France

A weekend in Orléans

We went to Orléans for the long All Saints’ weekend. The perfect chance to rediscover this city we already knew, but in autumn colours.

1 November 2021

We went to Orléans for the long All Saints’ weekend. The perfect chance to rediscover this city we already knew, but in autumn colours.
Orléans is easily reachable from Paris thanks to the regional train: the journey lasts only an hour and the fares are affordable (32€ return). So find out what to fill your weekend with in Orléans and the surrounding area, in particular in Meung-sur-Loire!

What to see in Orléans

The monuments of Orléans

Sainte-Croix cathedral in Orléans

The star of Orléans, that is her! Listed as a Historic Monument, the Sainte-Croix cathedral in Orléans is among the largest Gothic cathedrals in France. We read that it took nearly 600 years to build, between the start of the works in 1287 and its inauguration in 1829. An architectural jewel to discover (for free)! Do not hesitate to walk around it to get other perspectives and also discover the little jardin de l’Evéché.

The finest view of the cathedral is the one you get from the rue Jeanne d’Arc which offers a magnificent perspective. We were lucky enough to have a magnificent sunset in pink and purple hues: the proof in pictures.

Shopping street and tram rails leading to the cathedral

Flower beds in the foreground of the cathedral's two towers

Passer-by sitting on the fountain at the foot of the portal

Cathedral lit up under an end-of-day sky

Vaulted side aisle and chapel railings inside

Pink sky behind the towers and the clipped yews

Vast nave and black and white chequered floor

Hôtel Groslot

If there is a second monument not to be missed in Orléans, it really is the hôtel Groslot, with its red brick façades, located right next to the cathedral. Visiting it is completely free and lets you discover the different rooms on the ground floor (the salon of honour, the former council chamber and the former mayor’s office) and its superb period furniture.

When we came at All Saints’, the place de l’Etape was decorated and filled with flowers on an autumn theme. The colours were magnificent!

Potted chrysanthemums in front of a public building

Renaissance brick facade of the Hôtel Groslot and its garden

Autumn beds at the foot of a pink brick facade

The historic centre

Orléans is a city that is easily covered on foot! You will not have many steps to take before coming across a half-timbered house, a pretty cobbled square or the banks of the Loire. From east to west, you can narrow down the heart of Orléans from the house of Joan of Arc to the rue de la Tour Neuve in the Bourgogne district. No need for a map: wander and stroll through the shopping streets as the mood takes you. Just one tip: do not miss the place du Martroi and the rue Royale with its arcades (to see by day as by night).

Cobbled lane and wooden gable of an old house

Grocery shopfront dressed with climbing plants

House with red half-timbering on a street corner at dusk

Rooftops, quays and tram rails seen from the heights

Tall half-timbered house standing alone at the edge of a square

View down a straight street lined with classical buildings

Lit arcades along a wet street in the evening

Large Renaissance house with half-timbering and lattice work

The gardens and parks of Orléans

Jardin de la Vieille Intendance

The Jardin de la Vieille Intendance is one of our favourite places in the centre of Orléans! This small, intimate and peaceful garden is the property of the courthouse, the hôtel Brachet. The discreet entrance is on the corner of rue des Huguenots and rue d’Alsace-Lorraine. Here, you will not meet any tourists: you will be (almost) alone!

Stroller leaning on a railing in an autumn garden

Young woman in front of the garden gate beneath the fallen leaves

Wooden bench beneath the yellowing trees of the garden

Path covered with leaves in front of a private mansion

Parc Pasteur

The parc Pasteur is in the north of the city, just behind the D97 road. It is a very leafy park with architectural features such as a pond and its fountain and a carved doorway from the former Saint-Samson des Jésuites church.

Rockery and statue above a pond in the park

Rectangular pond lined with benches and flower beds

Jardin des Plantes

We also went to the small Jardin des Plantes in Orléans, which is about fifteen minutes on foot from the city centre. It is not an essential visit, especially at the beginning of winter because the garden is not in flower. You can make a detour there if you are walking along the Loire between the pont Georges V and the pont Joffre.

Blue and yellow flower planters on a wet path

Wooden footbridge crossing a pond in the garden

Large tree with russet foliage standing on the lawn

What to see in Meung-sur-Loire

During this long weekend, we also discovered the village of Meung-sur-Loire, located south-west of Orléans. The village is small but has several points of interest such as its château (unfortunately closed when we came), the Saint-Liphard collegiate church, the porte d’Aumont and the mauves (streams that run through the town). We also walked along the quai Jeanne d’Arc and the towpath which was showing lovely autumn colours. If you have more time, you can carry on along the Loire as far as Beaugency or even Blois.

Stone bell tower and enclosed courtyard in Meung-sur-Loire

Couple in front of a house covered with red Virginia creeper

Avenue of yellowing plane trees leading out into the countryside

Traditional flat-bottomed boat moored on the banks of the Loire

Narrow canal bordered by a wall covered with red creeper

Sloping street lined with pale houses with closed shutters

Fortified gate topped with a clock belfry

Stone apse of the church and its silvery flower beds

Our accommodation in Orléans

We booked a small studio on Airbnb right in the heart of Orléans to be as close as possible to the shops and restaurants. We paid 152€ for the 3 nights for this renovated flat, ideal for short stays. We recommend it if you are looking for a place to stay in Orléans that is not too expensive.

Our favourite places to eat in Orléans

La Petite Absinthe: both a crêperie and a beer bar at very affordable prices
Le comptoir de Mamie Bigoude: a good crêperie in the centre of Orléans (eat in or takeaway)
Pastel’s: a good empanada spot to eat on the go or take away
Oh terroir: the “fast good” place that saves you on a Sunday when all the restaurants are closed! Comforting homemade dishes (pasta, shepherd’s pie, burger…)
Aux palets d’or: our lovely find of the stay, an excellent patisserie where we went back three times

What we thought of Orléans

We enjoyed going back to Orléans for the second time. The city has a certain character with its historic centre and its major monuments like the cathedral. The big advantage? The regional train journey which takes only an hour from Paris. If you have more days and a car, you can discover the surroundings which are worth it (Meung-sur-Loire, Beaugency, Sully-sur-Loire…)!
So we recommend this city if you are looking for a destination for a two-day weekend.

Need ideas for your weekends and holidays in France? Read our articles about our beautiful country!

Young woman on a footbridge in the middle of a russet garden

Thank you for your comment! Marie & Romain

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