What to See in Orléans, France: Free Audio Guide

Orléans is a historic city on the Loire River in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, renowned for its pivotal role in the Hundred Years’ War and its connection to Joan of Arc. Visitors can explore medieval churches, Renaissance houses, and the grand Gothic cathedral while enjoying the lively riverside atmosphere. Neywo offers a free Orléans audio guide with 68 narrated places, providing self‑guided walking tours of the city.

What to see in Orléans

Église Notre-Dame-de-Recouvrance

This Catholic church sits in the heart of Orléans, not far from the right bank of the Loire. Dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, it was built against the Late Roman fortified walls of the old suburb of Avenum. A 16th‑century stained glass window adorns the high altar, and the building has been a monument historique since 1904, with the adjoining clergy house protected since 1928.

Église Saint-Pierre-le-Puellier

Regarded as the oldest church in Orléans that has never been destroyed, this building was deconsecrated in 1958 and no longer serves as a place of worship. It stands in the very centre of the city.

Église Saint-Euverte

Located in eastern Orléans near the Loire and the Pont René Thinat, this church traces its origins to the ninth century, when the site began as an abbey. It has been used for Catholic worship ever since and underwent modifications during the Hundred Years’ War and the Wars of Religion.

Saint-Aignan d’Orléans

The collegiate church in the Bourgogne quarter on the north bank of the Loire is dedicated to the fifth‑century bishop Anianus, who, according to legend, persuaded Attila the Hun not to sack the city. A basilica existed here by the late 500s, a monastery by the first half of the seventh century, and its shrine once rivalled that of Saint Martin of Tours. Queen Balthild introduced Benedictine and Irish Columbanus rules, and during Viking raids on the Loire the relics of Saint Benedict were brought to Saint‑Aignan for safekeeping.

Orléans Cathedral (Basilique-Cathédrale Sainte-Croix)

Built on the ruins of a Roman temple, the original Gothic structure was erected between 1278 and 1329, making it one of the largest and last Gothic cathedrals in France. Joan of Arc visited the cathedral frequently during the Siege of Orléans. After partial destruction by the Huguenots in 1568, it was rebuilt in Gothic style from 1601 to 1829 and elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1855.

Restes de l’église Saint-Paul

These remains mark the site of the former Church of Saint‑Paul‑Notre‑Dame‑des‑Miracles, a quiet spot that recalls where the church once stood within the Diocese of Orléans.

Maison de la Coquille

This historic house, whose name means “House of the Shell,” is part of a stretch of traditional architecture that gives Orléans its distinctive streetscape.

Protestant temple of Orléans

Located at 2 rue du Cloître Saint‑Pierre Empont, this Reformed place of worship serves the local Protestant community.

Departmental Conservatory of Orléans

The school of music, dance and theatre traces its roots to the École nationale de musique founded in 1968 and took its current name in 2006. It stands where the Siege of Orléans unfolded in 1428‑1429, a turning point of the Hundred Years’ War when Joan of Arc arrived to lift the English siege.

Église Saint-Pierre-du-Martroi

This central Orléans church has been known successively as Saint‑Pierre‑et‑Sainte‑Lée, Saint‑Pierre‑Ensentelée and now Saint‑Pierre‑du‑Martroi.

Equestrian statue of Joan of Arc

Standing on Place du Martroi, the city’s main square, the statue was sculpted by Denis Foyatier and unveiled in 1855. It shows Joan on horseback, sword raised high, embodying her determination and courage.

Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans

Founded in 1797, this is one of France’s oldest provincial museums. Its collection includes around 2,000 paintings, 700 sculptures, more than 1,200 decorative art objects, 10,000 drawings and 50,000 prints, with roughly 700 works on permanent display. The pastel collection is second only to the Louvre, and the painting galleries feature masters such as Correggio, Velázquez, Van Dyck, Watteau, Boucher, Delacroix and Courbet.

Maison n°25‑36

A row of historic houses numbered 25, 27, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 showcases traditional Orléans architecture.

Beffroi (Hôtel des Créneaux)

This sixteenth‑century mansion has served as city hall, courthouse, Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History Museum. Today it houses part of the Orléans conservatory, where music often drifts from its halls. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1840, one of France’s earliest protected buildings.

Maison n°10

Another charming row of historic houses adds to the traditional streetscape of Orléans.

Explore Orléans with Neywo

Neywo provides a free Orléans audio guide with 68 narrated places. The guide includes four walking tours and one bike route:

• In the Footsteps of Joan of Arc – 2.38 km, 115 minutes, 12 stops
• Survivors of a Besieged City – 2.82 km, 95 minutes, 8 stops
• Old Orléans: Arcades, Ducerceau and Renaissance Houses – 1.05 km, 61 minutes, 8 stops
• Saint‑Marceau: Joan, Roses and Remembrance – 1.85 km, 51 minutes, 5 stops
• Along the Loire Quays (bike route) – 1.9 km, 10 minutes, 5 stops

Each story plays automatically as you reach the corresponding site, letting you explore at your own pace with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages.

The nearby city of Tours makes an easy day trip. Orléans is also a convenient base for visiting Blois.