Orléans

Orléans is a city in north-central France, about 120 kilometres (74 miles) southwest of Paris. It is the prefecture of the department of Loiret and of the region of Centre-Val de Loire. Orléans is located on the river Loire nestled in the heart of the Loire Valley, a region classified as a World Heritage Site where the river curves south towards the Massif Central. In 2023, the city had 116,357 inhabitants within its municipal boundaries. Orléans is the center of Orléans Métropole that has a population of 297,350 (2023). The larger metropolitan area has a population of 454,208, the 20th largest in France. The city owes its development from antiquity to the commercial exchanges resulting from the river. An important river trade port, it was the headquarters of the community of merchants frequenting the Loire.