Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans

The origins of the cathedral date back to around 330, when a first church was built in what was then Aurelianum and dedicated to the Holy Cross. After looting by the Normans in 865 and a devastating fire in 999, the church was repeatedly rebuilt. In the 11th century, Sainte-Croix was elevated to a cathedral and rebuilt in the Romanesque style in the 12th century, making it one of the largest cathedrals in France. A partial collapse in 1227 led to a new Gothic-style construction, with its foundation stone laid in 1288. Construction work spanned centuries and survived the Hundred Years' War unscathed. During the Second War of Religion, the cathedral was severely damaged by Protestants in 1568 and almost completely collapsed. King Henry IV promised its reconstruction at state expense in 1598, with the foundation stone laid in 1601. The choir was completed in 1623, and the transept by 1643. Work on the west portal and towers began in 1739 but was interrupted by the French Revolution. Work resumed only in 1817 and was completed in 1829. In 1854, the church received the title of a papal Basilica minor and was listed as a Monument historique in 1862. During World War II, the cathedral was damaged by bombing in 1940, and repairs are still ongoing today.

The Sainte-Croix d’Orléans Cathedral is located in the city of Orléans in the Loiret department, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It stands at an elevation of approximately 126 meters above sea level.

The cathedral is open for visitors. It is an impressive example of post-Gothic architecture, although access to the two towers is currently not possible due to ongoing repair work.

• Château du Gué-Gaillard (castle), approx. 16.6 km away
• Château de Meung-sur-Loire (castle), approx. 18.4 km away
• Château de La Queuvre (fortress), approx. 19.8 km away
• Château Dunois (castle), approx. 24.9 km away