Orleans is a historic city on the Loire, which is known primarily for the figure of Joan of Arc, Saint and heroine of the Hundred Years' War. In the rebuilt medieval center you can see, among others the Gothic Cathedral of Sainte-Croix d'Orleans and the Museum of Fine Arts.
The origins of the city date back to Celtic and Roman times, but the main flourishing survived in the Middle Ages. Today, next to the cathedral with beautiful gothic stained glass, the most famous monument of those times is the reconstructed House of Joan of Arc.
The center of Orleans was seriously damaged during World War II, but some of the historic buildings survived or were rebuilt. These include the Renaissance Groslot Residence, which today houses the offices of the city offices and historic churches, the Saint-Marceau Church and the Notre-Dame-de-Recouvrance Church.
The most important museum of Orleans is the Museum of Fine Arts, where you can admire the collection of French and foreign paintings from the period from the fourteenth to the twentieth century. People interested in the history of the city and the region should go to the Historical and Archaeological Museum. The difficult and tragic period of World War II brings the Cercil Museum closer - the Vel d'Hiv Children Monument, which presents exhibitions devoted to two camps for Jewish children who operated near Orleans during World War II.
Orleans is also known for its beautiful gardens. The most famous is the 35 hectare Parc Floral de la Source designed in the style of a French garden. There is also a Botanical Garden and recreational Park Pasteur.
