Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans

So much history! Beautiful and finely crafted. Can easily spend an hour reflecting and gazing up at the stain glass windows.

Just grand. Renovated inside a few yrs ago. A jewel of Orleans to be sure to visit. Parking and kids play ground literally next to it but keep your parking ticket with or you won't be able to get back in the elevator to get back to the car underground. (They do not have signage warning you of this. Cathedrale closes,at 7pm.

Amazing! The outside and interior are incredibly beautiful. I'm not religious, but I love visiting churches and cathedrals, and this is a MUST visit!! The statues and wooden sculptures are amazing and there are many different saints and holy idols to look at. The small shop sells rosaries and small crosses, along with postcards and wristbands. Didn't buy anything, but that's just 'cause I was too scared to talk french with the seller lol.

In the heart of Old Orléans stands the mighty Sainte-Croix Cathedral. Amazingly, it gives me the impression of a lighter, almost floating structure compared to the more powerful Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Long and bright inside, generous in its dimensions, impressive in its details, well-preserved and well-maintained. I was immediately drawn to the light and dark colored floor tiles. Centuries of history were written here. In 1492, Saint Jeanne d'Arc walked through the mighty gate, on this floor, to the choir, where I also walked over it. I was touched by this thought and felt a certain power. Just at the very moment I was sitting on a bench to relax, the giant organ started playing, mightily roaring and furious! Could there be more history telling in a cathedral than at this moment?

Orléans Cathedral (Basilique Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans). Another new one for me, from our recent holiday all over France. It was badly damaged in World War 2, both by the Germans and the Allies. Thoroughly restored, but my honest opinion is that it felt a little sterile. Well worth seeing of course. The next one I'm posting was a much more - to me anyway - beautiful building. Watch this space...!

Beautiful large church with a long and eventful history. A first church was built here in the 7th century, replaced by a number of churches in the following centuries, who were all destroyed by fire, war, and the last one by Protestants in 1568. The church you see now is the result of centuries of construction that started in 1601 by King Henry IV. There is a strong connection to Joan of Arc as she prayed in the previous church when Orleans was under siege and after it was liberated on May 8th, 1429. Every year around May 8th, there are celebrations in town marking the liberation, which coincides with the end of WW2

Big church to visit when you are in Orleans. This town is quite compared to Paris and it brought you another relaxing atmosphere

Another great french cathedral. This one have a special meaning due to Jeanne d'Arc.

This cathedral also know as Orleans Cathedral. It was build in the 12 century and rebuilt at 16th and 18th century. This church is often visited by Joan of Arc. If you want to find out a lot Joan of Arc story, Orleans has plenty of that including this church. The stain glass windows depict the Joan of Arc story. The interior of the church is beautiful. Not many churches in France are painted interior. This church is one of the few churches with interior painting. The color matching the interior need. The church exterior is gothic look with two big tower. The back of the church is really beautiful.