I’ve always held a fascination for Joan of Arc, ever since I was a little girl.
The historical story is a remarkable one, no matter what one believes.
To hear heavenly voices and do something amazing, to save one’s country and obey God – it’s the stuff of dreams and fairy tales.
But Joan did all that and more.
Joan was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1431, after a politically-motivated trial. The appellate court retried Joan and declared her innocent on 7 July 1456. She was beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920.
We’re focusing on European history this year since we’re living in Germany.
We spent several weeks reading about Joan of Arc, the 100-year war, and other issues of the Middle Ages.
To celebrate the end of the first unit of our history cycle 2, we visited Rouen – where Joan of Arc was tried and executed.
For our Joan of Arc Unit Study, we read lots of books, watched some films, completed notebooking pages, and traveled to Rouen.
Books:
Joan of Arc by
Joan of Arc: Heroine of France by
Dove and Sword: A Novel of Joan of Arc by
Joan of Arc by
Joan of Arc by
Joan of Arc by
Joan of Arc (Step into Reading) by
My son especially loved this book and it was very accurate, not dumbing anything down.
Joan of Arc (Dorling Kindersley Readers, Level 4) by
Films:
Joan of Arc with Ingrid Bergman and Directed by Victor Fleming
Joan of Arc with Leelee Sobieski
The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc with Milla Jovovich
The Passion of Joan of Arc (The Criterion Collection) with Maria Falconetti
Joan of Arc Interactive DVD by Nest Learning
There’s also an activity book here.
Activities:
St. Joan of Arc coloring page from Catholic Icing
Reenaction with Legos by Adventures in Mommydom
Simple Joan of Arc Lapbook from Homeschool Epiphany
Online documents of Saint Joan of Arc Trials
Interactive Maps of Travels of Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc notebooking and coloring pages from Shower of Roses
Joan of Arc notebooking page from Homeschool Helper Online
NotebookingPages.com has a set of Middle Ages notebooking pages that included a set for Joan of Arc
Our Field Trip to Rouen:
Eglise Sainte-Jeanne-d’Arc de Rouen
Since 1979, this church stands on the Old Market Square where she was burned. It is both a church honoring St. Joan of Arc and a civil memorial with a cross and eternal flame in the courtyard. The outside is modern, designed by architect Louis Arretche, evoking the sea with a cover of scales in slate or copper. The roof of the church is meant to resemble an overturned Viking ship and consuming flames. Inside, there are remarkable stained glass windows of the old church Saint Vincent Renaissance. There are no relics of St. Joan of Arc.
I paid €0,50 for an English brochure.
Hours:
Monday to Thursday, Saturday : 10am to 12pm and from 14h to 18h
Friday and Sunday : 14h to 18h
Closed : 25 December and 1 January.
Rouen Cathedral
Joan of Arc was put on trial in the bishops’ palace, but we felt it fitting to visit the famous cathedral.
The highest spire in France, erected in 1876, a cast-iron tour-de-force rising 490 ft above the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen. Claude Monet immortalized Rouen’s cathedral facade in his paintings.
A chapel is dedicated to Joan of Arc.
New Joan of Arc Museum in Rouen
The kids loved these discovery booklets with puzzles, questions, activities, and information about the life and times of Joan of Arc and the city of Rouen.
The Joan of Arc museum has projected videos and images that explain the story of Joan in each room of the bishop’s palace. It’s quite innovative and exciting and holds everyone’s attention really well.
There are statues and artifacts at the end of the tour.
We viewed the tower from the attic window.
We bought a rare souvenir in the museum gift shop:
See info about Historial Jeanne d’Arc here.
Individual Tickets €9,50 or Family Ticket €26
Hours:
31 May to 1 October:
Tuesday to Sunday: 9.45 a.m.–7.45 p.m. (last visit begins at 6 p.m.)
1 June to 30 September
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday: 9.45 a.m.–7.45 p.m. (last visit begins at 6 p.m.)
Friday and Saturday: 9.45 a.m.–8.45 p.m. (last visit begins at 7 p.m.)
Joan of Arc Tower
This dungeon was part of the castle built in 1204 by Philippe Auguste. It is all that remains of the Rouen Castle. Joan was held prisoner here during her trial.
We didn’t have time to walk over to the tower, but we saw it from the window of the museum.
Tickets € 1.50
Free for children under 18
Hours:
1 April to 30 September
10am to 12.30pm and from 14h to 18h Monday through Saturday. From 14h to 18h30 on Sundays.
October 1 to March 31
10am to 12.30pm and from 14h to 17h Monday through Saturday. From 14 to 17.30 on Sundays.
Closed: Tuesdays and 1 January, 1 May, 1 and 11 November, 25 December.
Rouen is a fun town with lots to see and do, a nice market, and plenty of restaurants and shopping.
We would love to see Domrémy and Reims someday.
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