Nestled on both banks of the longest river in France (the Loire River), Orléans is around 120 kilometres southwest of Paris. Many know the Loire Valley for its photographic chateaus, vibrant vineyards and charming villages, and Orléans is its regional centre. Orléans has a rich history, with Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) saving the city from the British in the 1400s (the Siege of Orléans). You will spend the day spotting all forms of Jeanne throughout the city – how many can you spot?
In addition to its rich history and cultural centre of the Loire Valley, here are five reasons why you should visit Orléans.
1. Only one hour from Paris
One of the great things about Paris, is that there are so many great destinations on its doorstep. An hour or two on a train provides you an opportunity to taste a whole new flavour of France. For someone who loves Paris as much as I do, it’s taken a while to realise the potential of a day trip from Paris. And when I did, I found the greatest day out: Orléans.
Orléans is only an hour by train from Gare d’Austerlitz, which can be accessed by taxi or metro line 5 or 10, and is at the end of the line (with only one stop on the way). Knowing I was the final stop, I was truly able to sit back, relax, watch the country side fly by and read a book. Before I knew it we were pulling into the Gare d’Orléans in the centre of the city and a short stroll from the top sites. High speed trains in France are amazing, and definitely a missed opportunity here in Australia.
2. No crowds
As much as I love Paris, the crowds do get tiresome. However, a day trip to Orléans provides a refreshing reprieve from the crowds, even on a blue sky day in the middle of June. The city has a relaxing and charming vibe, that is certainly unique from Paris. For example, we are all too familiar with the feeling of scrambling through crowds to get the perfect view or photo of Notre Dame in Paris. In contrast, Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans is just, if not more, spectacular and… no one is there! It has the same gothic architectural style, stunning stained glass windows and even has a spire too.
3. Safe, clean and friendly
Say good bye to the common smell of pee (that you will be accustomed to during your time in Paris), and say hello to fresh air in Orléans. On my day trip, it became very evident that the locals takes a lot of pride in their city and their region. There was no trash in the streets, all the gardens were immaculately kept and it almost seemed like the buildings all had a fresh coat of paint making them appear cleaner and brighter. And the people were friendly, welcoming and helpful everywhere I went – but don’t forget to say your “Bonjour” when you enter shops or cafes / restaurants.
I found all the parts of the city I explored to be safe, clean and friendly. But remember when travelling, always keep your wits about you.
4. Centre Ancien
Lined with medieval buildings and dotted by quaint squares and delightful cafes, Orléans ancient town centre (Centre Ancien) oozes charm. The centre felt cool on a hot summer day, the perfect climate to explore every street in the Centre Ancien. I rested under lush green trees, ate crepes and hand made chocolates. The streets of the Centre Ancien connected me to all of Orléans key sites, and were ideal avenues to history, wonder and new ideas.
I’d always wanted to visit this medieval city since I was a little girl, after playing the Joan of Arc campaign on Age of Empire II (yes, I’m a nerd). And here I was, walking the medieval streets I had dreamed of, and they were better than I could have imagined. Especially since conditions in the 21st century are much nicer than the 15th…
5. You will be left wanting more
Orléans has so much to see and do, it’s nearly impossible to see it all in one day – no matter how hard you try! At the end of my day trip, I was tossing up on whether to stay the night or purchase a later ticket back to Paris, because I just didn’t want to leave. I never thought I could be so torn with Paris being one of the great loves of my life. But here I was, ready to dive head first into an affair with a new French city.
In one day we covered a lot of ground and completed the top 10 things to see and do in Orléans. And that doesn’t even include the surrounding region, where the river and country side are dotted with picturesque chateau’s and vineyards.
I can confidently say, this will not be my last trip to Orléans and the Loire Valley.