European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Story and photos by John Taylor staff writer Orleans France is loan of arc s town. Her life is told in Cathedral windows her statue sits in the City s Square and her name is plastered on inns Street signs and souvenir shops. And it should be her town for if it weren t for her there might be no French Orleans or a who knows a perhaps even no France. Most people know something about Joan the teen age peasant girl who heard voices telling her to save France and to drive the English out of the country. Following the advice of these saints and Angels that Only she could hear Joan went to see the uncrowned French King Charles. She convinced him to let her Lead a Small Force to Orleans a key City on the Loire River that had been besieged by a rival French faction and its English allies. A. Although Joan had no fighting experience her determination and instincts for military tactics enabled her to overcome the enemy forces. On May i 1429, the Day after the decisive Battle she entered Orleans in Triumph an event the City celebrates with a Parade and festival every Mav 7 and  a. A v a. A. A a. The town that Joan of arc saved from then on things got better for France As the voices had predicted Charles Vii was crowned the English were eventually driven out of the. Country and France was saved. Things unfortunately did not go so Well for Joan. She was wounded in a subsequent Battle and captured. Although interrogators could not break her Story that saints not sorcery were responsible for her Success she was convicted of being a Witch and burned at the stake. \ Joan s religious ties make Orleans Cathedral a fitting place to begin exploring the City. Work on the Cathedral the City s most impressive building. Began in the 13th Century and continued for some 300 years. The Interior includes carved Woodwork around the choir stalls created by one of the designers of notre Dame in Paris. In the Well preserved crypts Are the remnants of three earlier buildings that stood on the same site. But what most people go to see Are the Cathedral s 10 stained Glass windows depicting the life of Joan the windows made in 1895, follow St. Joan she became a Saint in 1920 from her first Contact with the archangel Michael to her a a Entrance into this very Church to celebrate the defeat of the English to her final Day when she forgave her accusers As she died. An English language pamphlet explaining the windows is available inside the Cathedral for 2 francs about 40 cents a a leading from the Small Square outside the Cathedral is a crowded Street called predictably Rue Jeanne d arc that connects the Cathedral with the Rue Royale a grand shopping Avenue lined with arcades and the place do Martori. The Square which has a statue of Joan in the Center is the heart of what is left of the old town it takes its name from the latin word for the Christian cemetery that once occupied the grounds this is a Busy place Best explored on foot with a wary Eye for vehicles. There Are a few buildings of note including the Pavilion de la Cancellerie Busy Rue Jeanne d arc runs right into cathedrals Ste. Croix a Cathedral begun in the 13 the Century and partially destroyed by protestants in 1568. 4 stripes Magazine april 25, 1991