Loiret, France
Holiday rental homes in Loiret - Loiret accommodation
Loiret is a department in north-central France named after the river Loiret - a tributary of the Loire. The Loiret is part of the region of Centre and features some of France’s most attractive chateaux. Loiret offers a variety of landscapes – from the Loire Valley to the forests of Orleans, Montagis and Sologne – there really is something for everyone when you rent a self catering holiday home in the Loiret.
Orléans, the capital of the department, is located on the Loire River where the river curves south towards the Massif Central. Orléans belongs to the Vallée de la Loire sector between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes-sur-Loire, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Loire dominates Orleans with five bridges crossing the river.
Orléans Cathedral is most famous for its association with Joan of Arc. The French heroine attended evening Mass in this cathedral on May 2, 1429, while in the city to lift the siege. Joan’s house is still open, and when you holiday in the Loiret department of France you can also enjoy the extensive medieval old centre in the city.
Stay in Loiret holiday rental accommodation and visit Montargis, the second largest city in the Loiret. It is near a large forest, and its farming activities include that of saffron. Due to its numerous pretty canals and quaint bridges, Montargis calls itself as the "Venice of the Gâtinais," it also retains a medieval charm in its downtown area. Pralines, the crunchy confection made from almonds in cooked sugar, were first confected in Montargis in the time of Louis XIII. They were originally sold from a shop that still is in operation.
The château of Sully-sur-Loire in the village of the same name dates from the end of the 14th century and is a stunning example of a medieval fortress being built at a strategic crossing of the Loire river. Two other notable chateaux in this department include the chateau of Bellegarde and Chamerolles château – both located in villages going by the same name.
Travelling to your holiday rental home in Loiret, France
By road: Orléans is an auto route intersection : the A10 (linking Paris to Bordeaux) links to the commune outskirts, and A71 (whose bridge over the Loire is outside the commune limits) begins here, heading for the Mediterranean via Clermont-Ferrand (where it becomes the A75). From Paris to Orléans is just an hour and a half. By rail: Orléans is served by two main railway stations: the central Gare d'Orléans and the Gare des Aubrais-Orléans, in the northern suburbs. Most long distance trains only stop at the Les Aubrais-Orléans station, which offers connections to Paris, Lille, Tours, Brive-la-Gaillarde, Nevers and several regional destinations. Paris Austerlitz to Orléans is just a little over 2 hours. By air: Paris Orly airport is the departments nearest airport. Flights operate daily from London Heathrow and also Flybe offers regular flights (check for seasonal variations) from Southampton airport.