Orléans
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.
- For other places with the same name, see Orleans (disambiguation).
Get in
By plane
The best way to get to Orleans by plane is to fly into either one of the two Paris Airports.
Most international carriers will service Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG IATA), but most low-cost carriers will service Orly. Orly Airport (ORY IATA) is slightly closer to Orleans if you are driving, but neither airport provides direct services to Orleans and one will most likely have to transfer in Paris.
By train
There are plenty of trains from Paris (Gare d'Austerlitz, 1 h) and other cities in Northern France, including high-speed TGV services. Notice that most long-distance trains does not call at the central station but rather at Les Aubrais railway station north of the city centre. The station is connected via tramway to the city centre.
Regional trains call at both Les Aubrais and at the central Orléans railway station.
By car
Take the A10 motorway south-west from Paris. The trip will be slightly one hour and a half.
You can also drive along the N20, which is a toll free road, and goes straight from Paris to Orleans. The route can is a bit longer than the highway as the road takes you through a number of villages.
By boat
Loire river is the main river in the city. It used to be navigable at the beginning of the 20th century.
Get around
The best way to travel around the historic centre of the city is by foot or bike. The city is not large so by foot is the best way. Many bike rental stations allow you to use a bike from point A to B for a small fee. For attractions further away (in particular the Parc Floral), the tram and bus service are useful.
Local transit is operated by TAO Orléans: Tram, Bus, Bike rental, Car parking and Park and Ride services. Their website has automatic translation by Google and the English translation is usable. Downloadable transit route maps and a journey planner are provided on the TAO website. Google Maps does not know about the trams or buses in Orléans (as of summer 2020) so do not rely on it for transit information.
Ticketing
- Cash is accepted on board buses (and payment cards are not).
- Cards and cash are accepted at ticket machines found at every tram stop.
- Tickets can be purchased ahead of time and validated at the start of journey (including 24 hour tickets).
- The same tickets are valid on bus, tram, etc.
- Ticket types
- Single journey ticket €1.60
- Return journey ticket (two singles) €3.20
- 10-journey ticket €14.30
- 24 hour ticket. In practice these are often valid for longer periods, for example from 14:00 on one day to 23:00 the next day. €4.00
- Group tickets, student discounts, etc, are available. The TAO website has a full list of ticket types.
By tram
- TAO Orléans (Keolis) operates two tram lines. Line A runs roughly north-south (to the university and the nearby suburb of Olivet) and Line B runs east-west, crossing at the de Gaulle stop in the center of the city. Trams run every 10 minutes during the day and every 20-30 minutes in the evening until about 23:30.
By bus
- TAO Orléans operates a bus network centered on the Gare d'Orléans (main train station). Buses do not go through the historic centre and mainly serve the residential areas of the city. Tourists may find them useful to get to outlying attractions or hotels outside the historic centre.
By car
- The historic centre of Orléans is largely pedestrianised, driving is difficult, and parking is near-impossible.
- Outside the historic centre, paid parking is available on main streets.
- There are several large parking garages near the historic centre and cheaper park and ride facilities further out.
See
- 🌍 La Cathédrale Sainte-Croix (Ste-Croix Cathedral), http://www.orleans.catholique.fr/. 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 been seen above the buildings from most of the town.
- 🌍 La Maison de Jeanne d’Arc (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.
- Martroi plaza and Joan of Arc statue.
- Parc Floral (10 km south of downtown).
- Musée historique et archéologique de l'Orléanais (Orleans' History & Archaeology Museum).
- 🌍 Musée des Beaux Arts (Museum of Fine Art).
- Pont de l'Europe (Europe Bridge).
- 🌍 Hotel Groslot (City Hall), 2 Place de l'Étape (Nearest tram: Cathédrale). 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. Free entry.
- Le Loiret. 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.
Do
Walk around the center of town, or along the banks of the river Loire. Visit some of the city's great boulangeries.
The city celebrates Joan of Arc during the first week of May with parades, demonstrations, a "medieval market" and sound and light shows.
Billiards (pool) can be a fun way to unwind from a busy day. Orleans has many pool salons and even the bowling alley has a billiards section. Billiards is popular among teenagers on Fridays after school, but finding an open table should not be a problem.
- 🌍 L'Astrolabe, 1 Rue Alexandre Avisse, ☏ +33238542006, info@lastrolabe.org. 24h. A concert hall dedicated to Modern Music, Reggae, Percus, Techno, French Song, also includes an Ice-skating ring and Dojo. Free.
- 🌍 Étang de l'Île Charlemagne, Levée de la Chevauchée. 24/7. A nice lake where it is safe to swim. By car it is about 10 minutes from the center. Free.
