Green spaces and heritage marvels combine harmoniously to make the Orleans region such an attractive place. Orleans, a City of Art and History, offers a blend of elegance, culture and natural areas. With distinction, the city presents its many monuments, a prestigious Museum of Fine Arts and the themed gardens of the Parc Floral de la Source, not forgetting the majestic Orleans forest, France's biggest national forest!
At Chamerolles Castle, the Renaissance gardens and Perfume Museum offer enchanting sights and scents, while the Gien Faïence Museum celebrates the skill for which the town is famous. The medieval fortress of Sully-sur-Loire, La Bussière Castle surrounded by water, or La Ferté-Saint-Aubin Castle, where you can taste honey madeleines in the kitchens, are well worth visiting.
The cobbled streets and architectural gems of medieval towns like Beaugency or Mennetou-sur-Cher are also worth exploring, as is Yèvre-le-Châtel, perched on a rocky spur and listed among the most beautiful villages in France. Between Tours and Orleans, Vendôme is notable for its pretty riverside houses and green surroundings, as is Montargis, known as the Gâtinais Venice. Admirers of prestigious monuments will enjoy a detour via the nearby Loire Valley to make the most of its exceptionally splendid heritage. Visitors interested in religious buildings, meanwhile, will not want to miss Fleury Abbey, a jewel of Romanesque architecture, or the Basilica of Cléry-Saint-André, which houses the tomb of Louis XI.
Sologne is a wild and unspoilt area, delightful for anglers and walkers in search of an authentic experience. Its vast forests, 2,800 ponds, peaceful landscapes and pretty villages offer an ideal setting to rest and recuperate.
For a treat, visitors with a sweet tooth can enjoy a few regional specialities: pithiviers, tarte Tatin, Sologne honey or cotignac d'Orléans, a quince jelly sweetmeat.