Orléans to twin with New Orleans

Early next year, the city of Orléans will twin with its Louisiana namesake New Orleans, it has been announced.

The announcement was made when outgoing New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu led a delegation to the historic French city, regional paper La République du Centre reports.

Officials now hope that the twinning can be made official on January 6, 2018, to coincide with the date of the birth of Joan of Arc in 1412.

Next year is also a special one for the Louisiana city, as it marks its 300th anniversary - and the twinning ceremony is set to be the first of a series of monthly events to celebrate its tercentenary. New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and named after Philippe II, the Duke of Orléans, who acted as regent of France for eight years following the death of Louis XIV until the monarch's heir, Louis XV, was old enough to rule on his own.

Mr Landrieu, who is soon to stand down in favour of new mayor La Toya Cantrell described Orléans as his hometown's 'big sister' when the twinning was announced.