News

• 1 - The Loire Festival:

Every 2 years and since 2003, the Quays of Orléans welcome you for 5 days at the end of September for the largest European gathering of the river navy: the Loire Festival. On the program are nautical demonstrations, jousting, throwing fishing nets and rowing races, as well as educational activities and workshopsfor all generations.

The Festival de Loire is one of the events not to be missed, with more than 500,000 visitors from all over Europe, it is a major event in Orléans.

• 2 - Jeanne d'Arc celebrations:

The Jeanne d'Arc celebrations, celebrate the anniversary of the deliverance of Orléans and are among the oldest commemorative celebrations in France, so Orléans has been celebrating this cultural tradition for six centuries.

Every year in May and for about ten days, attend parades and commemorative processions, medieval market, sound and light show on the Sainte-Croix cathedral as well as an Electro Set.

• 3 - The Christmas market:

From November 29 to December 26 Orleans celebrates Christmas! Meet in the four emblematic places of the city: Place du Martroi, Place de la République, Place de Loire and Rue Royale. You will discover local creations and traditional creations (gift items, delicacies, etc.) from the creative workshops.

But also a Ferris wheel, rides, Santa's House. Or animations shows. With the Sainte-Croix cathedral illuminated every evening.

• 4 - The Gastronomic & Wine Fair:

Every year at the end of November, the Orléans Gastronomic and Wine Fair takes place, bringing together more than 200 exhibitors and attracting more than 20,000 visitors. Come and appreciate the quality of local, regional and national productions. Buy or eat locally in this nationally renowned market.

• 5 - Vélotour of Orleans:

Have you ever thought of riding a bike in an underground car park, on ice, or even in a museum? This is the concept of the Vélotour d'Orléans, come and discover the city of Orléans in a different way and enter exceptional places by bike!

On the program, a course of 15km to 20km allowing you to cross sports arenas, musical stages, cultural spaces, historical places and other surprises await you! For this year 2022 it will be held on May 22.

• 6 - Salon des Arts in the garden of Orléans:

In the spring, the Garden Arts fair heralds the return of sunny days! See you on April 9 and 10, 2022 at the Floral Park de La Source (a few hundred meters from the Comfort Hotel Olivet). You will find designers of furniture, artists, landscape designers, nurserymen, antique dealers or groups of amateurs.

The opportunity to prepare for summer in your garden with the sale of plants, furniture and arts and crafts.

• 7 - Music Festival:

Get ready for the music festival in Orléans on June 21 where many artists and music groups will perform in cultural venues in Orléans. On the program free concert and dance demonstration. A moment of sharing around music and dance.

• 8 - Sound & Light Show:

On the occasion of the end-of-year celebrations, celebrations of Jeanne d'Arc and the Loire Festival, come and attend the Sound & Light show on the Sainte Croix cathedral in Orléans.

A new and free show, a 1-hour projection of sound and light dressing the cathedral in wonderful colors on the theme of Christmas, Jeanne d'Arc or even the river world.

• 9 - Orléans International Piano Competition:

Every year and since 1994 takes place the International Piano Competition, this competition aims to reveal young pianists, accompanies them in their career and contributes to making music known from 1900 to the present day.

An event open to the public and registered. For this year 2022 the competition will take place at the Salle de l'Institut from April 4th to 10th.

• 10 - The Voice of Orleans:

This event invites intellectuals and artists from the French-speaking world to debate, with the public, on themes and subjects that animate our society.

• 1 - The Holy Cross Cathedral :

One of the 5 vast Gothic cathedrals of France, it was built in 600 years and therefore bears the imprint of the various royal successions offering it an original and artistic architecture.

You can get to the top of the cathedral with the visit of the heights of the Sainte-Croix cathedral thanks to the Orleans tourist office.

• 2 - The Hotel Groslot:

Discover the history of this private residence transformed over time into a "common house". Dressed in a superb facade of red bricks, a coffered ceiling, walls stretched with painted canvas or paneling with mouldings, you will appreciate visiting it.

• 3 - The House of Jeanne d'Arc:

Take a tour of the famous residence that housed Jean d'Arc when she came to liberate the city in 1429. The house is equipped with a multimedia room allowing you to liven up and modernize your visit, whether it appeals to adults or children alike.

• 4 - The Museum of Fine Arts:

As one of the richest and oldest French museums, this museum offers works from the 15th to the 20th century, presents an exceptional collection of Italian, Flemish and Dutch as well as French paintings.

Also, the museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions, other exhibitions are devoted to the collections of the cabinet of drawings of the school of fine arts of Orleans.

