Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight(s). Your meals will be served on board.

Upon arriving at Paris airport, head to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrivals hall, where your driver will greet you and bring you to your hotel. Enjoy a meet and greet with your fellow pilgrims, followed by Mass. Dinner and overnight.

This morning, we will visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris: Notre Dame. Completed in 1345, it has become world-renowned for its Gothic architecture, size, beauty, and history. The Cathedral has survived many tumultuous times in French history, including the Huguenot riots, the French Revolution, World War II, and the recent mysterious fire that destroyed the interior in 2019. Since then, the Cathedral has undergone a significant restoration and returned to its former glory. This afternoon, we will visit Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral, one of Europe’s most important Gothic structures. A World Heritage site, the 13th-century Cathedral has unique characteristics, including its lighting, statuary, and unity of style. Notre Dame also boasts an exceptionally rich statuary. The Cathedral is adorned with 2,303 statues, including the famous Smiling Angel, whose jovial expression reflects the Champagne School of the 13th century. In French, Notre Dame means “Our Lady”, so the literal translation of the Cathedral’s name is Our Lady of Reims. This Cathedral is where the pinnacle of Joan of Arc’s career occurred on July 17, 1429, when Charles VII was crowned King of France. Joan was later described as kneeling before Charles while embracing his legs and through tears of joy looking up at him and saying: “Noble King, now is accomplished the pleasure of God, who willed that I should raise the siege of Orleans and bring you to this city of Reims to receive your holy coronation, thus showing that you are the true King, him to whom the throne of France must belong.” All the kings of France have been crowned in Reims Cathedral. Dinner and overnight in Reims.

After breakfast at your hotel, you will transfer to Domrémy-la-Pucelle, where St. Joan of Arc (“la Pucelle”) was born in 1412. We will celebrate Mass at the Parish Church of Saint-Remy, where Joan of Arc was baptized. It is located in the heart of the village, near her birthplace. The tower, attached to the building to the north, is dated from the 13th century. Classified as a Historic Monument since 1946, it preserves contemporary vestiges of St. Joan of Arc. We will stop in Vaucouleurs, where St. Joan of Arc began her mission, enlisting the help of Robert De Baudricourt to take her to the Dauphin of France. We will return to Reims for dinner and overnight.

We will enjoy breakfast at the hotel before making our way to Troyes. This city is where the Treaty of Troyes was signed. We will visit Troyes Cathedral, where Joan of Arc escorted the Dauphin to Mass. We will also have an opportunity to celebrate Mass here. Next, we travel to Orleans. This city is closely connected with St. Joan of Arc as she is known as “The Maid of Orleans”. At a young age, St. Joan received visions of Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. It was they who told St. Joan that God wanted her to drive away the English from French territory. Upon arriving in Orleans, your group will check-in at your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast, we will visit Orleans Cathedral. The Cathedral is most famous for its association with St. Joan of Arc, and its stained-glass windows beautifully depict her story. Our pilgrimage continues to Loches where we will visit Belli Locus, the great abbey dedicated to the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem). The royal lodge, built by Charles VII of France and once used as the subprefecture, contains the oratory of Anne of Brittany. On May 11, 1429, Joan of Arc arrived here to meet the king after her historic victory at Orleans. We continue onto Tours for hotel check-in, dinner, and overnight.

