Located at the top of the Loire curve, Orléans is the gateway to the famous châteaux of the Loire Valley, a cultural landscape that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A city of art and history with a heritage as rich as it is varied, the Loire town is a dynamic place to live, popular for its cultural outings, but also for its charming natural surroundings.
With its 116,000 inhabitants, Orléans is a royal city, the land of the coronations of the Capetian kings: from Robert the Pious to Charles the Bald, via Louis VI.
This prestigious past can be seen everywhere, from Sainte-Croix Cathedral, the town's Gothic landmark, to Louis XI's underground passage over which stands the church of Saint-Aignan.
Discover Orléans, its culture and its people, on foot, by bike or in a wheelchair!
The great history of Orléans
Occupied since ancient times, Orléans is now one of France's most dynamic metropolises. It was during Julius Caesar's conquest of the Gallic city that it took the name of Aurelianis, in the 4th century AD. One of the ramparts of the ancient city, a vestige of the Gallo-Roman era, can still be seen to the north of Sainte-Croix cathedral, in rue Paul Belmondo.
With the arrival of Clovis I in the following century, it became the capital of the kingdom of France, until Paris, a good hundred kilometres away, finally dethroned it in the 12th century.
Nevertheless, Orléans continued to shine for its cultural richness, establishing itself as the scene of some of the most significant events in French history. A city of prestigious universities with world-famous students (including John Calvin), a key player during the Protestant Reformation, Orléans is above all the city of the Dukes of Orléans, the youngest sons of the Kings of France. But above all, it is remembered as the city of Joan of Arc, one of the leading figures in the Hundred Years' War.
During your run or stroll through the heart of the town, you won't be able to miss the traces of her passage. The famous virgin is everywhere: from the Place du Martroi, where a statue of her is enthroned, to the Hôtel Groslot, and the medieval streets of the old town centre and its timber-framed houses.
A city, a metropolis
Although Orléans was originally located on the north bank of the Loire, which is not subject to flooding, it now stretches from the Beauce to the Forêt d'Orléans in the north, and the Sologne in the south. Orléans was elected the regional capital of the Centre Val de Loire region, and since 2017 has had metropolitan status. It has no fewer than 22 communes, including Olivet, renowned for its walks along the banks of the Loiret, Saint-Cyr-en- Val and its châteaux, and Combleux, visited for its locks and peaceful countryside.
Within the town itself, the recently-developed Orléans-la-Source district has become a major centre for higher education and research. In addition to the university campus and the laboratories of the CNRS (French National Centre for Scientific Research), the district has a number of local public facilities, including sports facilities and hospitals.
Residential and popular, La Source's vast size makes it a privileged location within the borough. Not to mention the many wooded areas and the Floral Park!
Destination Orléans
As a stopover on the Loire cycle route, a green city straddling the river and the wooded areas of the Orléans forest, the city offers a unique living environment with a natural environment that is as rich as it is diverse. As an initiator of the biodiversity plan, Orléans is working to preserve the fragile balance of the Loire landscape. On your run, stop off at MOBE, a museum dedicated to natural heritage and scientific culture.
While the region is appreciated for its flora and fauna, its appeal also lies in its historical, artistic and culinary heritage!
The city of the famous street artist Mifamosa, and of Mr Chat, Orléans and its streets are dotted with temporary works of art that sublimate the street furniture.
Recharging your batteries, relaxing, wandering around - there's plenty to whet your appetite! Luckily for you, when it comes to gastronomy, the town lives up to its reputation. Cheese, brandy, beer, vinegar or even fruit macaroons - the region has plenty of specialities to be savoured without moderation!
Run, walk or cycle with JOOKS, from the Place du Martroi to the Orléans-la-Source floral park!
Find all the routes in Orléans and over 1,500 others on the JOOKS application.
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