Saprée Vadrouille in the land of Joan of Arc in Domrémy-la-Pucelle

Follow the route using the PDF itinerary available for download in the practical information section. Park in the car park of Joan of Arc's birthplace, located next to the church.

(S/E) Take a tour of the sites near the church and the birthplace of Jehanne. Reflect on village life in the turbulent ^{15th century}, when faith was the anchor of wisdom and hope for the people. Enter Saint-Rémy Church, where Joan was baptised and received her^{first communion}. Leave the church and turn right to approach the garden – the fairy tree. Then turn right towards Joan's birthplace.

(1) After visiting it, retrace your steps, cross the car park of the house where she was born via Rue de la Basilique and go to the bridge on the right that crosses the Meuse.

(2) With your back to the bridge,head towards the village of Greux. Go straight through both villages along the main street, Rue Jeanne d'Arc (D164). Ignore Rue Bernard Lorraine (D19) on your right and you will come to an intersection after the Greux town hall.

(3) Turn left to follow the D166, veer slightly to the right and arrive at a fork under a power line.

(4) Keepslightly to the right. Continue until you reach the entrance to a wood. When the road turns right a second time, go straight on to the place called La Chapelle Notre-Dame de Bermont.

(5) Retraceyour steps towards the village of Greux.

(3) Continue straight ahead, then take the second right at the entrance to Domremy-la-Pucelle onto the Tuilerie/D53 or Côte de la Basilique. Continue straight ahead until you reach the third fork.

(6) Continue to the Basilica of St. Joan of Arc.

(7) Enter the basilica from below, to the left of the forecourt, under the gallery. Enter the Notre-Dame des Armées crypt. Leave the crypt and take the Escalier de la Paix (Stairway of Peace). At the top, walk through the nave and then go to the south apse. Exit from the side and climb the hill, Chemin de Croix du Bois Chenu, which is slightly to the right. Observe the "Meuse en dormeuse" in the distance.

(8) Descend via the path south of the buildings, towards the former Carmelite convent of Bois Chenu. Walk along the convent wall to the Fontaine des Fiévreux fountain.

(9) Turn right and walk up to the side of the road before turning right down Côte de la Basilique/D53 towards the village of Domrémy-la-Pucelle, until you reach the first road on the right with a calvary.

(6) Keep right to reach Rue de la Basilique, which leads to the house where Joan was born (S/E).

Duration of the route: approximately 5 hours.
Download the itinerary.
"In the footsteps of Saint Déodat" is the route suggested in the second "Saprée Vadrouille" guide, which you can discover here.

• Main parts of the circuit:

  1.DOMREMY, THE BIRTHPLACE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION. THE CRADLE OF A CALLING – 2 hours
  Jeannette's upbringing has much to tell us: it characterises the family, social and religious life that creates a sense of community and is reflected in the housing around the Church of Saint-Rémy.

  2.BERMONT, IN THE LAND OF JEHANNE – 1 hour
  As with Jesus, with Jehanne in prayer, work is sanctified and rich in promise. As if that were not enough, she had to make regular pilgrimages, alone or accompanied, to the hermitage of St-Thiebaut, to honour Our Lady with her prayers and flowers.

  3.BASILICA OF BOIS CHENU, PLACE OF MEMORY, PLACE OF A NEW BEGINNING
  Sanctuary of Bois-Chenu: Basilica of St. Joan of Arc, Crypt of Our Lady of the Armies, Carmelite Convent, Fountain of the Feverish.
  More information about the Carmelite Convent on our website.

• In the footsteps of Saint Élophe in Soulosse-sous-Saint-Élophe, a 4th-century martyr and cephalophore: the Chapel of Sainte-Épéothe, the Church of Saint Élophe, the Fountain of Saint Élophe and the archaeological museum.