Car Rental - Orléans
Located in the luscious Loire Valley region of northern France, Orléans is a city blessed with stunning scenery. It serves as a great base for exploring the region, with its sprawling vineyards and charming villages.
Orléans combines history with natural beauty everywhere you turn. It is the historic home of Joan of Arc, and there are tributes to France’s national heroine around every corner – from the cathedral’s stained-glass windows to the annual festival celebrating her victory over the English.
Renting a car in Orléans is a fantastic way to explore the best of the city and the rest of the Loire Valley, including the region’s capital, Tours, and the historic city of Angers. If you feel like heading to the capital, it’s just 70 miles to Paris when you rent a car from Orléans.
We have Orléans car rental pick up points located in the center of the city for your convenience. Choose from a wide range of available vehicles, including compact models, prestige options and larger cars and SUVs that can accommodate the whole family.
Whether you’re visiting for business or pleasure, we’ll get you in your rental car and on the road as quickly and conveniently as we can, so you can head off and start exploring Orléans and beyond. There are no hidden extras or credit card fees to worry about and if you find Hertz car rental cheaper, we’ll refund the difference.
Orléans Locations
A Quick Guide to Orléans
With its historic charm and spellbinding views of the Loire River, Orléans is a great place to spend time or start a trip to the wider valley. Renting a car in Orléans means you can travel to nearby cities and charming villages, with Paris and other destinations within easy reach.
Historic Culture
Perhaps the most famous monument in Orléans is its cathedral, Sainte-Croix. Enjoy excellent views of this 17th-century gothic structure as you approach from Rue Jeanne d’Arc, and as you get closer, admire its impressive stained-glass windows.
Not far away, you’ll find the Hotel Groslot, a former private mansion built in the 19th century. Now open to the public, you can explore its extravagant bedrooms, and lust over the luxurious décor.
One of the city’s main squares, Place du Martroi is home to a statue of Orléans’ most famous heroine, Joan of Arc. The story of how Joan defeated the English at the Battle of Orléans is treasured in France, and you can uncover a vast array of monuments and tributes to her throughout the city.
The Maison de Jeanne d’Arc – found on the Place du Général de Gaulle – is a museum dedicated to her and originally the house where she stayed in 1429. The building was reconstructed after it was flattened during World War II.
If you’re visiting Orléans in the springtime you might even witness its annual Joan of Arc festival, which has been taking place in the city for hundreds of years. Each year, a girl from one of the local schools is chosen to play the role of Joan, leading the parade while visitors enjoy a medieval-style carnival complete with falconry and fencing displays and battle re-enactments.
Parks and Gardens
As a former horticultural center, the city of Orléans is home to an array of parks and green spaces, many of which lie on the south side of the river. These include the Parc Floral de la Source – so-called because it contains the source of the Loiret, a tributary of the river Loire – and the botanical garden Jardin des Plantes, where there are numerous free parking spaces for your rental car from our Orléans pick up point.
With a rental car, it’s also possible to visit the Arboretum des Grandes Bruyères, just a short drive to the north-east of the city. Here you’ll find many fascinating trees and plants from across Europe, the Far East and Africa. The arboretum is open to the public most weeks between March and November and tickets can be reserved online in advance.
Exploring the Loire Valley
The Loire Valley region is host to many châteaux – castles that were once home to French nobility, many of which can now be explored by the public. Some of the best-known include the Château de Chambord, just a short drive outside Orléans, and Château de Chenonceau, a few miles beyond.
Traveling to these castles involves a scenic drive with plenty to explore along the way, including some quaint villages. In the local restaurants, you’ll be able to relax with some classic Loire Valley cuisine, including its famous freshwater fish. All this and more is possible with a rental car from Orléans.
Driving In and Around Orléans
For a city with such history, Orléans is surprisingly easy to get around. The post-war rebuilding of its 18th-century old town took accessibility into account, and now the city’s roads are fairly free-flowing. It’s still worth planning journeys in your rental car though, as the roads can get busy during rush hour.
At the center of Orléans, you’ll find the Loire River, which splits the city in two. The largest part of the city is on the northern side, connected to the surrounding area by the D2020.
This route runs north towards the towns of Cercottes and Chevilly. Driving north-west out of the city along the D2157 will lead you towards the town of Ormes, and the D2060 will take you east towards Montargis and other areas.
Renting a car in Orléans means you’ll be able to access some great destinations in the Loire Valley and beyond. Larger towns such as Tours and Chartres are all within easy driving distance, as is Le Mans – home to the famous 24-hour endurance motorsport race. The capital Paris is fewer than 100 miles north-east along the A10.
When driving your rental car in France, use the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left. Remember the French highway or autoroute system consists largely of toll roads – these should be clearly marked as you approach.
Speed limits in France range from 50km/h (31mph) in built-up areas to 130km/h (80mph) on highways, with roads outside built-up areas carrying a speed limit of 90km/h (55mph), rising to 110km/h (68mph) on divided highways.
