Joan was born in Domremy, a small village on the frontier of the duchy of Lorraine. The district was ruled directly by the royal administration and remained loyal to Charles VII despite its being within a predominantly Anglo- Burgundian area.
The towns of Vaucouleurs, Greux, Neufchateau, and Maxey lie near Domremy, as does the river Meuse. Though the inhabitants of Domremy occasionally experienced nearby skirmishs, for thier life was easier than it was most in France at the time. Domremy showed no signs of social breakdown, unlike most areas of France. However, the town was partially burned by a band of Anglo- Burgundians who drove off the village’s cattle in 1425. This is the same year Joan’s visions began.
Joan’s birth place and home. [1905]Joan’s home. [TF 1984]Side yard of Joan’s home. The site of Joan’s first vision. [1910]Joan’s home. [1905]This map shows how Domremy’s loyalities were divided. [copyrighted VLF][copyrighted VLF]Interior of Joan’s home – main living area’s fireplace. [1910]Interior of Joan’s home – bedroom shared by Joan and her sister, Catherine. Note the framed indentation located in the left wall – this is called a “press”. It is the medieval equivalent of our closets. [TF 1984]Main living area – used as a museum. [1905]This carving is over the main door to Joan’s home. It shows three coats of arms: King Louis XI (center), the Thiesselin family (left), and the de Lys family (right) with the date of 1481. It is believed that in 1481 King Louis paid the Thiesselin family to restore Joan’s home. The Thiesselins had married into the de Lys family. [1905]Main living area and fireplace. [TF 1984]
![Joan's birth place and home. [1905]](https://www.joanofarcsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hom01.jpeg)
![Joan's home. [TF 1984]](https://www.joanofarcsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/hom05.jpeg)
