Orléans is the main city of the French region Center - Loire Valley. Located on the Loire River, 130 km southwest of Paris. The name comes from the name of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who restored the former city after the invasion of Caesar.
French city of Orleans
There are many dramatic events in the history of the city. The main battle of the Hundred Years' War of the 14th-15th centuries took place here, forever glorifying Joan of Arc. During the religious wars of the second half of the 16th century. Orleans was one of the strongholds of the Huguenots until the terrible Night of St. Bartholomew. In the second half of the 19th century. the city was twice besieged and captured by Prussia. The city was severely damaged by American bombings in 1944.
For me, as well as for other lovers of educational tourism, the city is primarily associated with the national heroine of France, Jeanne d'Arc. Since the early Middle Ages, the educational institutions of Orleans have gained European fame. The local university, founded in the 13th century, is one of the oldest in Europe. Present-day Orleans is a large industrial center and transport hub of France. It has developed winemaking, perfumery, electronics. The city has a population of 115 thousand people.
In addition to the main city holiday, which will be discussed below, the Loire Festival, organized in odd years in September, is widely celebrated in Orleans. At this time, a parade of hundreds of river boats, concerts, theatrical performances and fairs are held.
The climate of Orleans is temperate maritime with mild winters and warm summers. Precipitation is almost evenly distributed across months. The proximity to the river causes high air humidity. The weather is most comfortable from May to September.
Orleans and Joan of Arc
For almost seven centuries, the city has been inextricably linked with one of the most amazing historical figures - Joan of Arc.
Feat of the Maid of Orleans
In 1428, English troops besieged Orleans. They were close to complete victory in the Hundred Years' War with France. The British conquered vast French territories, and the Duke of Burgundy, who ruled Paris, came over to their side. The heir to the French king, Dauphin Charles, was deprived of his rights to succession to the throne. The capture of Orleans would mean the complete loss of French independence. The outcome of the siege of the city seemed a foregone conclusion even to the French who courageously defended it.
The turning point in the course of the war occurred after the Dauphin Charles, after much hesitation, appointed a new commander-in-chief of the army defending Orleans. It was... a 17-year-old girl, Jeanne d'Arc, who came from a family of wealthy peasants. This decision was preceded by a number of events that cannot be explained by the limited human mind. Let us note some of them.
By that time, Jeanne had already heard the voices of Archangel Michael and St. for several years. Catherine and Margaret, who discovered that it was she who was destined to lift the siege of Orleans and elevate the Dauphin Charles to the French throne. Jeanne's persistent stories reached the Dauphin, and he agreed to accept her. At the same time, another person was placed on the throne, and he stood among the courtiers. Jeanne, who had never seen the Dauphin, recognized him unmistakably. They talked for a long time in private. Some researchers believe that the girl assured Karl of his legitimacy, which even he doubted.
Then the peasant girl amazed the courtiers with her impeccable possession of weapons and horsemanship. A check of Jeanne's past and family also did not reveal anything discrediting her. After this, military armor and a banner were made for her. Jeanne then pointed to the unknown sword of Charlemagne, which was buried behind the altar of the Church of Sainte Catherine de Fierbois.
The army, led by the messenger of God, lifted the 7-month siege of the city in 9 days, and Jeanne was named la Pucelle d’Orléans (The Virgin of Orleans). After this, the French army led by Joan of Arc won several more victories that radically changed the course of the war. It is interesting that Napoleon, who studied the battles of the Maid of Orleans, declared her a genius in military affairs. After the bloodless capture of Reims, Charles was crowned in the local cathedral in the presence of Joan.
Her further tragic fate is known. As a result of her betrayal, Jeanne was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the British, who, through the hands of the church, condemned her as a heretic and burned her at the stake in Rouen in 1931. The trial and the verdict of the court were so blatantly unfair that the church did not take centuries (as in other famous cases) to abolish sentence. In 1456, Jeanne was rehabilitated, and in 1920 she was canonized as a Catholic saint. May 30 was declared the day of remembrance of the Virgin of Orleans.
Memory
All of France, as if trying to repent for the contemporaries of the Virgin of Orleans, professes her cult. Streets and squares are named after Joan of Arc, many monuments have been erected to her, her image inspires artists, writers and filmmakers. Orleans is one of two cities (along with Rouen) where worship is especially pronounced.
The day of lifting the siege of Orleans on May 8 is the main holiday of the city, solemnly celebrated for 7 centuries. On this day, a girl chosen by the townspeople in medieval armor on a horse at the head of an army enters the liberated city.
Throughout the previous week, the city hosts costumed processions, light and music performances, fairs, art competitions, and fireworks.
