In Orleans, the spirit of Joan abounds. Portraits of her hang in popular hotels, statues stand proudly in public spaces, a festival is celebrated annually in May, and memorabilia can be purchased in shops. Though she was convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake in 1431, the ruling was annulled twenty years later. In 1920, she was canonized as a saint by Pope Benedict XV. The figure of the Maid of Orléans is closely tied to France’s cultural heritage; Joan has been used as a symbol for various political or social missions, but she belongs to everyone and no one at the same time. All can find inspiration in her unmatched courage.
Text Lydia McMullen
Photography Stephanie Welbourne Steele
To learn more about Joan of Arc, see “The Maid of Orléans” in the May/June 2024 issue, available on newsstands and at victoriamag.com.
