Orléans Cathedral

About this place

Orléans Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in the city of Orléans, France. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Orléans. Built on the ruins of a Roman temple from 1278 to 1329, the cathedral was partially destroyed in 1568 by the Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion and rebuilt in a Gothic style between 1601 and 1829. During the Siege of Orléans, the cathedral was visited frequently by Joan of Arc. The structure stands as one of the largest and last gothic built cathedrals in France and has been listed as a national historic monument since 1862. As you explore, compare the building itself with its decoration and later additions. Differences in materials, forms and imagery can reveal successive periods of patronage, making the visit a way to understand how religious places evolved over time.