Orléans is the chief town of Loiret, on the Loire, and beneficiary of many associations with the French aristocracy. It gave its name to ducs and duchesses of Orléans. In 1429, Joan of Arc relieved the city from attacks by the Burgundians and the English. That deliverance is celebrated every year on May 8, the anniversary of her victory. An equestrian statue of Jeanne d'Arc stands on place du Martroi. From the square, you can drive down rue Royal (rebuilt in 18th-c. style) across pont George-V (erected in 1760). A simple cross marks the site of the Fort des Tourelles, which Joan of Arc and her men captured.
Near rue Royale is place du Châtelet, with many boutiques, including a Galeries Lafayette. Look for fashionable clothing, jewelry, books, and leather goods. For antiques, walk along rue de Bourgogne, where a host of dealers offer everything from objets d'art to furniture.
Blazing Your Own Trail -- You may gain a better appreciation of Orléans if you take a self-guided tour. At the tourist office, pick up a brochure in English called the Orléans Architectural and Historical Trail (2€/$2.60). Two of the 43 sites on the trail -- Louis Pasteur Park on rue Jules-Lemaitre and the gardens of the Vieille Intendance at rue Alsace-Lorraine and rue des Huguenots -- are great places that you may not stumble across on your own.