• 5 - The Floral Park:

For a greener visit, come to the Floral Park d'Orléans La Source, also a zoological park, where you will meet more than 350 animals: pink flamingos, exotic birds, ducks, tropical butterflies and many more.

Restaurant and shop on site you can have a good time with your family or as a couple in the park.

• 6 - The Museum for Biodiversity and the Environment:

This museum, a natural heritage conservation centre, documents the fauna, flora and geology of the Centre-Val de Loire region and beyond. With more than 435,000 specimens and samples preserved for almost 200 years. Among its collection on account insects, herbaria, stuffed animals, fossils, skeletons, rocks, minerals, shells...

• 7 - Charlemagne Island:

For leisure, come and relax, cycle, jog, enjoy the beach and the bathing area. Many water activities are available.

Many facilities are present and in particular thanks to the Léo Aventure Park: beach volleyball courts, basketball, handball, minifootball, ping pong, petanque, paintball, tree climbing and aqua-park.

• 8 - The Center-Val de Loire FRAC:

Building with modern architecture and unique design which offers a program of exhibitions around the relationship between contemporary art, architecture and design.

• 9 - The Orléans Botanical Garden:

Since 1950, Orléans is the capital of the rose and alone provides more than a quarter of production. Attend the International Rose Competition which has taken place every September since 1959 in this 3.5 hectare garden.

• 10 - Cercil Memorial Museum of the Children of Vel d'Hiv:

Loader of history and reflection punctuated with archives, testimonies and photographs in memory of the deportees of Jews during the Second World War.

• 1 - The Castel of la Ferté Saint-Aubin:

Located less than 20 minutes from Orléans, the Castel of la Ferté Saint-Aubin is ideal for a family visit, with various activities and workshops ranging from the 17th century cooking workshop and tasting of homemade honey madeleines, at the outdoor treasure hunt.

Visit lasting an average of 2 hours, from the cellar to the attic via the stables. Also with 40 hectares of park offering large garden chess games, mini golf. The Castel of la Ferté Sainte Aubin welcomes more than 50,000 visitors each year.

• 2 - The Castle of Sully sur Loire:

45 minutes south of Orléans, the Castel of Sully-sur-Loire, former residence of the Duke of Sully, minister of Henri IV, will bring you to life seven centuries of history, of France and of its illustrious characters: Joan of 'Arc, the Duke of Sully, Louis XIV or even Voltaire.

Retrace the history of this castle during a visit (average duration 1h30) eligible each year for more than 50,000 visitors.

• 3 - The Castle of Meung-sur-Loire:

A real immersion awaits you during the visit to the former residence of the bishops of Orléans, 35 minutes from the city center, welcoming 10,000 visitors each year, live in the heart of the daily life of the Château.

Your visit will take you from the superb attic to the dark underground passages, in the footsteps of Louis XI, Joan of Arc, François 1er who stayed in the castle's prisons. Immersive and educational, the visit to the Castel of Meung-sur-Loire is suitable for all age groups.

• 4 - The Castel of Chambord:

Chambord is one of the most astonishing buildings of the Renaissance, you will discover an ideal place, made of harmony and modernity, a little further, it is less than an hour's drive from Orléans but it is one of the most famous castles and visits the castles of the Loire with more than 1,000,000 visitors per year !

Offering a multitude of activities, the Castel of Chambordwill seduce all audiences, immersive visit with tablet, in 360° thanks to virtual reality, or even for the youngest, solve little puzzles throughout your visit. Built within the largest forest park in Europe, you can stroll through the Domaines gardens and its nature reserve.

• 5 - The Royal Castle of Blois:

Also located less than an hour from Orléans, the royal castle of Blois is a figure of French architecture, in particular with its four facades built or rebuilt at different periods of the Middle Ages, receiving more than 300,000 visitors a year.

On the program at nightfall a Sound & Light show, augmented reality visit with the Histopad or even with the giant interactive 3D screen and even a garden and terrace. In addition, the castle houses the Museum of Fine Arts of Blois.

Take part in the guided tours of the Orléans Métropole Tourist Office and discover Orléans, a city of Art and History.

Board the little tourist train and let yourself be guided through the "old town" and its half-timbered houses, the banks of the Loire, the House of Joan of Arc and more.

For your tourist stays, opt for the City Pass: privileged access to the cultural sites of the city, tourist services and discounts offered on transport and catering. 

Pick up your Pass at the tourist office of the city and enjoy the wonders of the city of Orleans, during your getaways. 

More information: https://www.tourisme-orleans.com/city-pass