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.
- La Cathédrale Sainte-Croix, 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. 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.
- Musée historique et archéologique de l'Orléanais.
- Musée des Beaux Arts.
- Pont de l'Europe.
- Hotel de Ville. Where everyone in the city is required to get married, the Hotel de Ville has breathtaking rooms filled with royal curtains and gold leaf.
- 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.
La Cathédrale Sainte-Croix, 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. 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.
Musée historique et archéologique de l'Orléanais.
Musée des Beaux Arts.
Pont de l'Europe.
Hotel de Ville. Where everyone in the city is required to get married, the Hotel de Ville has breathtaking rooms filled with royal curtains and gold leaf.
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.
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.
L'Astrolabe, 1 Rue Alexandre Avisse, a concert hall dedicated to Modern Music, Reggae, Percus, Techno, French Song, also includes an Ice-skating ring and Dojo.
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.
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.
- Pizzeria Capri, 103bis, Rue du Faubourg Madeleine, 45000 Orléans. Excellent pizza and pasta.
- Tokyo, 14, Place du Chatelet, 45000 Orléans. Good Sushi. $15–30.
- El Tio, 34 rue Notre Dame de Recouvrance, +33 2-38-77-16-99. Tu-Sa 12PM-2PM 7PM-10.30PM S 12PM-2PM. 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 at good price made by original Italian.
Pizzeria Capri, 103bis, Rue du Faubourg Madeleine, 45000 Orléans. Excellent pizza and pasta.
Tokyo, 14, Place du Chatelet, 45000 Orléans. Good Sushi. $15–30.
El Tio, 34 rue Notre Dame de Recouvrance, +33 2-38-77-16-99. Tu-Sa 12PM-2PM 7PM-10.30PM S 12PM-2PM. 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 at good price made by original Italian.
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 2am, 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 45000 Orleans, +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
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 2am, 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 45000 Orleans, +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
- 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.