Looking for some good times whilst holding your purse strings?
Here are a few great ideas for you to make the most of your holiday in Loiret, even with a tight budget:
to consume without moderation!
Our great ideas are yours for free!
A tour of nature's best
Are you an enthusiastic hiker, a more leisurely walker, or a keen horse rider or cyclist?
We have a free app to make your life easier Loiret Balades!.
You can choose and download your favourite routes. Then freely tour, without connecting to the Internet, but keeping in touch with geolocation, maps, road books, photographs and the tourist attractions on each route.
Mother nature has been very generous in Loiret and a number of natural areas are open to the public all year long. Among them, Loiret's seven 'departmental parks' are organised in the form of themed pathways dotted with educational information panels.
Worthy of note:the Parc Floral de la Source in Orléans,is a floral park open to all, every afternoon throughout the winter. And if you want to make the most of its varying colours and blossoms throughout the year, why not indulge in an annual season ticket?
The Maison de Loire du Loiret in Jargeau and the Maison de la Nature et de l’Eau in Châlette-sur-Loing, are two visitors centres offering an insight into the local natural environment over artistic or recreational exhibitions.
And why not take a refreshing dip in one of Loiret's ponds and small lakes du Loiret : Île Charlemagne in Orléans, Etang du Puits in Cerdon, the ponds in Orléans forest, the Montargis lakes, etc. Over the summer months, the seasonal beaches along the banks of the Loire are open to the public, with their 'guinguette' open-air cafés to enliven your evenings.
Discover Loiret's heritage
Worthy of note: Orléans museums – Fine Art Museum, Museum of History and Archaeology, Joan of Arc's house, FRAC (Regional Contemporary Art Collection), and the Musée du Théâtre Forain (travelling circus museum) in Artenay are all open free of charge on the first Sunday of every month. And even on other days, the entry fee is just €5.
In the Gâtinais area, contemporary art enthusiasts are sure to appreciate the Tanneries centre for art and creation in Amilly. Nearby, at the Maison des Métiers d'Art (fine craft centre) in Ferrières en Gâtinais, curious visitors can discover all the skill and know-how of our local craftworkers.
Certain artists also welcome you to their studios or display their work in galleries, Tourist Offices or in former churches, such as the Saint-Pierre-Le-Puellier collegiate church in Orléans, the Saint-Etienne (St. Stephen) church in Beaugency and the Saint-Germain church in Sully-sur-Loire..
Great ideas: at great prices!
Rallies, riddle and treasure trails in the form of booklets that are either free of charge or available at a small fee.
Some of our museums also bend over backwards to keep your kids occupied throughout your holiday. For just a few Euros, the Musée du Théâtre Forain (travelling circus museum) in Artenay and the Musée de la Marine de Loire in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire organise educational workshops for the whole family to enjoy
Great news for budding golfers: the Golf de Marcilly golf course in Marcilly-en-Villette offers a one-day initiation for just twenty Euros: no, golfing is not a luxury!
Are you looking for an original idea for a special celebration with family or friends? Why not party aboard a boat? In Briare, even without a sailing permit, you can hire a boat for up to 12 passengers from €130 per day!
These Wanday boats are equipped with a table, chairs and WC. All you need to do is to prepare your picnic and set sail on the Briare canal, lateral to the Loire. You will pass the locks and even cross the famous Briare Aqueduct.
Great ideas: smart deals!
A family visit is often synonymous to a costly experience. This is why certain sites have joined forces to offer passes or discounts.
Par exemple, l’achat d’un ticket plein tarif au musée de la marine de Loire de Châteauneuf-sur-Loire vous donnera droit à un tarif réduit aux châteaux de Gien, de Chamerolles et de Sully-sur-Loire. Idem pour les châteaux de Beaugency et Meung-sur-Loire, ou les trois arboretums du Loiret.
For example, when you by a full-rate ticket at the Musée de la Marine de Loire (Loire Marine Museum) in Châteauneuf-sur-Loire, you can benefit from a reduced rate entry to the Châteaux in Gien, Chamerolles and Sully-sur-Loire. The same applies to the Châteaux of Beaugency and Meung-sur-Loire and to Loiret's three arboretums.