La Maison de Jeanne d’Arc operates on the Place du Général de Gaulle, named after another great Frenchman. The Museum and Cultural Center of Joan of Arc is housed in a half-timbered building - a copy of the original one, destroyed by bombing in 1940. Joan lived in such a house during the battle for the city. Wooden beams from the 15th century were used in the reconstruction.
Here you can find a lot of materials dedicated to the life and work of the Virgin of Orleans. In the multimedia hall, visitors are shown a film about the Hundred Years' War and the life of Joan of Arc in Orleans.
The museum and center is open daily, with the exception of religious holidays and May 8, from 10:00 (in October-March from 14:00) to 18:00. The entrance ticket costs 4 EUR. The square can be reached by tram line A, getting off at the De Gaulle stop.
On Martroi Square there is an equestrian sculpture of Joan of Arc.
19th century statue The Maid of Orleans, located near the Hotel Groslot, was shot in several places during the battles for the liberation of the city in 1944.
In the Cathedral of Orleans, in the chapel of the Virgin of Orleans, there is a statue of her, and its beautiful stained glass windows depict scenes of her heroic life. One of the streets leading to the cathedral bears her name. The Church of the Miracles of the Virgin Mary depicts the real fact of Joan praying here. Her statue is also installed in the inconspicuous church of Paroisse Saint Paterne. Next to it there are many marble tablets with thanks to the Virgin of Orleans.
Orleans transport
The closest international airport to Orleans is in Paris. Several flights from Moscow land at Charles de Gaulle Airport daily.
From Paris Gare d'Austerlitz train station to Orléans, high-speed trains TGV or SNCF depart every half hour. If you book a ticket in advance on the website, you can purchase it for 20 EUR. After 1 hour and 15 minutes, trains arrive at the Gare d’Orleans station in Orleans (in the city center) or at the station of its suburb - Fleury-les-Aubrais. It is located 3 km from the center of Orleans, which can be reached by bus in 10 minutes, paying another 2.5 EUR.
Intracity transport is represented by 32 bus and two tram routes. The cost of one trip is the same - 1.5 EUR. A ticket for 10 trips will cost 13.8 EUR, and a day ticket - 3.9 EUR. They are sold from drivers, from vending machines at bus stops and from street transport agencies. Bicycle rentals are common in the city.
Accommodation in the city
For accommodation, I started looking on the Internet for 3-star hotels in the historical center of the city. I liked the very first of them - Hôtel d'Orléans, at 6 rue Adolphe Crespin. It is located 50 meters from Place Martrois, and a short walk from the house of Joan of Arc. A single room cost me 80 EUR per night.
A cheaper option is the 2-star Le Bannier Hotel (13 Rue du Faubourg Bannier) and the apart-hotel Séjours & Affaires Orléans Jeanne D"arc (11 Place Du 6 Juin 1944), and a more expensive option is the 4-star Best Western Hôtel d" Arc (37 Ter, rue de la République). They are located in the same area, but you will need to pay approximately 60 EUR and 110 EUR respectively.
Tourists traveling by car in warm weather may be interested in the opportunity to stay at a hotel of the French Premier Class chain. Behind the pretentious name are modest, cheap (25 EUR) rooms with shower, toilet and TV. Such hotels are built from lightweight structures and are intended for overnight stays for motor tourists.
Food and cuisine
Iconic local dishes include roast wild boar Civet de marcassin or rabbit Lapin chasseur. Popular pies are Tarte aux rillettes with pork pate and Tarte Tatin apple with caramel. Local melons and strawberries are good.
These and other dishes can be enjoyed in local restaurants and cafes. Of the establishments I visited, the most affordable (up to 15 EUR) were lunches at the Chez Dionysos bistro. I paid about double the amount at Chez Jules and La Veille Auberge. And wealthy tourists can visit, for example, the expensive restaurant Le Lievre Gourmand, which operates in a 19th-century mansion.
Sights of Orleans
The compact Old Town, located between the river and the train station, is home to its historical attractions. Churches are adjacent to half-timbered houses with gray-blue roofs and medieval streets paved with paving stones. The historic city center is a World Heritage Site.
Cathedral
The main attraction of the city is the magnificent Cathedrale Ste-Croix. The Catholic Cathedral was built in the XIII-XIX centuries. on the foundations of the Church of St. Cross, destroyed by the Normans in the 9th century. A crypt from the 6th century has been preserved under the main nave of the cathedral. Church relics were repeatedly hidden there from enemies.
