forêt d’Orléans : biggest French national forest ( +/- 7 km).
- Sologne forest and its beautiful ponds (+/- 10 km)
Clery Saint André Church in the eastern Orleans region – Credit Manfred Heyde [CC BY-SA 3.0]
Orléans Loire Valley Châteaux
- La Ferté Saint-Aubin Château (+/- 24 km)
- Château de Meung-sur-Loire (+/- 21 km)
- Beaugency castle (+/- 26 km)
- Beaugency Romanesque Dungeon (+/- 26 km)
- Remains of Château de Châteauneuf-sur-Loire with its 22 hectares parcs linked to the Loire and the Loire Marine Museum (+/- 27 km)
Orléans & Orléans-Cléry AOC Vineyards – Credit S. zeller – Unsplash
Our Lady of Cléry-Saint-André Basilica
Cléry-Saint-André at around 16 km of Orleans is a very famous Gothic basilica where is the tomb of King Louis XI of France. It is also an import stop on the Saint James Way.
More Sacred Architecture
- Saint-Jean-de-Braye 13th & 16th C St.-Jean-Baptiste church (+/- 6 km)
- 11th to 16th Checy St.-Peter Romanesque & Gothique church (+/-11km)
- Our Lady of Cléry-Saint-André Basilica (+/- 16 km)
- Romanesque Saint-Mesmin Church (+/- 6 km)
- Saint-Liphard collegiate church (-/+ 21 km)
- Notre-Dame de Beaugency Abbey Church (+/-26 km)
- Beaugency Saint-Étienne Romanesque Church (+/- 26 km)
Orleans France Attractions: The Loire Valley Surrounding Between Castles and Forests
Once you have visited Orleans and its urban area, you will see that there is a lot to discover in the surrounding 50 km (Mappy references).
Between Loire and Forest treasures
- Yèvre-le-Châtel medieval fortress (+/- 48 km)
- The Arboretum des Grandes Bruyères biodiversity park ( +/- 32 km)
- Domaine du Ciran : Sologne Wild Life Sanctuary (+/- 28 km)
- Sologne Center Parcs les hauts de Bruyère (+/- 40 km)
- Chocolate Factory in Bracieux (+/- 55 km)
- Notre-Dame de Boiscommun 12th to 15th-century church, with its 12th or 13th-century stained glass (+/- 49 km)
Plenty more Loire Valley Châteaux
- Chamerolles Renaissance and parfums dedicated Castle (+/- 32 km)
- Châteaudun médieval castle (+/- 50 km)
- Renaissance castle of Talcy (+/- 49 km)
- Jardin du Château de Talcy : Remarkable garden (+/- 49 km)
- Château de Bellegarde (+/- 48 km)
Visit Orléans:Châteaudun castle – Credit Daniel Jolivet castle [cc-by-2.0]
Chateau de Chambord Loire Valley Most Famous Castle
The famous Château de Chambord, the Loire Valley’s most famous one, is only around 46 km from Orleans. Once you are there, you will be not far away from other Loire Valley landmarks such as :
- Renaissance Château de Villesavin (+/- 9 km from Chambord)
- Château de Cheverny (+/- 17 km from Chambord)
- Château de Blois – (+/- 15 km from Chambord)
Visit Orleans: Châteaux de Chambord – Credit Borian Mongel Unplash.
Discover Off the Beaten Tracks Orleans Eastern Loire Valley
Last but not least, in the surrounding 50 km in the east of Orleans. Don’t miss it!
Visit Orleans: Château de Sully-sur-Loire. © Broaden Horizons.
Eastern Loire Valley Exceptional Sacred Architecture
Carolingian oratory of Germigny-des-Près (+/- 30 km)
Germigny-des-Près was constructed by Théodulf Bishop of Orleans and abbot of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire between approximately 803 and 806. This is the only church in France with a Carolingian mosaic.
Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire Abbey Church (+/- 35 km)
Only a few kilometers away from Germigny-des-Près stands Saint-Benoit, one of Christianity’s most famous abbeys. Founded in 640, it is also called Fleury Abbey. The present edifice, built in the 11th century, is famous for its Romanesque Figurative carved capitals. King Philip I rests there.
