Orleans and Joan of Arc

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In 1429, Joan of Arc, a 17 year old French peasant girl leads a French force in relieving the city of Orleans which had been besieged by the English. She did it because Christian saints told her too. Nevertheless, she changed the course of French history and Orleans, the town has not forgotten despite the many hundreds of years that has passed.

Joan of Arc statue outside Hotel Groslot. Her skirt has holes in it. These are
bullet holes from a battle for the liberation of Orleans in August 1944.
Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc in Place Du Martroi (the central square)
Maison de Jeanne d’Arc- a 1960s reconstruction of the 15th-century house that hosted her between April and May 1429 (the original was destroyed by German bombing in 1940). The world’s largest Joan of Arc research centre is upstairs.

Orleans is a lovely town to visit even for those without an interest in Joan of Arc. The cathedral is spectacular and includes many gothic elements. There are many stone buildings which are all in excellent repair and scrubbed very clean.

Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans
Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans – the gothic detailing is quite scary. Imagine a world without the internet or horror movies……these open mouthed terror filled faces would haunt your nightmares! They are hard to see in this photo!
Inside Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d’Orléans
Orleans, France
Hôtel Groslot – built around 1550, Nothing was too exquisite for Jacques Groslot, baillif of the King of France
View from Hotel Groslot
Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans
Street in Orleans lined with giant Ukrainian flags

There are many charming al fresco restaurants along the cute, narrow stone laneways in Orleans. We indulged in some buckwheat galettes followed by a Nutella crepe!

French Buckwheat Galettes – seafood/cream/leeks/cheese and chicken/camembert/cream
A view from Orleans from the Loire River

Love to hear what you think! Thanks!!