Learn
The université d'Orléans (10 miles south of downtown- well served by the tram line) has partnerships with many foreign universities. French classes for foreigners are available during a semester, year, or summer program. Information at www.univ-orleans.fr.
Work
Buy
Most stores do accept credit cards. The local chocolate factory, Chocolaterie Royale, makes many interesting and delicious souvenirs. Even if you aren't in the mood to buy chocolate, stopping by their store near the town square will amaze you at the way they can mold chocolate.
Many large French and international stores fill Orleans including H&M and Les Galeries Lafayette.
During August many bakeries are closed because the owners are on holiday. Carrefour and Intermarché shops are open reliably during holiday periods.
- 🌍 Carrefour Hypermarket, 3 Rue Saint Yves Cc Place D'arc (Nearest tram: Gares d'Orléans). Monday to Saturday 08:30-21:00, Sunday 08:30-12:30. 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.
Eat
- Pizzeria Capri, 103bis, Rue du Faubourg Madeleine. Excellent pizza and pasta.
- Tokyo, 14, Place du Chatelet. Good sushi. $15–30.
- El Tio, 34 rue Notre Dame de Recouvrance, ☏ +33 2-38-77-16-99. Tu-Sa 12:00-14:00, 19:00-22:30; Su 12:00-14:00. Spanish food and wines. Also sell Spanish products (spices, sweets, ham...).
- La Tavola, Les Halles. An Italian restaurant in Orleans. You enter by the kitchen. Pizza and pasta made by an Italian.
- 🌍 Le Brin de Zinc, 62-64 Rue Sainte-Catherine (Nearest tram stop: de Gaulle), ☏ +33238533877. 09:00-00:00. 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. €15-40.
- 🌍 Glaces Moustache Orléans (Moustache Ice Cream), 3 Rue Jeanne d'Arc (Just off the cathedral square, nearest metro Cathédrale). Daily until late evening, including Sundays. 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.
- 🌍 Angkor, 228 Rue de Bourgogne (Nearest tram de Galle or Cathédrale), ☏ +33238839776. Cambodian menu with all the classic dishes. Some are served with the house sauce "Angkor", in the style of a yellow curry.
- 🌍 Sushi Ninja, 156 Rue de Bourgogne (Nearest tram: Cathédrale), ☏ +33 2 38 83 72 91. Tuesday-Sunday 11:00-14:30, 18:00-23:00. Good sushi with eat in or takeaway options. The sushi rice is particularly good. Prices are reasonable.
Drink
The Rue de Bourgogne is home to the majority of bars, pubs and nightlife of Orleans. Le bord de la Loire (the Loir river bank) is popular among young highschool students as a place for weekend drinking. There are also several concerts held along the Loire River during the summer.
- Le Petit Barcelone, 218, Rue de Bourgogne. Relaxed atmosphere, plenty of tables for sitting around with friends and having drinks.
- Havana Cafe, 28, Place du Chatelet. Indoor and outdoor seating, good place to have drinks with friends.
- Le Paxton's Head, Rue de Bourgogne. Karaoke. If you come after 02:00, be aware that people are likely to smoke, although it is illegal.
- L'Amazone, 105 bis, Rue de Faubourg Madeleine. Night club playing African Zouk, Reggae and Hip Hop music.
- Antidote, 32 Rue de l'Empereur, ☏ +33 2 38 42 73 17. 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.
Sleep
Budget
Around 40 km south of Orleans on the way to Bourges is the Parc des Alicourts 4-star campsite and spa, a holiday centre with a fishing lake, an aqua park with 4 pools, a plush health spa with hydrotherapy centre, camping pitches, chalets, cottages and a villa for rent. Special offers on family holidays, camping weekends and spa breaks.
The Parc des Alicourts has several treehouses, some suitable for family holidays, some for cozy couple weekends.
- 🌍 Youth Hostel Orléans (auberges-de-jeunesse), 3, rue Croix Péchée, ☏ +33 2 38 53 60 06, auberge.crjs45@orange.fr. Check-out: 10:00. €26/night inc. breakfast.
Go next
- Visiting the castles and houses along the Loire river is a great day trip from Orleans. A must see is Chambord, near Blois.
- Germigny-des-Prés, where you can see a Carolingian church with Byzantine mosaics, is also an excellent day trip or stopover on the way to seeing castles.
| Routes through Orléans |
| Bordeaux ← Tours ← Blois ← | SW N | → Chartres (via ) → Paris |
| Clermont-Ferrand ← Bourges / Toulouse (via ) ← Vierzon ← | S N | → merges with |