Sully-sur-Loire Must-See Loire Valley Castle
The castle of Sully-sur-Loire, one of the most spectacular of the Loire Valley is only around 42 km from Orléans. It is a must you should miss. You will also discover In Sully-sur-Loire the Saint-Ythier church which was initially part of the castle. Following the Loire River to the east, you will find other interesting landmarks:
- Château de Gien (+/- 25 km from Sully-sur-Loire)
- Briare Canal bridge (+/34 km from Sully-sur-Loire)
Visit Orleans: Carolingian oratory of Germigny-des-Près. The only church in France with a Carolingian mosaic. © Broaden Horizons.
Practical Information & Tools to Visit Orleans, France
Orléans interactive MAP: a generic tool to easily find where are museums, gardens, parking buses, and Tram.
Travel by Train to Orleans
There are two trains stations in Orléans: “Orléans” in the city center and “Orléans-les-Aubrais” in the north. Take care that a lot of trains stop only at “Orléans-les- Aubrais”, and that in this case, you will have to take the tram to reach Orléans city center.
Orleans City Center Train Station is conveniently situated beside the Place d’Arc mall which includes a big supermarket and a few options to take sandwiches there are three fast foods around the square and the station: Quick, Subway, McDonald.
Train tickets are sold on:
- Oui-SNCF : Paris and all French destinations
- Regional Trains (TER Rémi): Paris and Centre-Val de Loire destinations
Transports in Orleans
- Vélo+ City Cycling network: is a cheap and easy self-service city bike rental available all around the city.
- Orleans buses and Tram network website (in French).
- Pdf map of Orleans Bus and Tram network
- Orléans Tram stations on the Orléans interactive MAP (easy to read)
Parkings
Orleans Central Post Office
- Place de Gaule, besides place du Martroi (main city square)
Public Toilettes on your Route When Visiting Orleans
- Hotel Groslot, free entrance at opening hours, there are toilettes inside.
- The museum of fine arts and the museum of archeology provide toilettes for those having tickets.
- There are public toilettes place Louis XI, place du châtelet, place du Martoi (east part), close to place de Loire (intersection between rues de la Poterne and rue du Cloître Saint-Benoît), on the north side of the cathedral (rue Robert de Courtenay, close to the remains of the city wall).
Is a day trip from Paris to Orleans feasible?
Yes, Orleans is only +/- 115 Km from the French capital, so a day trip there from Paris is not a problem.
Nevertheless, even if Orléans is nicely linked to Paris by highways, because of the frequent traffic jams in and around the French capital, organizing such a trip by train is far more convenient. Two-way train tickets usually cost around 45 €.
There are a lot of trains from Paris to Orleans (less on Sundays). They are nearly all the time direct trains, and the trip from Paris to Orléans usually lasts +/- one hour.
But take care that there is a tricky subtility: There are two train stations in Orleans: “Orléans” in the city center and “Orléans-les-Aubrais” in the north. So take care that a lot of trains stop only at “Orléans-les-Aubrais”; in this case, you will have to take the tram to reach Orléans city center.
The schedule of the trains below is an example of a typical day trip combination from Paris to Orleans (schedule from November 2020).
- Morning train: Paris-Austerlitz to Orléans TER n°14037 – Typical schedule: departure 8.26 AM and arrival 9.32 AM.
- Evening train: Orléans to Paris-Austerlitz TER n°14072 – Typical schedule: departure 18.24 PM arrival 19.23 PM
The schedule is not exactly the same every day (there are a few minute variations between them from one day to another) and may also change depending on the period of the year. Just go to the train company’s OUI SNCF website and check the trains that best fit your needs.
Most of the Orleans city center landmarks are easily accessible by foot from the Orleans central station. But if you want to make the most of your short stay in Orléans, we strongly advise you to book our dedicated day trip tour from Orleans to Paris. Our guide will then specifically wait for you at the Orleans Central train station.
Loire Valley Castles Easily Accessible in Train from Orleans
This train access to some of the most famous Loire Valley Castle is possible all along the Orléans – Tours line.
Meung-sur-loire Castle
Line Orléans – Tours, station Meung-sur-Loire (Orleans 19 km).
From the train station to the castle +/- 11 minutes on foot (900 m).
This is the ancient castle of the bishops of Orleans, beside is the collegiate church of Saint-Liphard built in the 11th and 13th centuries. The little city center is a pleasant spot known to be the place where the famous novel “The Three Musketeers” begins.
