Orléans
Spitirual Hme of the Maid
The World Heritage Site of Orléans is situated on the great bend of the mighty River Loire as it turns south, 120km/74mi west, south-south-west of Paris and is the Prefecture of the Centre-Val-de-la-Loire Région. Conquered by Caesar it was known to the Romans as Aurelianum and during the Merovingian period (450-751) it was actually the capital of France.
Orléans was to play a major role in the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, especially during the Seige of Rouen 1428-29. The English forces led by the Earl of Salisbury were defeated by the French led by Joan of Arc, later to become known as the Maid of Orléans, in May 1429. The English never forgave this of course and Joan was burned at the stake in Rouen in 1431.