Sainte-Croix Gothic Cathedral in Orléans

Sainte-Croix Gothic Cathedral in Orléans France has a pair of intricate “wedding cake” towers. A church has been located on this site since 375 A.D. The stained glass inside tells the story of Joan of Arc’s life. ( Orléans is located on the opposite end of the Loire from Tours in the Centre Region, just where the Loire bends northward. From here you can access the Loire cycle path and cycle all the way to Angers.)

This beautiful Cathedral of the Holy Cross (Sainte-Croix) was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Protestants partly destroyed the church during the French War of Religion. Henry IV is credited with the reconstruction in Gothic style.

The cathedral is not unlike Notre-Dame de Paris is dimensions and design.

Orléans Ste Croix

In the apse, we found a chapel dedicated to Joan of Arc. The stained glass found there tells the story of her life.

(Photo above courtesy of Danielle Lilly)

Orléans American Soldier Commemorative

There is also a commemorative to American soldiers who gave their lives during the two World Wars: “In reverent memory of the more than one half million American fighting men who gave their lives for God, country, and freedom during the two world wars 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 and of whom 67,581 remain in the soil of France.”

Saint-Marceau Church

Besides Saint-Croix Gothic Cathedral in Orléans there is the lovely Saint-Marceau church.

“Saint-Marceau Church, in Orleans, France celebrates the Saint of harvest every year. They decorate the inside with flowers and things that people in the church have grown from their own garden.” D.Lilly (Both photos courtesy of Danielle Lilly.)