a city of France, capital of the department of Loiret, stands on the slope of a hill on the right bank of the Loire, 34 miles N.E. of Blois, and 68 S.S.W. of Paris. Though large and presenting a fine appearance from a distance, it is, with the exception of a few modern streets, not well built; and has not that bustle and animation which might be expected from its size and population. The river is crossed by a handsome bridge, which was built in 1761. It is 109 feet long, and consists of 9 arches, the centre one of which has a span of 108 feet. From this bridge the principal street of Orleans extends northwards through the town to the Barrière de Paris, at the most northerly extremity. The length of this street is about three-fourths of a mile; and in the middle of it is the Place du Martroy, of an irregular shape, which contains a bronze statue of Joan of Arc, with four bas-reliefs, also in bronze, representing the principal events in her life. From this to the Loire, the street which is called the Rue Royale, is one of the handsomest in France; the part north of the Place du Martroy, which is called the Rue de Banier, is also a fine street. Another broad street has been opened up through an old and crowded part of the town, leading eastward from the main street to the cathedral, which is the principal building in Orleans, and is thus seen to greater advantage than it could be when blocked up by the surrounding buildings. To these modern streets the more ancient parts of the town present a striking contrast; as the streets in the latter are irregular and ill paved, and the houses for the most part built of wood. The cathedral is remarkable, as having been built in a pure Gothic style in the seventeenth century, at a time when that kind of architecture had entirely fallen into disuse. It was begun by Henri IV. in 1601; but has only recently been finished. The west front is very much admired; it has three pointed portals, and is flanked by two towers of great elegance and beauty, each 280 feet high. Among the other ecclesiastical buildings of the town, the church of St Agnan,—a fine Gothic edifice, that has lost both its nave and steeple,—and that of St Pierre le Puellier, the most ancient in Orleans, possess the most interest. The old town-hall, which has recently been repaired, has long been used as a gallery of paintings and museum of antiquities. The court of justice is a building in the Doric style, with four columns in front. Besides these public buildings, Orleans contains several houses that are interesting from their historical associations. Such are the houses of Joan of Arc, of Francis I., of Agnes Sorel, of Diana of Poitiers; some of which are remarkable for their architecture and ornaments. Orleans also contains a theatre, barracks, prison, hospital, several schools, scientific society, botanic garden, and public library. It is the see of a bishop; and has a court of appeal for three departments, an inferior court, council of prud'hommes, and chamber of commerce. There was formerly here a university, at which Calvin, Beza, and other great men studied. The manufactures of Orleans are numerous, but not of very great importance. They consist of woollen and cotton stuffs, hosiery, hats, leather, refined sugar, beer, vinegar, ironmongery, tools of various kinds, earthenware, &c. The trade of the place is extensive; but in recent times has been on the decline. Corn, wine, timber, wool, cheese, and the produce of the manufactures are the chief articles of trade. The situation of the town on the Loire, here navigable for small steamers, and at the junction of three railways, which communicate with Paris, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyons, and other places, give Orleans great importance in commerce. Both sides of the Loire are here lined with handsome quays; and on the south bank stands the suburb of Olivet. Besides this, there are numerous other suburbs, and many country houses in the neighbourhood. The old fortifications, which have been levelled with the ground, are now replaced by finely planted public walks. Orleans is generally believed to be the same as the ancient Genabum, a town of the Celtic people Carnutes, which was taken and burnt by Caesar in 52 B.C. It was afterwards called Aureliani, from which the modern name has been derived. In 451 A.D. Orleans was besieged by Attila, but ineffectually, as the place was relieved after a brave defence by Atius. It subsequently fell into the hands of the Franks, and was made the capital of one of their small kingdoms. Under the Capetian kings, Orleans was one of the most important of their possessions on account of its military strength; and it was only by this town that the French kings exercised any control over the south of France. The most important event connected with Orleans in modern history, is its siege by the English in 1429; and its deliverance by Joan of Arc. She entered the town in spite of the besiegers, and brought a supply of provisions from Blois to the garrison, then sallying out at the head of the French troops, having crossed the river in boats, she led on the attack on a fort erected by the English on the other side. This was compelled to surrender, and on the following day the besiegers destroyed their remaining forts, and raised the siege. In the civil wars of the sixteenth century, Orleans was besieged in 1563 by the Duke of Guise, who was assassinated before the walls; and it suffered much then and subsequently from religious dissensions. Orleans gave the title of Duke to a branch of the family of Valois, to which Louis XII. belonged. Pop. (1856) 43,256.

ORLEANS, the name of an island in the St Lawrence, Lower Canada, below Quebec. It is 25 miles in length, by 5 in breadth; and being fertile and covered with fine woods, it forms an agreeable place of residence, and is much frequented.

ORLEANS, House of, a branch of the royal family of France. Besides those who succeeded to the king by title, the following are the Dukes of Orleans who play a prominent part in the history of their country. Louis, the second surviving son of Charles V., who was born in 1371, became regent to his brother Charles VI. in 1393, and was murdered by the Duke of Burgundy in 1407; Philippe, the celebrated regent, who was born in 1674, succeeded to the regency after the death of Louis XIV. in 1715, and died in 1723; and Louis Philippe Joseph, the father of the late French king, Louis Philippe, who was born in 1747, renounced his family title for the assumed name of Egalite, during the revolutionary turmoils of 1792, and was guillotined in the following year. (See FRANCE.)