The building was badly damaged during the religious wars of the second half of the 16th century. Thirty years later, the former Huguenot leader Henry IV, who became the Catholic King of France, restored it. The last to be built were the original three-story towers. From their 80-meter height, a beautiful panorama of the city opens. Fortunately, the cathedral survived the Second World War.
Cathedral of St. The Cross is a fine example of “Flaming Gothic”.
A classic element of this architectural style is the rose window. The plot of the window with a diameter of 10 m located on the western portal is the parable of the Good Samaritan. The interior of the cathedral features stained glass windows dedicated to the Virgin of Orleans.
The cathedral is open daily from 9:00 to 19:00. It hosts excursions several times a week.
The Hôtel Groslot mansion is located in a red and white Renaissance building from the 16th century, built by the then mayor of the city for his family.
Among his distinguished guests was the young King Francis II, who died suddenly here. A painting hanging in one of the halls reminds of this sad event. Then the building housed the city hall. Among the beautiful antique decorations, tapestries attract special attention. Contrary to its name, the current mansion serves as a wedding palace (on Saturdays) and a museum (on other days). It can be visited from 9:00 - 10:00 to 18:00 - 19:00 (in the low season there is a break at 12:00 - 14:00).
The city's Parc Floral de La Source is very beautiful. The park, which occupies 30 hectares, is especially rich in irises and roses; dahlias, azaleas, daffodils and other flowers also grow. There is a pavilion with butterflies, and even a small zoo where you can see kangaroos, flamingos, ponies and emus.
Conclusion
I share the French admiration for their national heroine. Joan the Liberator deserves him much more than the conqueror Napoleon. Therefore, it was very interesting for me to visit the city where a young girl turned the course of history.
Located in the Loire Valley, in the center of France, 130 km south of Paris. The city is the capital of the province of Orléanais. For most people, it immediately evokes memories of Joan of Arc, nicknamed the Virgin of Orleans after her triumphant liberation of the city from siege during the Hundred Years' War between France and England.
Advice from FrenchTrip.ru: if time is short and you have a choice between Orleans, Tours, Chartres, Blois, Le Mans and Angers, then Orleans will be last on the list in terms of attractiveness. The city is, of course, famous, but it is not particularly picturesque.
Orleans weather:
Orléans travel guide:
The historical center of Orleans is located between the station and the river, from the station to the cathedral - about 700 m (9 minutes on foot).
You can see the city on foot in about half a day.
Getting to Orleans:
By train:
- Railway station Orleans Center-Ville in the city center, high-speed trains - station Fleury-les-Aubrais (3 km north of Orleans, accessible by tramLine A)
- Direct trains to Tours, Blois, Paris
- From Paris: 1:25 by regional train, approx. 50 minutes by high-speed TGV.
- Train route map TER Centre-Val de Loire
Regional train schedule to Orleans:
- Tours - Saumur du 01 February au 04 Mars 2016 (PDF, 332.63 Ko)
- Romorantin - Valençay du 08 au 12 February (PDF, 181.11 Ko)
By car:
- By car to Orleans from Paris:
- On the A10 toll highway, it's about an hour's drive, but during rush hour it can take 3 hours.
- The N20 toll road connects Paris with Orléans.
- Parking in Orleans
Transport in Orleans:
- 2 tram routes + 65 bus routes. Read more…
Sights of Orleans:
Among Orleans sights the main ones are:
- Cathedral of Saint-Cro (La Cathédrale Sainte-Croix) - similar to Notre Dame Cathedral, Orleans Cathedral towers over the entire city.
- House of Joan of Arc (La Maison de Jeanne d'Arc) - Orleans is crammed with attractions associated with the Virgin of Orleans. The house is one of the main such attractions.
- Martroi plaza and statue of Joan of Arc
- Parc Floral(10 km south of the city center)
- "Bridge of Europe"
- Hotel de Ville (Orléans City Hall)
- Hotel Groslot- one of the most beautiful old buildings in Orlen, located on Place d’Étape. This Renaissance mansion was built in 1550 by Jacques Groslot with a distinctive combination of red brick and white stone. Restored in the 19th century, from 1790 to 1982 it served as the city hall of Orleans.
- Maison St. -Euverte- 12th century mansion
- Maison St. Paul- 16th century mansion.
- Befroi- Bell tower. City magistrates met here in the 15th century. In 1445, a 40-meter tower was added to add more formality to the building. 10 years later the top of the tower and the bell were added.
