Historical landmarks • The Gallo-Roman town-wall on the north side of the cathedral (4th century AD) and along the rue de la Tour-Neuve • The
Hôtel Groslot, built between 1550 and 1555 for Jacques Groslot, "bailli d'Orléans" by Jacques Ier Androuet du Cerceau. King
François II of France died there in 1560. Kings
Charles IX, Henri III of France and
Henri IV of France stayed there. The "Hôtel" was restored in 1850. The building became the town Hall of Orléans in 1790 (weddings are still celebrated inside), before the council moved to the current
Hôtel de Ville in 1981. • The
hôtel de la Vieille Intendance (early 15th century) (otherwise named hôtel Brachet, formerly "The King's house"), real gothic-renaissance style château made of bricks. Nowadays housing the Administrative Court of Orléans. One can admire its frontage from the entrance in the rue de la Bretonnerie. Yet, the building – which sheltered the highest figures of the kingdom passing by the city, and maybe some kings themselves (Henri IV, Louis XIII, Louis XIV of France) – can easily be observed from its gardens, opened to the public (entrance rue d'Alsace-Lorraine). • The
hôtel de la Motte-Sanguin (18th century) and its gardens, manor built at the behest of
Louis-Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1747–1793), cousin of the King Louis XVI. He was surnamed "Philippe Égalité" / "equality" referring to his support to the 1789 revolutionaries. Nicknamed "
the richest man on earth" he voted in favour of the death penalty against his own cousin the king
Louis XVI, and suffered the same fate himself. This is a classic style princely residence (and even royal, since Philippe Égalité's heir accessed the throne of France under the name of
Louis-Philippe Ier). It is part of a public park opened to the public (via the Solférino street). • The
school of artillery, next to the
Hôtel de la Motte-Sanguin which it is often confused with, formerly housing a military school, it was built in the 19th century near the
Loire. •
Remains of the University of Orléans (a 15th-century building housing the thesis room), founded in 1306 by
pope Clement V, in which, among many other great historical figures, the Protestant
John Calvin studied and taught. The university was so famous that it attracted students from all over Europe, particularly Germany. The city of Orléans is one of the cradles of Protestantism. • The
House of Louis XI (end of the 15th century), on Saint-Aignan square. Built at the behest of the king, who particularly revered
Saint Aignan. • The
House of Joan of Arc, where she stayed during the
siege of Orléans (this is actually an approximate reconstitution, the original building being bombed in 1940 during the
Battle of France). •
Place du Martroi, heart of the city, with the equestrian statue of
Joan of Arc at its centre, made by
Denis Foyatier. This statue was damaged during the Second World War, then repaired by
Paul Belmondo, father of the famous 1950s to 1980s French actor. • Duke of Orléans's
Chancellerie (XVIIIe), located next to the
Place du Matroi, also bombed during the Second World War, only the frontage resisted. • The
Bannier gate-house, discovered in 1986 under the statue of
Joan of Arc (Place du Martroi). It was built in the 14th century. It can be seen through a window in the subterranean car-park under the square, or visited under certain conditions. • The
rue de Bourgogne and surrounding streets, Orléans's main street since the Antiquity, it's the former Roman decumanus, crossing the city from east to west.
Joan of Arc entered the city in 1429 by the "Bourgogne" gatehouse situated at its Easter end. Until today it is still giving access to the "Préfecture", where the "Préfet" (officer who represents the French State in the Region) lives, many pubs, night clubs, restaurants and shops such as the "Galeries Lafayette". It is more than a mile long. One can admire many medieval houses on its sides. • The
Tour Blanche / White Tower, it is one of the only medieval defensive towers remaining in the city (still in use at the time of the
siege of Orléans). It nowadays houses the city's archaeological department. •
The Docks, (
Port of Orléans]) once the most important inland port of France (18th century). While boats could not sail on the river Seine because of the windings, they could sail to Orléans on the river Loire with the wind in their back. Then the merchandise was brought to Paris by roadways. Wine, and sugar from the colonies, were shipped to Orléans where they were stored and refined. Vinegar is still a city speciality due to the lapsing of wine stocks during the shipment. One can admire the old pavement of the docks (18th and 19th centuries) on the north bank of the river in the city and on the island in the middle, that was used to channel the water. • The
Hôpital Madeleine (former hospital), built by
King Louis XIV (18th century) and his successors (notably an important part of the 18th century). •
