Orléans Things to Do

First of all the city associates with "the Orlean's maiden". It is considered that Jeanne d'Arc in 1429, burning with the desire to release the country from English presence and to crown the king, strucked a crushing blow to the opponent here.
Jeanne's equestrian statue is installed at the main square of the city. There is Maison de Jeanne d'Arc in Orlean. It'a a copy of a real house where Jeanna stayed for a few days. It was restored in 1965 because the prototype was destroyed during WWII.

You can watch my 0 min 59 sec Video Orleans out of my Youtube channel.

The original 13th century cathedral was destroyed in the 16th century by the Huguenots, and rebuilt between the 17th and 19th centuries in its present Gothic style. Of particular interest are the rose window dedicated to Louis XIV, the chapel of Joan of Arc, the ornate woodwork depicting the life of Christ around the choir and transepts, and the crypt which contains a diverse range of ecclesiastical treasures, some dating as far back as the fourth century.

The big cathedral in Orleans is a very beautiful classic Gothic cathedral. The actual cathedral stands from 1829 but as all great monuments it had a very troubled history.

In 330 when Orleans was called Aurelianum a roman church was established on the actual place of Sainte-Croix. But it was finished only in 450. In 865 the Normands tried to destroy it but did not succeed so the Carolingians rebuilt it in 883. In 999 a big fire burned Orleans and Sainte-Croix. In the 11th century the church was upgraded to the rang of cathedral and there were improvement to grow it bigger as a Roman cathedral - but it was finished only in 1227. In 1278 the cathedral begun the reconstruction for the new style of the moment - the Gothic style - modifications that took place in the 13th and 14th centuries. In 1429 the Sainte-Croix played a role in the siege of Orleans on May 8th when Joan d'Arc prayed here for the victory. The cathedral was not destroyed by the hundred years war in the 14th-15th century.

On 23-24 February 1568 a group of fanatic Huguenots entered the cathedral and blasted major columns inflicting a great damage to the cathedral, rendering it dangerous and useless for 30 years. In 1598 the King of France Henry IV ordered the reconstruction of the cathedral. The reconstruction lasted 90 years, from 1601 when the cathedral was opened to masses until 1690 when it was finished. More modifications were made between 1739 and 1773. Works have been interrupted by the French Revolution in 1789. Works restarted in 1817 and the cathedral was finished in the actual form in 1829, when it was inaugurated by the King of France Charles X.

The 2nd world war also damaged by bombs the Sainte-Croix, since 1940 towers are being reconstructed and the public access in the two towers is forbidden.

The cathedral is 140 meters long, the two towers in the front have 88 meters in height and the spire 114 meters.

Orleans is also located on the river Seine, that is why it was so important in history of France. The bridge over Seine resembles to all of the bridges along the river, you can't really choose them apart if you didn't make a note on the picture when you took it.

As I later found this was only one of the 5 bridges that cross the river Seine in Orleans.

Cathedral of Orleans one of best and most famous holly sites in the city of Orleans
very gothic and very beautiful
you have to go and pray and all your prays most be heared from Jesus in this Cathedral.

Ever been to CHEVERNY? Well, take your chance! At Cheverny you can go on a flight in a balloon and see the castle here from the air. Ofcourse if you don't like flying you can discover the castle on foot too :) For more information take a look in my TRAVELLOGUE!

CHAMBORD is one of the biggest castles of the Loire area. The land around it is huge and the castle too. You can take a look inside, but make sure that you don't get lost lol ;) There's more to see about this beautiful castle in my TRAVELLOGUE!

Near Orleans is ST AUBIN. This small town has a nice castle. You can walk around in the forest here, visit the castle church and stables and take a look inside the castle. Find out more in my TRAVELLOGUE!