You’ve now arrived at Place du Châtelet, a square that came to life in the 1880s to make way for four large metal halls built to house the city’s wholesale market. Back then, this was the bustling commercial heart of Orléans, with over 40 shops clustered around the market halls. The area was alive with energy — cabarets, billiard halls, and cafés added to the vibrant atmosphere, just steps away from the river port. In 1977, the original halls were replaced with a more modern version: a large shopping center that still anchors the square today.