What the Maison de Jeanne d'Arc is and why it matters in Orléans

This is a house museum telling the story of Joan of Arc and the city's liberation from the English on 8 May 1429, when she was known as the Pucelle. The multimedia room covers her life from 1412 to 1431 and her stay in Orléans in 1429. It is a focused, single-subject attraction, so arrive expecting interpretation rather than a grand historic interior.

Its importance is as much civic as architectural: Joan is the figure Orléans built its identity around, and this house is the place the city has set aside to explain that bond. If you want a wider view of what else the city offers, start with the Orléans Attractions guide and work this visit into it.

Where it is: 3 Place du Général de Gaulle and how to reach it

The address is 3 Place du Général de Gaulle, 45000 Orléans, on the western side of the centre and within walking distance of the cathedral and the main shopping streets. From the cathedral you can cover the distance on foot in well under fifteen minutes at an easy pace.

Orléans is compact and flat, so walking is the sensible way to link this house with the rest of the centre; the tram and bus network covers the wider city if you are coming from further out. If you are plotting a walking route through the centre, the Orléans Neighborhoods guide helps you group stops by area.

The building's story, from the Boucher house to the 1940 fire and 1965 reopening

In spring 1429, with Orléans under siege, Joan spent ten days west of the city in the house of Jacques Boucher, treasurer to the Duke of Orléans. The building was destroyed by a local fire in 1940, and André Malraux laid the foundation stone of its reconstruction in 1961. It reopened to the public in 1965 and became a museum dedicated to Joan of Arc in 1975.

What you see today is therefore a reconstruction, not the medieval house Joan stayed in, and knowing that shapes how you read the building. Its 60th anniversary prompted a 2025 exhibition at the Hôtel Cabu, which ran from 8 April to 21 September 2025 and has now closed.

Inside: the multimedia room on Joan's life and her 1429 stay in Orléans

The heart of the visit is the multimedia room, which sets out Joan's life and her time in the city through film. There is a film projection room and wifi on site, and audioguides are available in French and English. That makes it usable for British, Irish and American visitors without fluent French.

Because the displays are screen-led rather than room after room of objects, the pace is quick and the content is concentrated. Read the panels and watch the film and you will have the context you need before walking the city's Joan of Arc sites.

How long to allow and what suits a short visit

Allow around 30 minutes on average to get the most out of the visit, which is a good guide rather than a fixed rule. Some visitors linger, others move through faster. Either way it fits neatly into a weekend morning without eating into the rest of your plans.

The house suits anyone who wants the Joan of Arc story explained clearly before exploring the city, and it works well for families because the multimedia approach holds attention. It is less compelling if you are after original medieval fabric or large collections.

Tickets and opening hours

Adult admission is 8 €, with a 4 € discount rate, other rates at 4 € and 2 €, and a free rate; cards, cheques, holiday vouchers and cash are accepted. These figures come from the regional tourism listing, so confirm the rate at the door or on the museum's own site before you travel.

The published seasonal pattern for 1 October to 30 April is Tuesday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm, with the house closed on Mondays. Summer months follow a different timetable that the listing does not set out, so check the current hours before a spring or summer visit.

Nearby: the cathedral quarter and other sights to pair with it

Pair the house with the Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans, whose towers dominate the skyline a short walk east, and with the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans near place Sainte-Croix. Together they fill a comfortable half day without rushing.

Place du Martroi, the city's central square, makes a natural point to orient yourself between stops, and the Parc Floral de la Source offers green space if you want to break up the sightseeing. Both are easy to slot around a visit here.

Practical points: catering, pets and language options

There is no on-site catering, so plan a meal nearby or bring a picnic if the weather allows. Pets are not permitted inside, with the exception of guide and assistance dogs.

Audioguides in French and English cover the main content, and the multimedia room does much of the explanatory work, so non-French speakers can follow the story comfortably. The site does not hold the Tourisme & Handicap label, so contact the museum directly if you have specific access needs.

Plan Your Visit

The Maison de Jeanne d'Arc works best as a 30-minute grounding in the city's defining story, slotted between the cathedral and the old town. Check the seasonal hours and current ticket rate before you set out, then build the rest of your day around the centre on foot.