Orléans
-
Where is Orléans located in France?
Orléans is a city in north-central France, serving as the capital of the Loiret département, in the Centre région. It sits on the Loire River's banks in a fertile valley bordering the Beauce plain, south-southwest of Paris. The Loire River splits Orléans into two sections. The smaller Saint-Marceau quarter is to the south, while the main part of the city is on the northern bank.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What river flows through Orléans?
The Loire River divides the city of OrlĂšans into two parts. The main part of the city is on the northern bank of the Loire, while the Saint-Marceau quarter is on the southern side. OrlĂšans is in a fertile valley on the edge of the Beauce plain. The Loire is France's longest river, flowing 634 miles (1,020 km) from the southern Massif Central to the Atlantic Ocean.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why is Orléans famous in French history?
Orléans is famous in French history for several reasons:
-
Historical Significance The city dates back to Roman times, when it was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BCE. By the 10th and 11th centuries, it was second only to Paris as France's most important city.
-
Joan of Arc OrlĂ©ans is most renowned for its association with Joan of Arc. In 1429, during the Hundred Yearsâ War, Joan of Arc led French troops to lift the Siege of OrlĂ©ans, a turning point in the war. This victory is still celebrated annually.
-
Religious conflicts During the 16th-century Wars of Religion, Orléans was a Huguenot center.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
-
Who was Joan of Arc and what did she do in Orléans?
Joan of Arc was a French peasant girl who became a national heroine. Believing she was divinely guided, she led the French army to a crucial victory at OrlĂ©ans during the Hundred Yearsâ War, repelling the English.
The siege of Orléans marked a turning point in the war, enabling Joan to fulfill her mission and save France. She convinced Charles VII to send an army to relieve Orléans. After entering the city with supplies on April 30, she led the storming of English forts, leading to the end of the siege. This victory boosted French morale, and Charles VII was later crowned King of France.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some important landmarks or buildings in Orléans?
Orléans has several notable landmarks. The Sainte-Croix Cathedral, originally built in the 13th century, was rebuilt in the Gothic style between the 17th and 19th centuries after being damaged by Protestants in 1568. The towers of the cathedral suffered damage during World War II but were later restored.
The HÎtel de Ville, a Renaissance building made of stone and brick, was erected between 1549 and 1555. It underwent restoration and expansion in the 19th century. The city of Orléans was severely bombed during World War II, resulting in the destruction of many buildings of historical and artistic interest.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How has Orléans changed from the past to today?
OrlĂ©ans has undergone significant transformations throughout its history. Conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BCE, it rose to prominence as an intellectual hub under Charlemagne. A pivotal moment was in 1429, when Joan of Arc liberated the city from English siege during the Hundred Yearsâ War, an event still celebrated annually.
During the 16th-century Wars of Religion, Orléans was a Huguenot center. The city faced severe bombing in World War II, which destroyed many historical buildings. The old quarter was rebuilt in the style of the 18th-century town, but with modern traffic considerations. Since the 1960s, Orléans has experienced rapid industrialization, shifting from a market and horticulture center to a city with diverse industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, and machinery. By the late 20th century, services became the dominant economic activity.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Orléans, city, capital of Loiret département, Centre région, north-central France. It is located south-southwest of Paris. The city stands on the banks of the Loire River in a fertile valley on the edge of the Beauce plain.
History
OrlĂ©ans, which derives its name from the Roman Aurelianum, was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 bce. It became an intellectual capital under Charlemagne, emperor from 800 to 814, and in the 10th and 11th centuries it was the most important city in France after Paris. In 1429, during the Hundred Yearsâ War (1337â1453), after it had been besieged for seven months by the English, the French national heroine St. Joan of Arc, known as the Maid of OrlĂ©ans, and her troops delivered it. The victory continues to be celebrated annually.
OrlĂ©ans was a Huguenot (Protestant) centre during the 16th-century Wars of Religion, but the Roman Catholics took control of the city in 1572 after the Massacre of St. Bartholomewâs Day, in which about 1,000 Protestants were killed. (It was occupied in 1870 by the Prussians after a long siege.)
The Sainte-Croix Cathedral, begun in the 13th century, was largely destroyed by the Protestants in 1568. Henry IV, king of France from 1589â1610, gave funds for its reconstruction, and it was faithfully rebuilt (17thâ19th century) in Gothic style. The 18th-century towers were damaged in World War II but were later restored. The cathedral is about the same size as Notre-Dame of Paris. The stone and brick Renaissance HĂŽtel de Ville (1549â55) was restored and enlarged in the 19th century.
The city was severely bombed in World War II. Many buildings of historical and artistic interest were destroyed, including the Jeanne-dâArc Museum and the Church of St. Paul.
The contemporary city
The Loire River divides Orléans into two unequal parts. To the south lies the smaller Saint-Marceau quarter, a market-gardening centre. The main part of the city stands on the northern bank of the Loire. The old quarter, surrounded by pleasant wide boulevards and quays along the river, was largely destroyed during World War II. It has been rebuilt in keeping with the style of the old 18th-century town, with consideration for the imperatives of modern traffic. Beyond the boulevards new districts were created along the main roads leading out of the city.
Traditionally, Orléans was a market and horticulture centre for the surrounding region. Since the 1960s, industrialization has been rapid, and Orléans benefitted particularly from the decentralization of Parisian industry. Present-day industry in Orléans consists of the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, electronics, and machinery. By the late 20th century, services had become the dominant economic activity. The University of Orléans, founded in 1305, was abolished during the French Revolution, but a new one was established at La Source (source or springs of the Loire River) in 1962. A science park was created in association with the university. Orléans is the centre of a modern road network, and a tram system runs through the city. Pop. (1999) 113,126; (2014 est.) 114,977.
The trusted destination for professionals, college students, and lifelong learners.
SUBSCRIBE