Orleans Museums:
- Musée des Beaux Arts- Museum of Fine Arts
- Maison de Jeanne d'Arc- House of Joan of Arc
- Muséum des Sciences Naturelles- Natural Science Museum
- Musée Historique et Archéologique de l'Orléanais- Museum of History and Archology of Orleans
- Center Charles Péguy
- Center Jeanne d'Arc- Joan of Arc Center
- Le CERCIL
Orléans city center map:
Attractions around Orleans:
Today we decided to remember such an interesting city as Orleans. I think everyone will immediately remember the national heroine and savior of France, Joan of Arc. Indeed, many of the sights of Orleans are associated with her name. The life and death of Jeanne still remains shrouded in the aura of a mystical legend. According to the classic version, she was born in Lorraine, in the small village of Domrémy, into a peasant family and as a child tended her father’s sheep.
Sights of Orleans
To visit the amazing sights of Orleans, let's dive into history. At the age of 13, she said that she heard voices from above that told her to free the kingdom from its enemies, liberate the city besieged by the English and help the Dauphin King, the future Charles VII, to be crowned in Reims. From distant Lorraine she heads to Chinon, where the king was at that time. After the victory in Orleans under the leadership of Jeanne, the rise of patriotism and military glory of the French army begins and the superiority of the British ceases to be dominant. And Jeanne was captured by the Burgundians, sold to the British, declared a heretic and burned at the stake in Rouen at the age of 19. The king, who was nevertheless crowned with her help in Reims, did nothing to help her. She was rehabilitated in 1456 and was canonized in 1920. There are many films about Joan, both feature films and documentaries, for example, the well-known one by Luc Besson with Milla Jovovich, but the film “Joan of Arc” with Leelee Sobieski in the title role is much better.
Still from the film “Joan of Arc”
It is located near Paris, an hour away by TGV. We bought our tickets very early, so one way ticket cost 10 euros. The train departs from the Gare d'Austerlitz.
On a normal weekday there are few people there; you can stroll along the deserted cobbled streets.
City streets
The city of Orleans in France is small; if you wish, you can see all the sights in a day. Sainte-Croix Cathedral is a majestic neo-Gothic building with towers topped with an elegant stone fence, built many years after the death of Joan.
Sainte-Croix Cathedral
In the previous one, it celebrated the victory over the British, then the cathedral building was destroyed during the religious wars, perestroika began in the 17th century and continued until the 19th century. Stained glass windows and drawings tell the story of Jeanne.
Portrait of Joan in Sainte-Croix Cathedral
Stained glass windows in Sainte-Croix Cathedral
There is a Joan of Arc museum. This is a reconstruction of the house where Zhanna once stayed, made already in the 20th century. Inside are models and images of the significant siege of the city.
Jeanne's House
Martrois Square
Also on the same square I really liked this cute old carousel
Carousel on Place Martrois
Joan of Arc in sculptural expression is, of course, not only in the main square.
Our walk around the city was not complete without lunch. We had the opportunity to try fish tartare for the first time in a restaurant we really liked, “Dariole”. Tartar is raw minced meat served with spices. I still haven’t wanted to try the meat, but I really liked the fish; we can safely recommend it to those who indulge in sushi and sashimi. It was accompanied by a bottle of white Sancerre with a wonderful subtle fruity aroma.
Restaurant "Dariole"
Orléans belongs to the Loire Valley region. It is located on the banks of this longest river in France, on its bend, where it turns to the southwest.
Orleans - a city on the banks of the Loire
In general, Loire Valley wines are poorly represented in our stores, although this is one of the most famous wine-growing regions of France, quite large, whose products are usually very good, although no official classification of Loire wines has been made - that is, the concepts of Grand Cru and Premier Cru are not apply. Most Loire wines are white. About a quarter of the volume is red. There are also pink ones - up to 14% of production. Even sparkling wines are produced in this region. One of the most famous Loire wines is Sancerre - both white (from Sauvignon grapes) and red (from Pinot Noir grapes).
White Sancerre
Some reds are made using Burgundy wine technology, but are less tannic and lighter. White wine Muscadet is also quite popular - with a fresh fruity aroma and gas bubbles that appear due to the peculiarities of the technology. The taste of Muscadet is very unexpressed and practically absent - this is what makes this wine interesting. It is also, of course, necessary to note the pride of the region - Pouilly - Fumé wine - which, together with Sancerre, is very well recognizable thanks to the characteristic notes of brie cheese and nettles. Pouilly - Fumé is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes and is a bit like Sancerre, but it has a richer flavor and can be aged longer.
Pouilly - Fumé
Read our other articles about the cities of France - about Lyon, Nimes and others. Those who have been to the Czech Republic will probably be interested in reading about Prague.
This concludes the story about the sights of Orleans.
