The city of Orléans sprawls along both banks of the Loire, with five scenic bridges spanning the waterway. The town’s architecture is particularly impressive, from the Renaissance-style Hôtel Groslot to the awe-inspiring Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans, where Sainte Jeanne d’Arc attended mass one evening in 1429. Known as “The Maid of Orléans” for her heroism during the Hundred Years’ War, she is honored throughout the town, from sculptures and paintings to stained-glass windows and an annual festival.
