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Joan of Arc trail, Sainte-Croix Cathedral, Loire à Vélo cycling, château day trips, and more
Orleans is one of France's most underrated city break destinations. Sitting gracefully on the Loire River, this historic city offers a remarkable concentration of attractions — from one of France's greatest Gothic cathedrals to the compelling Joan of Arc trail, from world-class art museums to the legendary Loire à Vélo cycling route. And unlike many French cities of similar stature, Orleans remains refreshingly uncrowded, allowing you to explore at your own pace without fighting through tourist crowds.
What makes Orleans special is its walkability. The historic centre is compact enough to explore entirely on foot, with the cathedral, Place du Martroi, the Joan of Arc sites, and the Loire riverbanks all within a 15-minute walk of each other. Beyond the city, some of France's most magnificent châteaux — Chambord, Blois, Cheverny, Chenonceau — are within easy reach by train, bike, or car. And the Loire à Vélo cycle path passes directly through the city, offering traffic-free cycling through the UNESCO-listed Loire Valley landscape.
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Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans dominates the city skyline and is the essential starting point for any visit. This magnificent Gothic structure was built between the 13th and 18th centuries — construction spanned nearly 500 years, resulting in a fascinating blend of architectural styles while maintaining Gothic harmony. The twin towers rise 81 metres, and the facade features intricate stone carvings, three portals, and a stunning rose window.
Inside, the cathedral reveals its treasures. The 17th-century stained glass windows depict the life of Joan of Arc, commissioned to commemorate her connection to the city. The massive organ, rebuilt in the 19th century, features over 4,000 pipes and hosts regular concerts. The crypt preserves remnants of earlier churches on the site, dating back to the 4th century. Entry is free. The cathedral is open daily from 9am to 7pm. Guided tours in English are available on request and cost around £6. Climb the towers (limited hours) for panoramic views over Orleans and the Loire Valley.
The cathedral square (Place Sainte-Croix) hosts a lively Saturday market and is surrounded by cafes perfect for post-visit refreshment. The sound-and-light show projected onto the cathedral facade during the May Joan of Arc festival and summer evenings is spectacular.
The Joan of Arc trail is a self-guided walking route connecting the key sites associated with the Maid of Orléans' liberation of the city on 8 May 1429. The trail is well-marked with information panels and takes about 2 hours to complete on foot.
Maison de Jeanne d'Arc (3 Place de Gaulle): Start here. This faithful reconstruction of the house where Joan stayed during the siege houses a museum with multimedia exhibits, artefacts, and immersive displays telling her extraordinary story — from her childhood in Domrémy to her military leadership, capture, trial, and execution at age 19. Entry £4. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm.
Place du Martroi: The city's central square features a striking equestrian statue of Joan of Arc by sculptor Denis Foyatier, erected in 1855. The square is surrounded by elegant 18th-century buildings, cafes, and the main tram stop. During the Joan of Arc festival, this is where the medieval parade gathers.
Cathédrale Sainte-Croix: Joan attended a solemn mass here on 9 May 1429 to celebrate the liberation. The cathedral's Joan of Arc stained glass windows and a commemorative plaque mark this historic event.
Loire River Bridges: The English forces were positioned on the south bank of the Loire, and Joan's assault on the fortified bridgehead at Les Tourelles was the decisive battle. The modern bridges (Pont George V and Pont de l'Europe) now span the river where the fighting took place.
Hôtel Groslot (Place de l'Étape): This 16th-century Renaissance mansion, now the city hall, contains a room dedicated to Joan of Arc and displays the key to the city that was presented to her after the liberation. Free guided tours available on weekdays.
The trail concludes at the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which houses a significant collection of Joan of Arc-themed artworks including paintings, sculptures, and tapestries.
Located 8 km south of the city centre, the Parc Floral de la Source is one of France's finest botanical gardens. The 35-hectare park encompasses themed gardens, greenhouses, and natural landscapes, all centred around the source of the Loiret River — a natural spring that emerges from an underground cave. The park was created in 1963 and has since become one of the region's most popular attractions for families, nature lovers, and garden enthusiasts.
Highlights include the systematic garden (organised by plant family for educational purposes), Japanese garden with a traditional tea pavilion, rose garden featuring over 1,000 varieties, Mediterranean greenhouse, tropical greenhouse, and a butterfly house where dozens of exotic species flutter freely. The park also has extensive lawns, a children's playground, a mini-farm, and several walking trails.
Entry is £6.50 for adults, with reduced rates for children and families. The park is open daily from April to October (10am-7pm) and has reduced winter hours. Take Tram B from the centre to "Parc Floral" stop — the journey takes about 25 minutes.
Housed in the former Episcopal Palace next to the cathedral, the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans boasts one of France's most impressive regional art collections. The museum spans the 15th to 20th centuries with works by Velázquez, Van Dyck, Gauguin, Picasso, and many others. The collection of French sculpture is outstanding, and the Joan of Arc gallery features paintings, drawings, and tapestries depicting the national heroine through the centuries.
The museum also has a superb collection of 17th and 18th-century French paintings, Italian Renaissance works, and a dedicated print room with thousands of engravings. Entry is £6, with free admission on the first Sunday of each month. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Allow 1.5-2 hours for a thorough visit. Audio guides are available in English.
The Loire à Vélo is one of the world's great cycling routes, and Orleans is perfectly positioned along the trail. The 900 km marked route follows the Loire River from Cuffy (near Nevers) to the Atlantic coast at Saint-Nazaire. The section through Orleans and east to Blois is among the most scenic and accessible.