Despite the eventful history of Orleans, which became the center of the uprising against Julius Caesar in 52 BC. e. (for which he was burned to the ground), was besieged by the leader of the Huns, Attila, in the middle of the 5th century. and became the temporary capital of the Frankish kingdom in 498, the townspeople most commemorate the liberation of Orleans by Jeanne d'Arc in 1429.
A seventeen-year-old peasant girl, perhaps crazy, or perhaps inspired by God to perform a feat, appeared before the Dauphin, the uncrowned Charles VII, in Chinon, rallied the French troops gathered near Blois and led them up the Loire to attack the British near Orleans. She told the army of the besiegers that God himself had sent her to drive them out of the country, and, continuing to violate all the rules of combat, she lifted the siege.
The Virgin of Orleans is glorified by everything in the city: museums, statues and, what will be especially memorable to you, the stained glass windows of the huge neo-Gothic cathedral. One of the best days to visit Orleans is May 8 (Joan of Arc Day), when parades are held throughout the city, fireworks are set off and a medieval fair opens.
Everything in Orleans reminds us of Joan of Arc. Pride of Orleans, wide central Martrois square(Martroi) (mostly 
pedestrian), at the end of the Street of the Republic (de la Republique) is decorated with a bulky likeness of the Maid of Orleans on horseback (mid-19th century).
Just behind Place Martrois is a spacious 19th-century boulevard. Joan of Arc, straight as an arrow, will lead you to the doors of Sainte-Croix Cathedral (daily 9.15-12.00 and 14.00-18.00), where Joan celebrated her victory over the English (the current Gothic building was built many years after her death).
Huguenot iconoclasts destroyed the transepts of the cathedral in 1568, and in 1601 Henry IV began rebuilding the temple, which continued until the 19th century. The majestic towers of the western facade, topped with an elegant stone fence, were completed only at the beginning of the French Revolution. Inside the cathedral, thin columns curve and rise from the floor to the vaults.
A series of drawings harshly criticizes “treacherous Albion” (L’Anglois Perfide), while nothing is said about the role of the Burgundians in the captivity of the heroine and the participation of the French clergy in the trial of Joan. Opposite the cathedral, on Place d’Etape, next to the brick Groleau mansion Renaissance, you will meet Jeanne again, this time saddened - her skirt was riddled with bullets from World War II.
Fortunately, in the semi-dark Museum of Fine Arts, opposite the Grolot mansion (Tue-Sat 10.00-12.15 and 13.30-17.45, Sun 14.00-18.30; 3 €) you will not see the Virgin of Orleans.
The main French exhibits are located on the second floor. An alarmingly large number of rooms are dedicated to 17th-century French works, but more seductive are the upstairs apartments, which contain works from 19th-century neoclassicism. before romanticism.
Foreign painting (mainly Flemish and Italian of the 16th-17th centuries) is relegated to the third floor, while works of the 20th century. hid in the basement. The museum regularly hosts good exhibitions.
Walking along Rue Joan of Arc to the east of the cathedral and turning left onto Rue Charles-Sanglier, you will see an ornate Cabue's mansion(May, June and September: Tue-Sat 13.30-17.45, Sun 14.00-18.30: July-August: Tue-Sat 9.30-12.15 and 13.30-17.45, Sun 14.00-18.30: October-April: Wed, Sat 13.30-17.45, Sun 14.00-17.45; with the same ticket as for the Museum of Fine Arts). All three tiers of this mansion strictly correspond to the three classical canons of the Renaissance.
Turning back to the east and going down the river bank, you will come across the ruins of an ancient city. Rue Bourgogne was 
the main street of the city in Gallo-Roman times, and in the basement of the modern Prefecture building (No. 9), built on the site of the Roman forum, in the Spartan reception room, a settlement of the 1st century found by archaeologists looks very unusual. (or rather, its remains) and the walls of the 9th century church.
Usually tourists are not brought here - so ask the administrator if you can take a look at it all. Across the road is the Hall of Taize, all that remains of the medieval University of Orleans, where the hardline Reformation theologian Calvin studied Roman law.
South of the Prefecture, the beautiful narrow streets of the old industrial quarter gently slope down to the river. At least two churches in this area are listed as cultural monuments: the ruins of Saint-Einan and its beautifully preserved 11th-century crypt. and the Romanesque church of Saint-Pierre-le-Puyer, an ancient university church (nowadays concerts and exhibitions are held here).
How to get to Orleans
Orleans is located 120 km southwest of Paris, the nearest international airport is Charles de Gaulle Airport, where up to 10 joint Aeroflot and Air France flights from Sheremetyevo land daily. How to get from the airport to the city center, see the Paris page.