Royal Château of Blois
Line Orléans – Tours, station Blois (Orleans 58 km).
From the train station to castle +/- 9 minutes on foot (650 m)
The royal château of Blois is a must-see in the Loire Valley. Inside is the interesting museum of fine arts in the city. Other points of interest are the city center, Maison de la Magie (house of magic), Saint-Louis Cathedral, Saint-Laumer Romanesque church, and Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Jesuit church.
Chambord Castle & Domaine
Line Orléans – Tours, station Blois (Orleans 58 Km).
Buses go from Blois train station to Chambord castle (Blois 16 km).
The most visited castle of the Loire Valley.
Royal Château of Amboise
Line Orléans – Tours, station Amboise (Orleans 92 km).
From the train station to the castle +/- 20 minutes on foot (1.3 Km).
Other landmarks: Amboise is a strategic train station from which is possible to visit three first-class Loire Valley castles: Amboise, Clos Lucé, Château-Gaillard.
Clos Lucé castle
Line Orléans – Tours, station Amboise (Orleans 92 km).
from Cĥâteau Royal d’Amboise to Clos Lucé +/- 8 minutes on foot (850 m).
The Leonardo da Vinci castle.
Châteaux-Gaillard Castle
Line Orléans – Tours, station Amboise (Orleans 92 km).
From Clos Lucé to Château Gaillard +/- 5 minutes on foot (450 m).
Un castle with an amazing Renaissance garden.
Chaumont-sur-Loire Castle & Domaine
Line Orléans – Tours. station Onzain (Orleans 74 km).
From the train station to castle +/- half an hour on foot (2.3 km).
A must-see of the Loire Valley also well knew for its amazing park.
Cycling Experience in & from Orleans
Packaged excursion: Loirevalley travel / randovelo & Le velo voyageur.
Rent a bike in Orléans: Dfj-location
Visit the Loire Valley with a bike + train solution, board your bike for free in the Interloire train from ORLEANS to CROISIC (mouth of the Loire) : Train Vélo Loire
Looking for Exclusive world-class Services? Rent Your Own Castle & Golf close to Orleans
You want to enjoy exclusive use of your own private 300-acre estate and stay in an 18th-century Loire château at the top of Loire Valley close to Orleans.
It is possible in The Condor, an internationally acclaimed luxury hospitality venue set in complete privacy in the French countryside.
Golf, 5-star facilities and services. Paris is at 90 mins by road and 24 mins by helicopter (helipad is available onsite).
FAQ
What is Orleans, France, famous for?
Orleans is a very old French city that is very important in French history. It is first all famous for the historical victory of Joan of Arc against the English on the 7th of May of 1429.
How far is Orleans, France, from Paris? How far is Orleans, France, from Tours
Distance as the crow flies to Paris is 69 miles (111 km) and to Tours 66 miles (107 km), with in both case easy links by train and highway.
Is Orleans, France, a big city?
Orleans was once one of France’s Biggest cities in the top 5 in the Middle Ages. This is not the case anymore; nevertheless, Orleans remains an important city in France and is the capital of the Centre-Loire Valley Region. Orleans has a little more than 100,000 inhabitants within its city limit, totaling more than a quarter million with its suburbs and approaching 450,000 inhabitants in the all-urban area.
What is the maid of Orleans, France?
Joan of Arc is also known as the Maid of Orleans. Her story is strongly associated with Orleans because of her historic victory against the English in 1429. Since then, to celebrate the event, Orleans celebrates each year from 29 April to 8 May the “Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc” (Joan of Arc Festival). It is one of the oldest festivals in Europe.
Which rivers run through Orleans?
The Loire River, which gave its name to the Famous Loire Valley Region, runs through Orleans. It is France’s longest river, totaling 1,006 kilometers (625 mi).
Clockwise from top to left: 1 – Joan of Arc statue, place du Martroi 2 – Orléans oldest half-timber house. 3 – Hôtel Dupanloup, former palace of the bishops of Orléans 4 – Rue de la Poterne, the ancien Gallo-Roman Cardo. 5 – Street-Art in Orléans. 6 – Veille Intendance Renaissance Mansion 7 – Lebanese Cedars in Parc Floral . 8 – Boats on the Loire River. ©broaden-horizons for all images.