The Orléans-Blois section (60 km): This is the classic day ride from Orleans, following the Loire east on a flat, traffic-free path. The route passes through the charming towns of Meung-sur-Loire (12 km) with its medieval château, Beaugency (25 km) with its Romanesque abbey and Renaissance architecture, and Muides-sur-Loire (50 km) before reaching Blois. The ride takes 3-4 hours depending on stops, with plenty of cafes and picnic spots along the way. From Blois, you can return to Orleans by train (35 minutes, bikes accepted).
Bike rental is available at Orleans train station (from £15/day) and through the Vél'+ city bike-sharing scheme (from £1.50 per trip). Several guided cycling tours also operate from Orleans, offering themed rides focused on châteaux, vineyards, or Loire Valley heritage.
Orleans is the perfect base for exploring the Loire Valley's most magnificent châteaux. The region is UNESCO World Heritage-listed for its cultural landscape, and several of France's greatest castles are within easy reach.
Château de Chambord (45 min by car): France's largest château, built by King Francis I as a hunting lodge. The double-helix staircase, possibly inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, is the architectural centrepiece. With 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces, and a park the size of inner Paris, Chambord is a full-day destination on its own. Entry £16.
Château de Blois (35 min by train): The royal residence of seven French kings and ten queens. Blois is unique for its four wings spanning four architectural periods — Gothic, Flamboyant Gothic, Renaissance, and Classical. The sound-and-light show in summer is magnificent. Entry £13.50.
Château de Cheverny (40 min by car): Known for its lavish 17th-century interiors and formal gardens. Cheverny inspired Captain Haddock's château Moulinsart in the Tintin comics. The kennel of 100 hunting hounds is fed daily at 5pm. Entry £13.
Château de Chenonceau (1 hr by car): The "Ladies' Château" spans the Cher River on elegant arches. Its beautiful galleries, gardens, and history of female patrons make it one of the most romantic châteaux in France. Entry £15.50.
The Régional Contemporary Art Fund (FRAC) is housed in a striking modern building in central Orleans. Designed by the Jakob + MacFarlane architecture firm, the building's reflective metallic facade and bold geometric forms make it a landmark of contemporary architecture. Inside, the FRAC focuses on architecture and contemporary art, with rotating exhibitions showcasing avant-garde works from the 1960s to the present. The collection includes over 600 works, with a particular strength in architectural models and experimental structures. Entry £5. Closed Mondays.
This stunning 16th-century Renaissance mansion on Place de l'Étape now serves as Orleans's city hall. Built between 1498 and 1529 for Jacques Groslot, the city's bailiff, the building features a beautiful courtyard with Italian-inspired loggia, grand reception rooms with original fireplaces and tapestries, and the room where King Francis II died at age 16 in 1560 after just 18 months on the throne. Free guided tours are available during weekday office hours (typically 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm). The building is also home to the city's wedding hall and hosts regular civic events.
From April to October, several operators offer boat cruises on the Loire River from Orleans. Options range from 1-hour sightseeing trips (£12-15) to full-day excursions (£45-65) that combine château visits with river navigation. Traditional wooden toue boats — replicas of the historic flat-bottomed cargo boats that once transported wine, timber, and salt along the Loire — offer a particularly authentic experience. Evening cruises with dinner and wine tasting are available during summer months. Most cruises depart from the quays near Pont George V.
One Day in Orleans: Morning at Cathédrale Sainte-Croix and Musée des Beaux-Arts. Lunch at Les Halles market. Afternoon walking the Joan of Arc trail (Maison de Jeanne d'Arc, Place du Martroi, riverbanks). Sunset on the Loire quays. Evening dinner in the old town.
Two Days in Orleans: Day 1 as above. Day 2: Option A — Château day trip (Blois + Chambord by train). Option B — Loire à Vélo cycling to Beaugency or Blois. Option C — Parc Floral de la Source half-day, followed by walking the remaining Joan of Arc sites.
Three Days in Orleans: Days 1-2 as above. Day 3: Wine tour to Sancerre or Quincy (car hire recommended), or relaxed morning at the FRAC and Hôtel Groslot, afternoon Loire River cruise, evening at a traditional bouchon.
Two to three days is ideal. One day covers the historic centre — cathedral, Joan of Arc trail, Musée des Beaux-Arts, and the Loire riverbanks. A second day works well for a château day trip to Chambord, Blois, or Cheverny. A third day allows for Loire à Vélo cycling, the Parc Floral de la Source, or a wine tour to nearby Sancerre. Orleans is also easily combined with a longer Loire Valley itinerary including Tours, Blois, and Chartres.
The Joan of Arc trail is a self-guided walking route connecting key sites from her 1429 liberation of Orleans: Maison de Jeanne d'Arc museum, Cathédrale Sainte-Croix (where she attended mass), Place du Martroi (her equestrian statue), the Loire bridges where the battle took place, and Hôtel Groslot (where the city keys were presented). The trail takes about 2 hours and is marked with information panels throughout the city centre.
Yes. Direct trains from Orleans station reach Blois in 35 minutes (hourly service), with Château de Blois a 10-minute walk from the station. From Blois, buses connect to Château de Chambord (20 minutes) and Château de Cheverny (30 minutes). Cycling is also an option — the Loire à Vélo route runs from Orleans to Blois (60 km) passing near several châteaux. Guided tours from Orleans operate year-round, typically costing £50-80 per person including transport and entry fees.
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