From Paris to Orleans you can travel by train from the state-owned SNCF company. From Paris's Gare d'Austerlitz trains depart approximately twice an hour for Orleans. You can arrive at Orléans train station (Gare d’ Orléans or Orléans Centre) or go to the nearest neighboring town of Fleury-les-Aubrais, located just 3 km from Orléans. In both cases, travel time is about 1 hour. There is a regular bus service between Fleury-les-Aubray Station and the center of Orleans.
If you rent a car, you can easily get from the capital to Orléans via the A10 autobahn. Usually the journey takes no more than 1 hour, but it is recommended to avoid rush hours in any case. The N20 national road is generally less congested, but travel times are lengthened by speed limits in the many villages along the way.
The most beautiful streets that are pleasant to walk at any time of the year are located in Orleans (France). They are especially good in the spring. There is an opinion that the ancient city owes its revival to Marcus Aurelius. The sights of Orleans attract tourists from many parts of the world.
The art museum is one of the largest in France. It contains works of painting and sculpture from the 15th to 20th centuries.
Exhibits of arts and crafts are world famous. The collection of sculptures from the ancient world is of great educational value. Genuine treasures of painting - from engravings to drawings - attract numerous spectators to the museum's halls. The works are presented in more than 2000 copies. These include works by Diego Velazquez and Matteo di Giovanni.
Famous places of worship
Cathedral of the Holy Cross
The most beautiful church in Orleans is the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The main treasure of the temple is the organ made by the master Cavaille-Col. The church attracts the attention of tourists with its bells and the Chapel of Joan of Arc. Unusual architectural compositions were used for lighting. The priest, at the request of tourists, demonstrates the figure of an angel installed in the transverse nave. The sacristy attracts attention with its decorative design with plastic miniatures. Tourists are invited to view the heraldic symbols and relics found in the episcopal burial grounds.
The weather in Orleans at the beginning of spring pleases travelers with an abundance of sunny days, and a visit to the temple allows you to see voluminous, exquisite mosaic fragments that have retained their original color in one day.
The Grolot mansion, the main treasure of the city, is intended for social events. Visitors to the museum are offered to plunge into the atmosphere when the King of France, Francis II, was in power.
Orleans is the largest city in the Loire Valley, nicknamed Paris on the Loire. It was an ancient possession of the crown, dating back to the era of Hugh Capet in the 10th century. Orleans has always complemented the capital, for which it had to pay - to share its fate.
Orleans is the main city of the historical region of the same name in the center of France on the banks of the Loire River, crossing it from east to west. Orleans is located in the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its world-famous vineyards and castles. Here, in the Orleans area, it changes the direction of its current from northwest to southwest almost at a right angle. In the center of the city, a dam divides the river bed into northern and southern parts. In the past, this dam was part of a hydraulic system that allowed the river to remain navigable in this part of its course. Every two years, the city hosts a noisy festival - the Loire Festival - in honor of the role that the river played in the history and economy of Orleans.
Story
The first settlement on the site of modern Orleans was founded by the Gallic tribe of Carnutes. They gave it the name Tsenabum - from the Gaulish word meaning "hill". Over time, it developed into a large shopping center on the river. Moreover, the townspeople built the only bridge across the Loire for many kilometers up and downstream and controlled all movements across it. They even collected payment from troops of other tribes who went to settle scores with neighbors or on conquests.
At the beginning of the conquest of Gaul, the Roman legions of Julius Caesar, overcoming weak resistance, captured Tsenabum. With the advent of the Romans, only the power changed; the townspeople continued to do the same thing - trade, which the Romans did not resist at first. Caesar created a local administration - villas of Roman officials and merchants appeared in the city - and imposed taxes on the townspeople.
The victory was not celebrated for long: having heard about the massacre, Caesar's legions came from Northern Italy. The panicked townspeople barely managed to escape. Enraged, Caesar ordered the city to be razed to the ground.
Only several centuries later, already under the emperor Aurelian, the Romans, among whom by that time there were already many Gauls, remembered this conveniently located place. In 273-274. they founded a city here called Aurelianum. This period is considered the time of the founding of the city, since nothing remained of the former. Over time, the name was simplified, becoming Orleans.
As the fall of Rome approached, barbarian attacks on the city became more frequent. In 451, a huge army of Huns approached Orleans and besieged it. For the decisive battle, the Roman commander Flavius Aetius - the last of the great military leaders of the empire - managed to unite former opponents: the Romans, Visigoths, Alans and Franks. Seeing such strength, Attila, hoping for an easy victory, retreated.
