+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Photograph to come · The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims, where Charles VII was crowned

In the Footsteps of St. Joan of Arc

Domrémy, Reims, Orléans and Rouen

Thirteen days following the life of St. Joan of Arc, from her birthplace at Domrémy to the coronation at Reims, the relief of Orléans and her martyrdom at Rouen.

Departures

Current Tours to France

Upcoming departures to France. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Fourteen stops in the footsteps of St. Joan

Paris, Reims, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Vaucouleurs, Troyes, Orléans, Loches, Tours, Poitiers, Chinon, Mont-Saint-Michel, Lisieux, Rouen and Chartres, east from Paris into Lorraine, down the Loire and back through Normandy.

Itinerary · EU_FR-13D-02

The St. Joan of Arc Itinerary

Two nights at Reims with a day out to Domrémy and Vaucouleurs, two at Tours for Poitiers and Chinon, two at Lisieux by way of Mont-Saint-Michel, and three in Paris with a day at Chartres. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 4

Paris and Reims

Photograph to come · The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims
The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims
Day 1

Departure from the USA

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Paris, the first of thirteen days in the footsteps of St. Joan of Arc. Dinner and breakfast are served in flight.
Day 2

Arrival in Paris

Our local tour escort meets us on arrival and accompanies us by motorcoach to our hotel. After check-in we gather in the evening for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Paris.
Day 3

Paris and Reims

We visit the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, completed in 1345 and renowned for its Gothic architecture, having survived the Huguenot riots, the French Revolution, the Second World War and the fire of 2019, and now fully restored. We continue to Reims, whose thirteenth century facade carries 2,303 statues including the celebrated Smiling Angel, and where Charles VII was crowned King of France on July 17, 1429, the pinnacle of St. Joan’s mission. We celebrate Mass at the cathedral.Overnight in Reims.
Day 4

Domrémy-la-Pucelle and Vaucouleurs

After breakfast we travel to Domrémy-la-Pucelle, birthplace of St. Joan of Arc in 1412, and celebrate Mass at the Parish Church of Saint-Remy, where she was baptized and whose 13th century tower preserves relics of her memory. We continue to Vaucouleurs, where St. Joan began her mission by convincing Robert de Baudricourt to bring her before the Dauphin of France.Overnight in Reims.
Day 5 – 7

Orléans and the Loire

Photograph to come · The stained glass of Orléans Cathedral
The stained glass of Orléans Cathedral
Day 5

Troyes and Orléans

Following breakfast we travel to Troyes, where the Treaty of Troyes was signed in 1420, and visit Troyes Cathedral, where St. Joan of Arc once escorted the Dauphin to Mass, celebrating Mass here ourselves. We continue to Orléans, forever linked to St. Joan as the Maid of Orléans, the young visionary guided by St. Michael the Archangel, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret, who believed God had called her to drive the English from French soil.Overnight in Orléans.
Day 6

Orléans and Loches

After breakfast we visit Orléans Cathedral, famed for its stained glass depicting the story of St. Joan of Arc, and celebrate Mass here. We continue to Loches to visit the Abbey of Belli Locus, dedicated to the Holy Sepulchre, and the royal lodge of Charles VII, where St. Joan arrived on May 11, 1429, to meet the king after her victory at Orléans.Overnight in Tours.
Day 7

Poitiers and Chinon

This morning we travel to Poitiers, where the Dauphin ordered a theological examination of St. Joan of Arc to test her claims before allowing her to attempt the relief of Orléans. We continue to Chinon Castle, site of the first meeting between St. Joan and King Charles VII, and celebrate Mass at the Chapelle Sainte Radegonde.Overnight in Tours.
Day 8 – 9

Mont-Saint-Michel and Lisieux

Photograph to come · The Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
The Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
Day 8

Mont-Saint-Michel and Lisieux

After breakfast we travel to Mont-Saint-Michel, home to the Abbey known as the Wonder of the Western World, built and consecrated in 709 at the request of St. Michael the Archangel, and home to a monastic community since the 9th century. Its resolute resistance during the Hundred Years’ War inspired St. Joan of Arc. We celebrate Mass within the Abbey before continuing to Lisieux.Overnight in Lisieux.
Day 9

Lisieux

After breakfast we visit the Basilica of St. Thérèse, with its mosaics and stained glass, and celebrate Mass there. St. Thérèse was deeply influenced by St. Joan of Arc and wrote two plays on her life. We continue to Les Buissonnets, her family home, and the Carmelite convent she entered in 1888, whose museum preserves the costume she wore portraying St. Joan on stage.Overnight in Lisieux.
Day 10 – 13

Rouen and Paris

Photograph to come · The Church of St. Joan of Arc at Rouen
The Church of St. Joan of Arc at Rouen
Day 10

Rouen

This morning we travel to Rouen, the city of a hundred spires, where St. Joan of Arc was tried by a Church court after being sold to the English and sentenced to death by burning at the stake, a sentence carried out on May 30, 1431. We celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Joan of Arc, built near the site of her execution in the Place du Vieux-Marché.Overnight in Paris.
Day 11

Paris

We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of Saint Joan of Arc, beside the Church of Saint-Denys de la Chapelle, the only Parisian church she is known to have visited. We continue to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, resting place of St. Catherine Labouré, then to the Church of St. Vincent de Paul. A motorcoach tour takes in the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Louvre before we conclude atop Montmartre at the Basilica of Sacré-Coeur.Overnight in Paris.
Day 12

Chartres

Today we travel to Chartres to visit the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres, its 13th century architecture home to the relic of the Holy Veil of Our Lady and stained glass windows depicting over five thousand biblical and saintly figures, along with the famed labyrinth known as the Chemin de Jérusalem. We celebrate Mass at the Cathedral before returning to Paris.Overnight in Paris.
Day 13

Return Home

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells we transfer to the Paris airport for our return flight home, at the end of thirteen days in the footsteps of St. Joan of Arc.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Photograph to come · Mont-Saint-Michel, the abbey on its rock
Mont-Saint-MichelThe abbey on its rock, which held out through the Hundred Years War.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Photograph to come · The Smiling Angel on the facade at Reims
The Smiling Angel on the facade at Reims
Photograph to come · The Parish Church of Saint-Remy at Domrémy-la-Pucelle
The Parish Church of Saint-Remy at Domrémy-la-Pucelle
Photograph to come · Chinon Castle above the Vienne
Chinon Castle above the Vienne
Photograph to come · The royal lodge of Charles VII at Loches
The royal lodge of Charles VII at Loches
Photograph to come · The Basilica of St. Thérèse at Lisieux
The Basilica of St. Thérèse at Lisieux
Photograph to come · The Place du Vieux-Marché at Rouen
The Place du Vieux-Marché at Rouen

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to France?

May, June and September suit this route best. Days are long, the Loire and Normandy are at their best, and the cathedral cities are busy without being overwhelmed. July and August are the most crowded weeks of the year, and the winter months are short on daylight for a route that crosses the country twice.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for France?

A US passport valid for at least three months beyond your return date is required, with blank pages for entry stamps. No visa is needed for a stay under 90 days. Entry requirements for US travellers to the Schengen area are changing, so we confirm what applies to your departure with your group before you travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to France?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

    You May Also Be Interested In