THE FOREST OF ORLEANS

With its 34,500 hectares, the Orleans forest is the largest state forest in France. To this can be added 10,000 hectares of private woodland to give the full extent of the forest: approximately 45,000 hectares. Located north of the Loire, the forest extends over 60 kilometers between Orleans and Gien. Historically, it was first called Leodica Sylva (before the year 1000), then Legium forest in the Middle Ages, before taking the name of Loges forest, a term that is still sometimes heard today. It is composed of three massifs: Orleans, Ingrannes, and Lorris (the largest). Classified as a Natura 2000 site, you will be able to observe many species: deer, wild boar, birds such as the osprey. The forest roads represent nowadays 200 kilometers of networks, to which are added 1,000 kilometers of paths for hikers, horseback riders and those who ride bicycles (many routes are also marked). Many other leisure activities are also practiced in the forest, in addition to walking or simply strolling: fishing and water sports on the ponds and on the Orleans canal, picnics on the developed areas, visits to sites such as the Arboretum of the Grandes Bruyères in Ingrannes or the crossroads of the Resistance (between Lorris and Ouzouer-sur-Loire), a place of memory of the Second World War. In addition, there is hunting from June to October: it is still possible to come across hunting crews during the hunting season.