Jeanne d’Arc Statue
Joan of Arc, France’s national heroine and “The Maid of Orleans,” born in Domremy around 1412, led the French against English rule during the Hundred Years War. She played a key role in the siege of Orleans and Charles VII’s coronation in Reims. Captured by the English-allied Burgundians on May 23, 1430, she was unjustly executed at age 19 on May 30, 1431. Posthumously exonerated, she was beatified in 1909, canonized in 1920, and is one of France’s nine secondary patron saints.
In Pondicherry, India, the Garden of Joan of Arc stands as a testament to her memory. This garden, located between the church and the sea, features a striking life-size white marble statue of Joan of Arc, a gift from French industrialist François Gaudart in 1920. The statue was formally installed on a stone pedestal in April 1923.
This statue, depicting Joan of Arc in knight’s armor bearing a battle standard, symbolizes her heroic deeds in French history. Recently, the garden underwent extensive restoration initiated in 2014 by the friends of Puducherry Heritage, with support from the Fondation Vieilles Maisons Françaises (VMF) and private donors. The restoration project revitalized the garden under the guidance of Italian landscape architect Mariachiara Pozzana, incorporating plants from the Auroville Botanical Garden and contributions from Pondicherian artisans.
Good To Know
Tourist Spot:
France's national heroine and "The Maid of Orleans", she is standing in white marble statue of Joan of Arc, a gift from French industrialist François Gaudart in 1920.
Distance:
100m from Mahatma Gandhi Statue, White town.
Entry charges:
There is no entry fee to visit the Joan of Arc.
Door opening hours:
Open for viewing anytime, though the garden itself is not accessible to the public.
Shop Near:
Chintz boutique & Via Pondichérry.
Food Near:
The Indian Kaffe Express & Coromandel Cafe.
Stay Near:
Villa du Ocean & Pearl Bell Villa.
Parking:
Free parking for two-wheelers are available adjacent to the Joan of Arc in Dumas Street. Car parking facilities are available near old Port, with minimum charges applicable.
Restroom:
Public toilets are situated at the southern end of Goubert Avenue (beach road), near the Dupleix Statue, and another one is located at the northern end of Goubert Avenue (beach road), next to the French Consulate building.
Location:
Door Nº 51, Joan of Arc statue, Dumas Street, Puducherry, India, 605001, INDIA.
Strategically situated along Goubert Avenue, the Garden of Joan of Arc remains a significant landmark in Pondicherry, alongside other notable buildings such as the Lighthouse, Mairie, and French Consulate. Joan of Arc’s enduring legacy continues to inspire and honor her as both a heroine of France and a revered Roman Catholic saint.
Doors Calling
