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Prefecture and commune in France
Photo: GIRAUD Patrick, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Orleans (French: Orléans) is the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire region of north-central France, located some 120 km (75 miles) south-west of the French capital, Paris. The city has just above 100,000 citizens, with a total of 400,000 in the metropolitan area.
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Ste-Croix Cathedral
A Catholic cathedral and impressive example of Gothic architecture. With a similar design to Notre Dame in Paris, a visit to Orleans would not be complete without a stop. The cathedral can be seen above the buildings from most of the town.
House of Joan of Arc
Most of Orleans in devoted to Jeanne d'Arc as she liberated the town in medieval times. It's hard to walk through the town without seeing Jeanne d'Arc-related stuff quite frequently. The house is definitely worth seeing.
Orleans' History & Archaeology Museum
Museum of Fine Art
Europe Bridge
City Hall
The Hôtel Groslot was the City Hall until the 1980s when a modern building across the street replaced it for most civil administration functions. You can still get married in the grand rooms of the Hôtel and some rooms close to visitors during marriage ceremonies. The extravagantly-decorated mansion has rooms of carved wood and gold leaf with original furniture, including the room where the city council met until 1981. An English guidebook is available for €3.
the border of the Loiret, small river going from La Source to the Loire river. Nice walk along the water with good spots for pic nic or playing outside.
A concert hall dedicated to Modern Music, Reggae, Percus, Techno, French Song, also includes an Ice-skating ring and Dojo.
A nice lake where it is safe to swim. By car it is about 10 minutes from the center.
Excellent pizza and pasta.
Good sushi.
Spanish food and wines. Also sell Spanish products (spices, sweets, ham...).
An Italian restaurant in Orleans. You enter by the kitchen. Pizza and pasta made by an Italian.
French cuisine with local favourites and classic dishes on a varied menu - check the specials boards outside. Good for lunch as well as dinner. Friendly staff, some of whom speak good English. English menu available. Outside terrace and inside seating.
Moustache Ice Cream
Many flavours of high quality ice cream and sorbet that might be the best in Orléans, just round the corner from the cathedral square. Take-away, or try to eat at the small tables inside or outside.
Cambodian menu with all the classic dishes. Some are served with the house sauce "Angkor", in the style of a yellow curry.
Good sushi with eat in or takeaway options. The sushi rice is particularly good. Prices are reasonable.
Relaxed atmosphere, plenty of tables for sitting around with friends and having drinks.
Indoor and outdoor seating, good place to have drinks with friends.
Karaoke. If you come after 02:00, be aware that people are likely to smoke, although it is illegal.
Night club playing African Zouk, Reggae and Hip Hop music.
Nice bar, Cosmopolite with all ages and types of people to have a drink (beer, sangria & nice collection of wines) or a French snack (cheese or charcuterie). Good place for people who like rock music.
auberges-de-jeunesse
Charming old building with wooden interior, floral wallpapers, early-1900s atmosphere. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Not accessible for persons with reduced mobility.
Full-size hypermarket for food, clothes, housewares, etc near the center of the city, inside the Arc shopping centre next to the main train station. Car parking is available.
By train
Intercity services are offered from Paris (Gare d'Austerlitz, 1 h), Nantes (via Saint-Pierre-des-Corps) and Toulouse (via Limoges).
By car
Take the A10 motorway south-west from Paris. The trip will be slightly one hour and a half.
By bus
By boat
Loire river is the main river in the city. It used to be navigable at the beginning of the 20th century.
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Paris (Orly, Val-de-Marne) · International · ORY
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