Saint-Charles chapel, located within the grounds of the Madeleine Hospital, it was built in 1713 by Jacques V Gabriel, one of Louis XIV's architects. • The
Hôtel Cabu, otherwise named
house of Diane de Poitiers, built at the behest of Philippe Cabu, barrister, in 1547, famous architect Jacques Ier Androuet du Cerceau providing the plans. • The
Hôtel Hatte, 16th century. Today's Charles-Péguy Center. • The
Hôtel Toutin, 16th century • The ''Hôtel Pommeret d'Orléans'', 16th century • The
Hôtel Ducerceau, 16th century • The
maison de la coquille, 16th century • The
Hôtel des Créneaux, former city hall, flanked by its bell tower (15th century). It nowadays houses the city's school of music. This is a magnificent piece of late gothic secular architecture (15th century) that calls to mind the famous and much more recent Parisian city hall. • The
House of Jean Dalibert, 16th century • The
Study of Jacques Bouchet (16th century), which can be admired from the public square "Jacques Bouchet" • The mansions, rue d'Escure (17th and 18th centuries) • The "Préfecture" : former Benedictine monastery, built in 1670 and housing the "Préfecture du Loiret" since 1800. • The ''Pont de l'Europe'', designed by
Santiago Calatrava, is an inclined bow-string ark bridge particularly original. • The
Pont Royal / George V Royal bridge, the oldest bridge of the city. Built between 1751 and 1760, at the request of
Daniel-Charles Trudaine, administrator and civil engineer. It was renamed in honour of
King George V after the
World War I out of respect of
Britain's role in the war. • The
Pont des Tourelles, built in 1140 and demolished in 1760, was the first stone-made bridge of Orléans. When the river Loire is low, one can see remains of it in the water. • The ''Palais épiscopal d'Orléans'', former Bishop's Palace. It was built between 1635 and 1641.
Napoléon stayed there. It is nowadays housing the international centre for research, part of
University of Orléans. • The courthouse (18th to 20th centuries) • The "''salle de l'Institut''", located on the "place Sainte Croix", is a small concert hall which can be converted into a ballroom. Its acoustics are remarkable. •
Mansions, rue de la Bretonnerie. This street concentrates many particular mansions, of all styles and ages (15th to 20th centuries). High society members, politicians, barristers, doctors... continue to live there. • ''Mansions, rue d'Alsace-Lorraine'', 19th-century bourgeoisie style houses. • Statue
La Baigneuse by Paul Belmondo, aside the rue Royale (1955). • Statue of Calvin, by Daniel Leclercq, facing the Calvinist temple (2009). • The
FRAC Centre building named "Les turbulences", an advanced piece of architecture covered with L.E.Ds. • Memorial Museum to the Children of Vel d'Hiv at the ''Centre d'étude et de recherche sur les camps d'internement du Loiret'' (Study and Research Centre on the Internment Camps in Loiret), commemorating over 4,000 Jewish children who were concentrated at the
Vélodrome d´Hiver cycling arena in Paris in July 1942, after which they were interned at either
Pithiviers or
Beaune-la-Rolande, and eventually deported to the
Auschwitz extermination camp. • Many historical houses and mansions (hundreds) can still be admired in the city centre, which is one of the largest in France due to the great importance of the city until the 20th century. The historical centre dating back to the 15th century extends far beyond the limits of the pedestrian sector that has been extensively restored in the past few years. In fact it corresponds to the portion of the modern city which is enclosed by the Boulevards. Many historical monuments remain in the non-pedestrian sectors of the city (for example, at rue Notre-Dame-de-Recouvrance, at rue des Carmes, at rue de la Bretonnerie, at Square Saint-Aignan).
Museums Museums in Orléans: •
Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans •
Charles Péguy Centre •
Joan of Arc's House • Fine Arts Museum • City Historical and Archeological Museum • Natural Science Museum
Parks Parks in Orléans: •
Parc Floral de la Source • Motte Sanguin garden • Charpenterie garden • Botanic garden • Anjorrant park • Charbonnière park • Moins Roux park •
Pasteur park
Media • TV network: Orléans TV • Newspaper: La République du Centre
(the Republic of the Centre) • Radio station:
Radio Campus Orléans 88.3 FM
Music • Annual week-long classical music festival Semaines musicales internationales d'Orléans, founded in 1968. •
Burning Heads Sport Orléans has a
basketball team:
Orléans Loiret Basket which is in the
French first division. The club won the "Coupe de France" of basketball, its first major trophy, in the season 2009 – 2010. Orléans also has a
football club, the
US Orléans, which plays in
Championnat National. There is also a semi-professional rugby team,
RC Orléans. The city also has very well known clubs in
karate,
fencing and
judo. In 2012, Orléans hosted a stage finish of
Paris–Nice. ==Twin towns – sister cities==