La Loire à Vélo day 5 - 23km from Jargeau to Orléans

Day 5 would be a relatively short ride of about 23 km from Jargeau to the city of Orléans. I could easily have ridden further but Orléans is a must-visit city for me.

Starting the day, breakfast at Evasion de Loire was so well located on the patio overlooking the Loire. There was fresh bread, the landlady’s homemade jams, fresh orange juice, and coffee. She joined me for a little while to chat about Jargeau and then left me to enjoy breakfast.

Arriving into Orléans, it felt very different from anywhere I had passed through previously. This was the first proper city on the route. As the journey here was only short, I arrived early - much too early to check into my hotel. So I rode towards the Cathedral.

Just before reaching the cathedral, I passed the Hôtel Groslot, a magnificent Renaissance red-brick building built between 1549 and 1558 by Jacques Groslot, bailiff of Orléans. These days, it is partly occupied by local government departments, but you can go inside for a short tour. On this occasion, I just took a few photos from outside and made my way towards the cathedral.

Jeanne d’Arc is particularly loved in Orléans due to her role in the siege of Orléans in 1429, successfully defending the city from the English. Nowadays, you will find references to her throughout the city of Orléans.

I stayed at the Urban Style Hôtel des Cèdres which is located maybe ten minutes walk from the city centre. They had a locked room where I could put my bicycle and once I had been able to drop my luggage in my room, I went for a pleasantly unencumbered walk around the city. As I was now free of bags, I took the opportunity to explore inside the stunning cathedral. It is absolutely worth taking the time to visit.

The riverfront is particularly pleasant for a walk, with a number of boats moored, including a New Orleans style paddleboat. I must admit that on this occasion, I struggled to find somewhere really good to eat. Many of the restaurants were packed, but there were plenty of bars and pubs to choose from, so I grabbed myself a tasty craft beer and then ate at an Italian restaurant; sitting outside, watching the world go by.