Les Fêtes Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc Festival) is a moving historical and patriotic celebration held each May in the city of Rouen, where Joan of Arc was tried and executed in 1431. The festival honors her legacy as a national heroine with medieval reenactments, costumed parades, concerts, and ceremonies at the city’s historic landmarks, including the Old Market Square and Joan of Arc Church. Blending faith, history, and pageantry, the event brings the Middle Ages vividly to life while paying tribute to Joan’s courage and enduring spirit. Deeply rooted in French heritage, the Joan of Arc Festival reflects Rouen’s pride in its place in France’s storied past.
DATES & TIMES
• Dates: Exact 2026 details not yet published—check official site nearer the date: Official site.
• Annual pattern: Late April to 8 May each year (2025 ran 29 April–8 May) — see City tourism.
• The exact timetable publishes annually; watch the evolving Programme page for ceremonies, parades and concerts.
LOCATION
• City centre: Key sites include Cathédrale Sainte‑Croix, Place du Martroi, Campo Santo and Île Charlemagne — overview on the Official site and programme pages.
• Map: Cathédrale Sainte‑Croix d’Orléans — Open in Google Maps.
• Getting there: Use Orléans Métropole’s TAO trams/buses; extra services and crowd measures are announced by the city — see Orléans Métropole and the event Programme.
TICKETS & ENTRY
• Mostly free: Public ceremonies, parades and many animations are free to attend; any reserved seating or concert ticketing will be listed on the Programme or via City tourism pages.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Major moments: Remise de l’épée (presentation of the sword), Jeanne’s ride on 1 May, and commemorations on 8 May — examples in recent Programme.
• Security & access: Temporary restrictions and bag checks can apply near the cathedral and parade route; details publish on the city Official site close to the event.
• Tip: Arrive early for vantage points around Place du Martroi and the cathedral forecourt.
Want front‑row views for the prologue and parade? We’ll time your days around the big ceremonies, book stays and trains, and map calm vantage points — Hire Tripologiste.