Soon the Franks settled here. Orleans was lucky: it did not suffer significantly during the period of barbarian invasions. The city developed and became one of the most important in the Frankish kingdom. After the death of the founder of the Frankish state, Clovis I (c. 466-511), the kingdom was divided between his four sons. The lands in the Loire basin went to Chlodomir, who proclaimed Orleans his capital, and his state was called the Kingdom of Orleans. It did not last long: after the death of Chlodomir in the battle with the Burgundians in 524, his brothers slaughtered his two children (their nephews) and divided the territory among themselves.
The historical center of Orleans is bounded on the south by the Loire River, and on other sides by the boulevard ring, built on the site of the ancient fortress wall of the city. The historical city center is relatively small: its maximum length is about 1.5 km. There are five bridges across the Loire. The northern part of the city is higher than the southern one.
When the dispirited French army learned that it would be led by the messenger of the Almighty, the soldiers regained their courage and believed in victory.
In the VI century. The most important church councils were convened in Orleans four times. In the 9th century, under the Carolingians, Orleans was twice invaded by the Normans. From the end of the 9th century. Orleans was owned by the Capetians, who began to turn the city into a fortress. By the 10th century High walls and other defensive structures were built here: the kings turned Orleans into a strong fortress on the path of any possible invasion of Paris by the south. In the 12th century. Orleans received partial self-government, and influential artisan guilds formed there. In 1309, a university was founded in the city, from which church reformer Jean Calvin, mathematician Pierre Fermat, playwright and actor Jean-Baptiste Moliere, and storyteller Charles Perrault emerged.
Under the royal Valois dynasty, Orleans became the capital of the Duchy of Orleans, formed in 1344.
At that time there were only two rich cities in the country - Paris and Orleans.
And later the city found itself in the thick of major European wars.
During the Hundred Years' War 1337-1453. the city remained loyal to the Valois dynasty: then it was the largest and most important city of the Kingdom of Bourges: a small enclave in France that remained under the control of the French king Charles VII.
In October 1428, Orleans was besieged by an English army under the command of the regent Duke of Bedford and the Earl of Salisbury. The city remained under siege for seven months. Her strength was already running out when, in April 1429, a seven-thousand-strong French army led by the Count of Dunois and Joan of Arc entered Orleans. Before that, in March 1429, she came to King Charles VII and stated that she heard voices saints and these voices ordered her to lift the siege of Orleans.The king had no other hopes of salvation, and he entrusted Jeanne with command of the army.
After several successful attacks against the forts occupied by the English, Joan led the garrison in an attack on the English positions on 6 and 7 August, and on 8 May the Duke of Bedford was forced to lift the siege. The battle of Orleans was of decisive importance in the Hundred Years' War, changed its course and significantly influenced the entire history of the country. And Jeanne herself received the honorary name Maid of Orleans from the city residents. In knightly armor, riding a horse, the daughter of a Lorraine peasant is depicted in a sculpture on the central square of Martrois. In the house where the Maid of Orleans lived, the Historical Museum of Orleans and Joan of Arc is now open. The story of her life is told in the stained glass windows of the Sainte-Croix Cathedral.
With the beginning of the Renaissance, the kings remembered the medieval castles in the Loire Valley, the owners of which, including the king himself, often stopped in Orleans on the way here.
New troubles befell the city during the religious wars of the 16th century, when Orleans became one of the main strongholds of the persecuted Huguenots. In 1560, the Estates General, the highest estate-representative institution, was convened in Orleans, but they were unable to prevent the advancing civil war. After St. Bartholomew's Night on August 24, 1572 in Paris, a massacre also occurred in Orleans, and the city became completely Catholic.
The five-nave basilica of Saint-Croix Cathedral, built in the Flamboyant Gothic style, was destroyed by Protestants during the religious wars, and then restored in the 17th century. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with paintings by great masters and modern stained glass windows.
Location of the city in the 19th-20th centuries. was still considered strategic: during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, it was captured by Prussian troops, and in 1940-1944. it was under German occupation and was seriously destroyed by Allied aircraft.
general information
Location : center of France.
Administrative affiliation : commune of Orléans-Metropole, arrondissement of Orléans, Loiret department, region.
Administrative division : 6 districts.
Based: III century
Language: French.
Ethnic composition : French, people from northern Africa and the Antilles.
Religions: Catholicism, Islam.
Currency unit : euro.
River: Loire.
Airport: Paris-Orly (international).
Numbers
Square: 27.43 km 2 .
Population: 114,977 people (2014).
Population density : 4184 people/km 2 .
Minimum altitude above sea level : 90 m.
Highest point : 124 m.
Cathedral: length 140 m, width of the nave crossbar 65 m, vault height 32 m, height of the towers 88 m, spire height 114 m, bell of Saint Joan of Arc 6 tons.
