Orléans
| General information: |
France Loiret Population: 116 269 |
| Address : |
Mairie d'Orléans Place de l'Etape 45040 Orléans France Show map +33 238792696 |
| Official website: | |
| Mayor: | Serge Grouard |
| Agreements of Cooperation: | Friendship arrangement between Orléans and Krakow dated 14 March 1992. Renewal of cooperation agreement on 7 May 2002. Cooperation protocol for the years 2002 – 2003 dated 5 September 2002. Renewal of cooperation agreement between Orléans and Krakow signed on 12 May 2012. |
Orléans - the city situated on the Loire where the river changes its direction from the north-west to the south-west, joining its two tributaries - is the capital of the Centre region and of the Loiret department. The name of the city was formed after phonetic transformations and simplifications of the name Civitas Aureliani, given by Emperor Aurelian who in the 3rd century rebuilt the city (the ancient Celtic Cebanum) destroyed by Ceasar as a punishment for an anti-Roman uprising. Orléans is especially connected with the figure of Joan of Arc (this Catholic saint is the patron and symbol of Orléans) who in 1429 liberated the city from the invasion of the English army. Today, Orléans is surrounded by smaller towns (e.g. Chapelle Saint Mesmin, Fleury les Aubrais, Olivet, Saint Jean de la Ruelle) and forms one metropolitan area with them. It is viewed as an important industrial and commercial centre.