This morning, we will travel to Poitiers, where the Dauphin ordered background inquiries and a theological examination to verify St. Joan of Arc’s morality. He wanted to test her claims by seeing if she could lift the siege of Orléans as she had predicted. Our tour will continue to Chinon Castle, where the first meeting between Joan and King Charles VII took place. Celebrate Mass at Chapelle Sainte Radegonde, then return to the hotel for dinner and a peaceful overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to Mont St. Michel, home to the Monastery of Le Mont St. Michele. It is known as “the Wonder of the Western World”. The Monastery is surrounded by a magnificent bay with one of the greatest tidal ranges in Europe, resulting in a breathtaking view. In 709, this Monastery was built and consecrated by Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, at the request of St. Michael the Archangel. Since the ninth century, the Abbey has been home to a monastic community in order to ensure the continuation of a spiritual presence. Mont Saint-Michel’s resolute resistance inspired the French, especially St. Joan of Arc. Following this visit, we make our way to Lisieux and enjoy some free time before dinner and overnight.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will see the beautiful Basilica of St. Therese and the magnificent mosaics and stained glass contained within. St. Therese was heavily influenced by St. Joan of Arc. She wrote two plays about St. Joan’s life titled “The Mission of Joan of Arc” and the other, “Joan of Arc Accomplishing Her Mission.” The same passion that drove Joan of Arc to defeat all odds and save France is the same that fueled the flame of love in the heart of Therese. Visit St. Therese’s family home called “Les Buissonnets” and the Carmelite Convent she entered in 1888. In the Carmelite Convent’s museum, pilgrims can see the costume Saint Therese wore while playing St. Joan of Arc. Dinner and overnight in Lisieux.

This morning, we depart to Rouen. Located less than two hours from Paris, Rouen and the Seine Valley are a haven of peace for locals and foreigners. With its many monuments, the tallest Cathedral in France, cultural heritage, gastronomy, local products, events, and central location, only Rouen could be the capital of Normandy! St. Joan of Arc is given the place of honor in this city of a hundred Spires. The Duke of Bedford, John of Lancaster, bought Joan of Arc her liberty from the Duke of Burgundy, who had kept her in jail since May 1430. She was sent to be tried in the city during Christmas 1430. After a lengthy trial by a Church court, she was sentenced to death by being burned at the stake. The sentence was carried out on May 30, 1431, in Rouen, and most residents supported the Duke of Burgundy, Joan of Arc’s royal enemy. Depart for Paris for dinner and overnight.

In the morning, we will visit and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Saint Joan of Arc. The Church was first proposed in 1914 as a votive offering for Paris’s safety during World War I’s opening stages. The city’s protection during this time was attributed to the intervention of Joan of Arc. The new Church was built next to the only Parisian Church known to have been visited by Joan, the Church of Saint-Denys de la Chapelle, where she prayed one night in 1429. After Mass, we will start the sightseeing tour of Paris. We will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, where we will view the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Laboure. The Saint’s guardian angel led her to the Chapel where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to her. During apparitions, Our Lady repeatedly instructed the making and purpose of the Miraculous Medal. According to the Blessed Virgin Mary, those who wear the Miraculous Medal will receive special protection and abundant graces. After the visit, we will walk to the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul and pray before his incorrupt body. Our sightseeing tour continues via motor coach to the most recognizable symbols of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, L’Arch de Triomphe, the Champ-Elysees, the Louvre Museum, and Notre Dame Cathedral. We will end the day with a visit to Montmartre Hill. Since the dawn of time, Montmartre has been a place of worship. It began with the Druids of ancient Gaul, to the Romans with their temples dedicated to Mars and Mercury, eventually becoming the Church of Saint Peter. This Church is the oldest in Paris and is where Saint Ignatius of Loyola and six other young men, including Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Peter Faber, gathered and professed vows of poverty, chastity, and later obedience, including a special vow of obedience to the Pope in matters of mission direction and assignment, founding the Company of Jesus. Our final stop is the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur, which was erected at the end of the 19th century as an act of reparation for the sins committed in France during that time. Dinner and overnight in Paris.

Today, we will depart Paris and head to the city of Chartres. This city is known for its magnificent 13th-century Chartres Cathedral. This Church is a stunning display of medieval architecture and is home to the relic of the Holy Veil, said to be worn by the Blessed Virgin Mary when she gave birth to Jesus. We will also be able to see the most famous labyrinth in the world, built around the year 1200 and sometimes called the “Chemin de Jerusalem” or the Road of Jerusalem. The Cathedral’s majestic stained glass windows depict over five thousand figures, depicting biblical stories and the lives of the saints, presenting to every pilgrim a vision of the heavenly city that awaits us. Return to Paris for dinner and overnight.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, transfer to the Paris airport for your return flight(s) home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.