Europe Trip Day 3 : Orleans - Loire River & Parc Pasteur

Orleans is located to the south of Paris and can be reached via a two hour drive from Paris. Orleans is associated with Joan of Arc, the heroine who lead the liberation of Orleans in the 15th century. There are many monuments in Orleans to commemorate the achievements of the heroine. In addition, the city holds various medieval festivals and exhibitions to celebrate the important historical event. 

We stayed at Mercure Orleans which is located along the Loire river. The hotel is modern, spacious and comfortable. However the hotel is quite a distance away from the train station. Whenever we needed to travel by train, we would take the tram to the train station. The nearest tram station is about ten minutes walk from the hotel.

The Loire river runs through the city and a lot of performances and festivals are held along the river. We could see some of the traditional boats with colorful flags docked along the river banks. 

Most of the attractions are located to the north of the river. A tram line runs through the city center and is the most economical means to commute between the river and the train station. Parc Pasteur could be reached within a few minutes walk from the train station. It is one of the few parks in Orleans which provide a good respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. The park is well-groomed and landscaped with vibrant and colorful flowers throughout the area.