On our way back to Paris, we stopped in Orleans, one of the oldest cities in France, to learn some of the history of Joan of Arc.
The scenes on the pedestal show Jeanne hearing divine voices
in Domremy and being burned at the stake in Rouen.
Joan of Arc (nicknamed the Maid of Orleans) turned the tide of the Hundred Years War – she and the French troops forced the English to withdraw from the Siege of Orleans in 1429.
La Maison de Jeanne d’Arc is not her house, but a (reconstructed) building she stayed at during the siege of Orleans. Here, we watched a quick video about her short but important life.
The Hotel Groslot was built in 1549 by the bailiff of the King of France as a private mansion.
The building is now a community hall with some government offices and spaces to host weddings.
The Orleans Cathedral took 542 years to build. It is one of the 5 largest cathedrals in France. The eight Angels atop the towers carry the instruments of Christ’s passion (cross, nails, holy spear, sponge, scourge). The angel carrying the crown of thorns is inside the nave.
Joan of Arc came here to pray on May 8, 1429. The 10 stained glass windows in the nave are devoted to scenes of Joan’s life.
The cathedral has contained relics of the Holy Cross since the 7th C. The Holy Cross is said to have been discovered in Jerusalem in 372AD by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine. This chapel in the cathedral is named for St Helena and holds two splinters of the Holy Cross in a reliquary.
Orleans is famous for mosaic tile art pieces above some of the street signs. Some are complementary to the street name and some are just for fun!
Mur d’Orleans on the ‘back’ of the cinema Les Carmes – every season a different artist is commissioned to paint a new mural, so it’s always something different.
One of Orleans’ claims to fame is its position on the Loire River. All goods heading downriver to Paris had to pass through Orleans by boat. Two of the most important imports were sugar and wine. Sadly, most of the wine that came through town was spoiled by the time it got here, thanks to cheap barrels and leaky boats. People got clever and used the wine to make vinegar, which the city is famous for today. Martin Pouret is the most famous brand of red wine vinegar, producing since 1797. We were able to do a tasting at one of his stores.
After another great lunch at a bistro in the main square, we have headed back to the airport in Paris. We will spend tonight at the hotel at Charles de Gaulle and fly home tomorrow morning.
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