Joan of Arc was an original badass of history, so I was excited to see this statue of her while visiting Reims. The statue is located right outside of the main cathedral, and you can visit it 24/7.
The statue is easily accessible and makes for a perfect stop while visiting the cathedral. Informational plaques nearby provide context of the history and significance, and they have translations in English which is so appreciated.
Created by Paul Dubois in 1896, the statue depicts Joan in full armor and mounted on horseback. It's not lit at night, which is kind of a bummer, but she's still easy to see and photograph!
The statue is also steeped in historical symbolism. Reims holds a special place in Joan's story, as it was here that she witnessed the coronation of Charles VII in 1429, fulfilling her divine mission to restore a rightful king to the throne of France.
This is just a cool stop for history (and art) buffs, and it's a free attraction which makes it worthy of a five star rating. read more