Orleans, France

Is a city and commune in north-central France, about 130 km (80 miles) southwest of Paris. It is the préfecture (capital) of the Loiret département and of the Centre région.
Orléans was founded as a Gallic civitas (city state) of the Celtic Carnutes tribe, called Cenabum (known erroneously as Genabum). It was refounded in 275 by the Roman Emperor Aurelian who gave it his name, Aurelianum, "the city of Aurelianus". In 451, Attila the Hun made an attempt to capture and sack the city, only to be driven off by the last-minute arrival of an army under the combined command of Theodoric, king of the Visigoths, and the Roman general Aëtius.
It was the capital of the Merovingian king (27 November 511 - 25 June 524) Clodomir (Clodmer) (b. 495 - d. 524) of what was since known as the kingdom of Burgundy.
The Siege of Orléans in 1428 - 1429 marked a turning point in the Hundred Years' War. Joan of Arc made her reputation here by lifting the siege nine days after she arrived.

Orléans Attractions

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