Remoteness: 111 km as the crow flies south of Paris.
Climate and weather
Moderate, transitional from marine to continental.
Warm winter and summer.
Average January temperature : +4.5°C.
Average temperature in July : +19.4°C.
Average annual precipitation : 642 mm.
Average annual relative humidity : 80%.
Economy
Industry: mechanical engineering (agricultural and electrical engineering), pharmaceutical (70% of national production), perfumery and cosmetics, food.
Services sector: tourism, transport (major transport hub), logistics (3rd largest logistics center in the country), trade telecommunications, educational.
Attractions
Historical
Crypt of St. Anian (1029)
Church of Saint-Euvert (1170, reconstruction in the 15th and 17th centuries)
Romanesque collegiate church of St. Peter (XII century)
Church of St. Anian (V, XV centuries)
Martrois Square (XIV century)
Old Town Hall (early 15th century)
Church of Our Lady of the Patroness (1512-1519)
Renaissance church of Notre-Dame des Récouvres (1513-1519)
House of Grolot (Renaissance mansion, 1549-1555)
House of the merchant Jean Dalibert (1560)
Place du Chatelet (XVI century)
Church of St. Peter on Martrois (XVII century)
Cathedral of the Holy Cross (XVII-XIX centuries)
Architectural
George V Bridge (1751-1763)
Royal Street (1752-1760)
Bridges of Vierzon (1947) and Marshal Joffre (1958)
Flower Park (1969)
Rainier-Tinat (1977) and European (1998-2000) bridges
Cultural
Museum of Fine Arts
House and Museum of Joan of Arc
Equestrian statue of Joan of Arc (1855)
Historical Museum
Curious facts
The George V Bridge over the Loire was named after the English King of Windsor, who reigned from 1910 to 1936. This gesture became a sign of gratitude for the role that Great Britain played during the First World War in defeating Germany.
In the era preceding the fall of Rome, the troops of the empire themselves were no longer able to cope with the Germanic tribes. And then it became common practice to use some barbarians against others. Tribes that became allies of Rome received the right to settle on the territory of the empire. At the beginning of the 5th century. part of the Alan tribe (ancestors of modern Ossetians), who invaded Gaul along with the Vandals and Suevi in 406, entered into an agreement with the Romans. The Alans received the area around present-day Orleans for residence. It was a very restless neighborhood; there were often clashes between the Alans and local residents, but they adhered to the agreement and defended this territory - as their own - from new invaders. The Alans, weakened by the wars with the Huns, could not stay in Orleans, but their presence here is evidenced by the names of many settlements around the city: Elenez, Elanville, Elencourt.
Status of the Duchy of Orleans in the XIV-XVI centuries. was quite formal. Then the tradition arose of transferring the dukedom and the title of Duke of Orleans to the second son of the king. However, the duchy itself was in the status of an apanage: it was a hereditary land holding that was transferred to an uncrowned member of the royal family, and after his death was returned to the crown.
The current capital of the American state of Louisiana - New Orleans - was founded by order of the Louisiana governor Jean Baptiste de Bainville. The city was named in honor of Philippe d'Orléans, regent of France from 1715 to 1723 under the young Louis XV.
In terms of the wealth of its fund, the Orleans Museum of Fine Arts is in second place among all museums in France after the Louvre. The basis of his collection was made up of works of art, many of which were confiscated during the French Revolution from church institutions and private emigrant collectors.
The first church on the site of the current Cathedral of the Holy Cross appeared back in 330. Then there were several more churches that were built and destroyed until King Henry IV, passing through Orleans, promised to build a new cathedral. In 1601, he, together with Maria de Medici, laid the first stone. Work proceeded very slowly, and during the period of the Great French Revolution it stopped altogether and was resumed only in 1817. In 1829, King Charles IX solemnly proclaimed the completion of construction, and the cathedral was consecrated during the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the liberation of Orleans by Joan of Arc.
Orleans received the honor of hosting coronations twice more. In 987, Hugh Capet, the first king of the new dynasty, crowned his son Robert II here as co-ruler. In 1108, Louis VI the Fat chose Orleans as the site of his coronation, under which the strengthening of royal power in France began.
The genius of French literature, poet of the French Middle Ages François Villon (1431/1432-1463/1491), due to his pugnacious nature and openly criminal behavior, more than once found himself in prison. In the summer of 1460, Villon was in Orleans prison, awaiting execution, which he escaped by pure chance. The Duke of Orleans came to visit Orleans, and in honor of this event, the prisoners, according to the old custom, were released from prison. However, Villon did not remain free for long and soon found himself behind bars again on charges of robbery and murder.
