Orleans tourism and travel guide

Visit Orleans: highlights and tourist information

France This Way comment: The large town of Orleans has a great deal to recommend it: a famous cathedral, an extensive old town, a riverside promenade, and some lovely gardens nearby

Orleans is situated in the Loiret department and Centre-Loire Valley region.

Attractions in Orleans

The arboretum des Grandes Bruyeres is a fabulous arboretum and garden near Orleans: Arboretum des Grandes Bruyeres

The carvings and grandeur of the western facade are the highlight of the 17th century cathedral in Orleans: Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, Orleans

The Parc Floral de la Source is an extensive park to the south of Orleans that includes the source of the Loiret river: Parc Floral de la Source, Orleans

The Hotel Groslot is a beautiful mansion close to the cathedral in Orleans.: Hotel Groslot

Tourist classifications for Orleans include "town of art and history" and "remarkable garden".

Popular places to visit nearby include Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, Orleans at 0 km and Parc Floral de la Source, Orleans at 7 km. For more sites to visit and local tourist attractions see the map and listings below.

Orleans, France: places to visit and attractions

Some of the places that we have visited and reviewed and can recommend when you are sightseeing close to Orleans in Centre-Loire Valley.

Note that all distances below are 'direct' and real driving distances will be greater!

Hotel Groslot

less than one km (direction east)

The Hotel Groslot is a beautiful mansion close to the cathedral in...

See Hotel Groslot guide

Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, Orleans

Cathedral less than one km (direction east)

The carvings and grandeur of the western facade are the highlight of...

See Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, Orleans guide

Parc Floral de la Source, Orleans

Garden at 7 km (direction south-south-east)

The Parc Floral de la Source is an extensive park to the...

See Parc Floral de la Source, Orleans guide

Meung-sur-Loire

at 17 km (direction west-south-west)

Meung sur Loire is a pretty medieval village near Orleans....

See Meung-sur-Loire guide

Les Jardins de Roquelin

Garden at 17 km (direction west-south-west)

The Jardins de Roquelin is a pretty rose garden in the Loire...

See Les Jardins de Roquelin guide

Beaugency

at 24 km (direction west-south-west)

A small town on the banks of the Loire River, Beaugency squeezes...

See Beaugency guide

Arboretum des Grandes Bruyeres

Garden at 25 km (direction east-north-east)

The arboretum des Grandes Bruyeres is a fabulous arboretum and garden near...

See Arboretum des Grandes Bruyeres guide

Chateau de Chamerolles

Castle at 26 km (direction east-north-east)

The chateau de Chamerolles is an attractive chateau with a pretty Renaissance...

See Chateau de Chamerolles guide

Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire Abbey

Abbey at 32 km (direction east-south-east)

Fans of romanesque architecture will appreciate the many period features in the...

See Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire Abbey guide

Bellegarde

at 41 km (direction east)

Bellegarde is a small traditional town with an atractive moated castle in...

See Bellegarde guide

Yevre-le-Chatel

Most Beautiful Village at 43 km (direction east-north-east)

The walk along the Rimarden river, the traditional charm and the ruined...

See Yevre-le-Chatel guide

Chateau de Chambord

Castle at 43 km (direction south-west), in the Loir-et-Cher department

The largest castle in the Loire Valley, Chateau de Chambord exceeds all...

See Chateau de Chambord guide

Chateaudun

National Monument at 46 km (direction west-north-west), in the Eure-et-Loir department

Both the castle and the town along the Loir River make Chateaudun...

See Chateaudun guide

Chateau de Blois

Castle at 55 km (direction west-south-west), in the Loir-et-Cher department

One of the most impressive of the Loire castles, the Chateau de...

See Chateau de Blois guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Loiret

Map of places to visit near Orleans

Markets in and near Orleans

Market days in Orleans: weekly market: every day except Monday;

• Orleans: market every day except Monday (0km)
• Fleury-les-Aubrais: market Tuesday & Sunday (3km)
• Meung-sur-Loire: market Sunday (18km)
• La Ferte-Saint-Aubin: market Thursday (20km)
• Chateauneuf-sur-Loire: market Friday all day (24km)
• Beaugency: market Saturday all day (25km)
• Ouzouer-le-Marche: market Friday (28km)
• Saint-Laurent-Nouan: market Friday (30km)
• Toury: market Sunday (33km)
• Lamotte-Beuvron: market Friday (34km)

Hotels near Orleans

More information about Orleans, Loire Valley

Tourist attractions near Orleans, France

What to do at Orleans? Some places with official tourist classifications and other places of interest to visit nearby that should provide inspiration if you are visiting Orleans.

National Monuments

• Talcy Chateau (37km)

Recommended detour towns (fr: plus beau détour)

• Beaugency (24km)
• Chateaudun (46km)

Churches and religious monuments

• Abbaye de Saint Benoît sur Loire (Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire Abbey) (32km)
• Eglise de Notre Dame (Boiscommun) (39km)

Remarkable gardens

• Les prés-Culand (17km)
• Arboretum des grandes bruyères (25km)
• Jardin du château de Talcy (37km)
• Roseraie des terrasses de l’évêché (55km)
• Parc du château de Beauregard (56km)

Protected historical centre (fr: secteur sauvegardé)

(see also historical French towns)

• Blois (55km)

Villages in bloom 4* (fr: ville fleurie)

• Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle (3km)
• Fleury-les-Aubrais (3km)
• Olivet (4km)
• Saint-Cyr-en-Val (9km)
• Quiers-sur-Bezonde (41km)
• Moutiers (45km)
• Pierrefitte-sur-Sauldre (47km)

Geography and distances

Orleans is in the western-centre of France - it is the prefecture (capital) of the Loiret department (general information: Orleans is 111 kilometres from Paris).

Getting here

Most visitors will either fly into one of the airports in Paris (Orly / Charles de Gaulle) or come via a ferry from the UK to a port such as Le Havre and Caen, 3-4 hours drive from here. For driving distances to Orleans from anywhere in France see driving distances and route planner.

We have 12 other places listed as being close (less than kilometres from ): Fleury-les-Aubrais, Ingre, La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin, Olivet, Saint-Denis-en-Val, Saint-Hilaire-Saint-Mesmin, Saint-Jean-de-Braye, Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle, Saint-Jean-le-Blanc, Saint-Pryve-Saint-Mesmin, Saran and Semoy.

This page in French: Visiter Orleans