Domrémy-la-Pucelle

Domrémy-la-Pucelle
region	Grand Est
Department	Vosges
Arrondissement	Neufchâteau
Canton	Neufchâteau
Community association	Ouest Vosgien
Coordinates	48 ° 27 ' N , 5 ° 41' E Coordinates: 48 ° 27 ' N , 5 ° 41' E
height	268-407 m
surface	8.99 km 2
Residents	104 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	12 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	88630
INSEE code	88154
	; Location of Domrémy-la-Pucelle ; in the Vosges department

Domrémy-la-Pucelle is a French commune with 104 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) in the Vosges department in the Grand Est region ( Lorraine until 2015 ). It belongs to the Arrondissement of Neufchâteau and the Canton of Neufchâteau .

geography

The municipality of Domrémy-la-Pucelle is located near the confluence of the Vair and the Upper Meuse , about ten kilometers north of Neufchâteau . In the northwest, the municipality of Domrémy borders on the Meuse department .

history

Joan of Arc's birthplace

The Meuse as seen from the bridge at Domrémy

The first mentions of the village date from the Carolingian era. At the beginning of the 15th century the future French national heroine Jeanne d'Arc was born in Domrémy. The village, then around 35 households, was at that time exposed to several looting by Burgundian troops in the context of the Hundred Years War .

As a national memorial and due to increasing tourist numbers, the village underwent several redesigns in the 19th century. Among other things, the building complex around the house where Jeanne D'Arc was born was demolished (remains of the foundations can still be seen in the ground today) and the remains of a former castle (Château de l'Isle) belonging to the lords of Bourlemont were disposed of. On October 5, 1870, the war journalist and poet Theodor Fontane stayed for a few hours in Domrémy. He researched in France for his third war book ( The War Against France 1870/71 ) and made a detour to visit the birthplace and baptistery of Joan of Arc. In his notebook he recorded his impressions on the way in drawings and notes. He was arrested in front of the bronze monument to Joan of Arc, created by Eugène Paul, which at that time was still in front of the village church of Saint-Rémy. In his autobiography, Prisoners of War (1871), Fontane tells of his two-month captivity.

The addition -la-Pucelle was given to the community in honor of Joan of Arc, which in France is often called "La pucelle d'Orléans" ("The Maid of Orléans").

The Basilique du Bois-Chênu or Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc, 1.5 kilometers south of the village, was built in the early 20th century. At that point, Joan of Arc is said to have received the order to save France.