LES FÊTES DE JEANNE D'ARC

If Orléans has known many famous people such as Charles Péguy or even Attila who suffered his first defeat there, forced to lift the siege and flee before the armies of Aetius, it is undoubtedly Joan of Arc who remained in the hearts of its inhabitants. Since the liberation of the city by the Pucelle, celebrations in her memory have followed one another, only interrupted by serious events. Every year at the end of May, the city prepares for ceremonies and commemorations in her honour and all the young girls of Orléans dream of one day crossing the streets dressed in her armour. During these few days the city returns to the Middle Ages with equestrian shows, entertainment, a medieval market, sound and light on the cathedral and many concerts. But what everyone in Orléans is waiting for is the young girl who each year plays Jeanne. Each step, such as the handing over of the sword and the standard, or the entrance through the Burgundy Gate, is followed by an enthusiastic crowd. One of the strongest moments is, of course, the ride that starts in front of the statue of the heroine in the Martroi square, with a parade through the city of Joan of Arc followed by her entire escort with the crossing of the Loire River. The festivities end in apotheosis with a military parade, official tributes to La Pucelle, the commemorative procession and the return of the standard which marks the end of the festivities of this great week that cannot be ignored. The year 2020, the centenary of Jeanne's canonization, will be marked by an exceptional program that will last until May 17. This is an opportunity to visit the emblematic places of Orléans with a guide.