Joan of Arc is one of the most famous historical figures of French history and arguably the most famous and most beloved (and youngest) heroine in French history. Joan of Arc has reached almost mythical status and is one of the larger than life characters of history. Joan of Arc lived in Medieval France during the Hundred Years' War with England. As a young woman, she famously wore men's armor and rallied the French troops lifting their flagging morale to fight against the English.

While traveling in France, there are many things one may learn about Joan of Arc that would shock and inspire anyone. Stories from her lowly borne status, to her tender age, to her undying optimism, to her untimely end will keep anyone riveted for hours. Rediscover Joan of Arc's life and times by exploring the many exquiste Medieval French towns and villages still beautifully preserved today.

What To Know About the Legendary Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc is particularly famous for her role in the siege of Orleans and the coronation of Charles VII of France. She was born to a peasant family in northeast France and was a devout Catholic. She claimed to have seen visions from the archangel Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret who instructed her to support King Charles and drive out the English from France.

Lived: Circa 1412 to 30 May 1431
War: The Hundred Years' War Between England and France
Famous For: The Siege of Orleans And the Coronation of Charles VII

She went on to take part in the Loire Campaign that saw the English decisively beaten at the Battle of Patay. After the battle Charles was coronated as the King of France as Reims Cathedral with Joan of Arc at his side. In the end the French would go on to win the Hundred Years' War in around 1453.

At this time in Europe, countries did not really have the nationalism of true countries that one thinks of today. In this time France was not the country it is today. There was also the Burgundians and this French or Burgundian state was a rival of the part of France centered in Paris. The eventually captured Joan and exchanged her with the English.

Fate: Burned At the Stake
Canonized: In 1920 and Made A Secondary Patron Saint In 1922

The English put her on trial, found her guilty on the charge of heresy, and burned at the stake at the tender age of around 19 (let's not talk about the 'good old days'). In 1920, she was canonized and declared a secondary patron saint of France in 1922.

Maison de Jeanne d'Arc Historical Home

Today one can see a replica of Joan of Arc's home. The building is a re-creation of the house on Place General-de-Gaulle where she stayed during the Siege of Orléans in 1429.

In the building one will learn about her life and the difficulty of sorting between history and legend. There is a multimedia room complete with interactive kiosks, a map of her journey, and an illustrated chronology of her life, as well as an animated film about her story.

The Joan of Arc museum is a half-timbered house that was reconstructed in the 1960s. Joan of Arc came from a peasant family and so this was not her house. It was inside the residence of Jacques Boucher, general treasurer of the Duke of Orléans. Joan of Arc stayed with him during the siege of Orléans from April 29 to May 9, 1429

Visiting the Jean of Arc Musuem and House In Orléans

If one can't speak French, then don't worry, guided tours are offered in both French and English.

Come at 5 pm on Fridays and see the museum transform as it hosts a lively market. For more information and to check the museums' schedule, check their website - note that the website is only in English.