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Place du Martroi |
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| Rue Royale Stand in Place du Martroi,as the square opens wide under soft evening light. Classical façades rise on either side, their ground-floor arcades sheltering shops. Cobblestones stretch forward, tram rails glinting, cars and bikes tucked neatly along the edges. |
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Place du Martroi |
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Rue Jeanne d'Arc |
All this around you - enough to turn your head.
Château de la Source stands at the centre of a much older estate whose history is closely tied to the Loiret. The present château dates from the 17th century, when the estate was remodelled and formal French gardens were laid out around it. Over the following centuries, the gardens changed considerably, first becoming more informal and later developing into the landscape that surrounds today's Parc Floral de la Source.
The château and its setting also have an important connection with the river itself. The Loiret rises here as a resurgence of the Loire, with the Bouillon now recognised as its principal source. The estate became the Parc Floral de la Source in the 1960s, following the acquisition of the property by the City of Orléans and the Loiret département.
Happy Monday in the Loire Valley!
“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”
Every Monday, we explore one of the Loire Valley's legendary châteaux — from royal residences to riverside retreats — each revealing a different chapter of the region's story.
Discover more about the Loire Valley
© Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · ,
A quiet corner of the Parc Floral de la Source in Orléans.
This 35-hectare “Jardin Remarquable” sits between the Sologne plateau and the Loire valley plain, and is best known for being the place where the Loiret river rises (the famous “Bouillon”). Created for the 1967 International Floralies, it remains one of the largest and most varied floral parks in France, part formal gardens, part woodland walks, part animal collections.
A good place to slow down.
“On Sundays the Loire Valley speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”
Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.
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© Experience Loire — My Sunday bench · Back to Home
Place du Martroi has been at the heart of Orléans for centuries, but its present appearance owes much to the reshaping of the city centre in the 18th and 19th centuries. When the Rue Royale was created, the square was redeveloped, and today its centre is dominated by Denis Foyatier’s monumental equestrian statue of Jeanne d’Arc.
The bronze statue was inaugurated on 8 May 1855 during the Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc. The bas-reliefs on its pedestal, by Vital-Dubray, depict episodes from Jeanne’s life. The pedestal was damaged during the fighting for the liberation of Orléans in 1944, and the original reliefs, now preserved in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, were replaced by casts.
The square has a much older history than its present appearance suggests. Its name is thought to derive from the Latin martyrium, possibly referring to a Gallo-Roman cemetery on the site. After the medieval city expanded, the Martroi became an important market place; during the Revolution, it was also where the guillotine was erected.
Bon samedi dans Centre-Val de Loire!
“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”
Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.
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© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home
Autumn brings a particularly appropriate celebration to Château du Rivau, where the Potager de Gargantua becomes the setting for the Fête de la Citrouille et de l’Automne. The potager is known for its collection of cucurbits and forgotten vegetable varieties, making pumpkins and gourds very much at home here.
This year’s festival takes place on 10 and 11 October 2026, with garden tours, creative workshops, pumpkin activities, a market of around 50 artisans and exhibitors, and the chance to discover the gardens in their autumn colours.
Hope your week ends well and it's followed by a lovely weekend.
Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series
Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, a beautiful weekend at a time.
© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home
Empty terrace with fresh flowers today at 'Au Comptoir' in Loches, just after the lunch service. Quiet moment in Touraine.
“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”
Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.
Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series
© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home
