Sightseeing & heritage

Cathédrale Sainte-Croix

Place Sainte-Croix, 45000 Orléans

It took 600 years to build, but the result is a true architectural gem! Dating from the 13th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, Orléans Cathedral bears the mark of successive royal dynasties and, in particular, the elegance of classicism, which gives it its architectural and artistic uniqueness.

Ranked amongst the five largest Gothic cathedrals in France (140 metres long, 53 metres wide, with a spire rising to 106 metres), Sainte-Croix was begun in 1287 and officially consecrated on 8 May 1829. It is steeped in history: Joan of Arc prayed here, Henry IV commissioned its reconstruction in 1601, and Louis XIV funded the transepts, which pay homage to him by displaying his motto and his sun. The magnificently carved woodwork of the chancel and the stained-glass windows depicting the story of Joan of Arc are among its ‘treasures’, as are the 11 richly decorated 13th-century chapels that form its chevet.

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Listing provided by OT ORLEANS (updated by the source on 20/07/2026).

Tourist office data: DATAtourisme, Licence Ouverte (French open licence), updated 21 October 2026.