Orléans rewards a day of walking. The Cathédrale Sainte-Croix and the Maison de Jeanne d'Arc form the core of any visit, but the old quarter around Rue de Bourgogne and the Loire riverfront are worth time on their own terms.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts is strong on French painting and holds a rare collection of 18th-century pastels. The Orléanais Historical and Archaeological Museum in the Hôtel Cabu has the famous Gallo-Roman Treasure of Neuvy-en-Sullias, including the celebrated dancing horse bronze.
The Parc Floral de la Source is a large botanical garden on the southern edge of the city, built around the spring that marks the source of the Loiret, a short tributary of the Loire. It is particularly worth visiting in spring and early summer when the rose and iris collections are at their best.