After hearing Mayor Carré’s speech, I felt that the story of Orléans was even more interesting than a story about French perfume. Let us explore Orléans and see another side of romantic France.

French gentlemen, French perfume, French fashion, French foie gras, French etiquette and so on. France, well-known globally as a nation of romance, is a destination countless tourists aspire to travel to.

In this nation of romance, other than Paris which has long been called the city of romance, there is another transcendent city full of French culture that is worth exploring. This city not only exhibits “French romance” but something even greater. It is Orléans, which was once the capital of France during the Mérovingien Dynasty.

Orléans Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans) in Orléans

When you reach Orléans, you see an encyclopedia on France embodied in the Orléans Cathedral (Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans). You might find the Cathedral too heavy and the history too serious, so you take the traveler’s handbook in your hands and hurry to various corners of Orléans to have fun.

When you are in Parc Floral de la Source playing with small animals or chasing wild butterflies, you might be curious about the kind of people who built this castle. When you are camping and picnicking at Orléans’ Charlemagne Island, you might ask while basking in the comfortable sun: Are Orléans citizens like its land, allowing people to enjoy the warmth of the sun? When you are lost in the forests of Orléans, you might gaze towards the city center and try to locate the Cathedral.

Orléans from afar

“Green, comfortable, interesting” is the impression that many Chinese tourists have of Orléans. It attracts them to linger in Orléans, and leads them to join in one of the biggest festivals in France- the St. Joan of Arc Festival.

St. Joan of Arc Festival has its origins in French heroine Joan of Arc’s sacrifice. Joan was originally a common teenage girl in a French village. When Joan was 16, she steeled herself to join the army in hopes of liberating France, which was dominated by the English. After many trials, 17-year-old Joan led an army of 200 soldiers to victory over the 4000-strong English army.

Thereafter, Joan led the army on a wave of victory against the English, reclaiming lost land, thus enabling the morale of the army and public to soar. It even culminated in Charles VII’s coronation. At the tender age of 18, Joan became the hope for the whole of France.

A still from the movie “Joan of Arc”

However, Joan was captured by the English, persecuted and ultimately executed by burning on the charges of witchcraft. Even when faced with impending execution, Joan did not forget her mission of defending her motherland, saying: “Of the love or hate God may have for the English I know nothing, but I know well that they will all be driven out of France, except those who will die here.”

The news of 19-year-old military genius Joan being executed caused a great uproar in France. 25 years after Joan’s death, she was declared innocent in a retrial and then canonized by the Vatican 500 years later.

In the 600 odd years after Joan’s sacrifice, people held the Festival to commemorate this teenaged girl who was full courage, wisdom, kindness, who strove to rescue France from difficulty and who refused to yield because of her beliefs.

St. Joan of Arc

So much so that former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had this to say of Joan:

“Unconquerable courage, infinite compassion, the virtue of the simple, the wisdom of the just, shone forth in her. She glorifies as she freed the soil from which she sprang. All soldiers should read her story and ponder on the words and deeds of the true warrior, who in one single year, though untaught in technical arts, reveals in every situation the key of victory.”

Today, Joan’s story permeates every corner of Orléans. Joan’s image is everywhere: on the colorful stained glass windows of the Cathedral, the statue at place du Martroi, souvenirs shops, pedestrian crossings… Joan’s logo appears everywhere. An image of a girl in short hair even appears on the French government sign. The identity of the girl in this sign is no longer important, what is key is all that she represents “Freedom, Equality, Love” (Liberté, égalité, fraternité).

French Government Official Logo

One might ask: what is so great about Joan?

Joan’s greatness is not just because she has military talents like Napoleon, it is more about her utmost love for her country, her persevering kindness and her keeping to her faith to the end. Persisting in these simple matters for a short time is easy, but persevering to life’s end is something most people cannot do.

On the other hand, Joan used her life to persist in her love for her country, kindness and faith even as France was plunged in dark times, telling her countrymen that there is still hope in this country. Nothing is more exciting that concrete action.

Current France President Emmanuel Macron attended the Festival in his capacity as Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs last year and announced his plans to run for President in front of the crowds.

Joan of Arc Equestrian Statue at place du Martroi

If you happen to be in Orléans at the end of April, you will participate in this special and meaningful activity. The festivities include the Mayor’s Address, a massive ancient-era parade, a light show and other activities. Through these activities, you can experience Orléans’ romance and creativity and reflect on the universal values behind them.

After the activities, maybe you will go to place du Martroi, fix your gaze on the statue and seemingly understand Orléans as a city.

(The pictures from this article are retrieved from the internet. )

Chinese：

2017年9月8日，法国奥尔良市长奥里佛·加里尔（Olivier Carré）来到扬州，出席了2017世界运河城市论坛，并作主题演讲。演讲主要讲述了奥尔良绿色、可持续发展的理念、实践。我也有幸参加该论坛，亲临现场听奥里佛·加里尔讲述奥尔良市的绿色、可持续发展的故事。

听完加里尔市长的演讲后，我觉得奥尔良市有比法国香水更值得分享的故事。请看下文，让我们一起走进法国奥尔良，认识法国这个浪漫国度的另一面。

法国的绅士、法国的香水、法国的时装、法国的鹅肝、法国的礼仪…法国，这个以浪漫而闻名世界的国家，是无数旅游爱好者憧憬的旅游胜地。而在这个浪漫的国度里，除了久负浪漫之名的巴黎，还有一个极具传奇色彩、展现法国文化的城市值得我们去探索。这个城市展示了法国除“浪漫”之外，更伟大的东西。它就是曾一度成为法兰西首都（墨洛温王朝时期）的奥尔良市。

初到奥尔良，你抬起头就能看到一本法国历史的百科全书——圣十字大教堂。可能你会觉得教堂太过厚重，历史太过严肃，于是你拿着手里的旅游攻略，飞奔到奥尔良的各个角落游玩。

当你在奥尔良的花卉公园里逗逗小动物、追逐过野生蝴蝶时，你会好奇是什么样的一群人建造了这座城；当你在奥尔良的查理曼岛露营野餐、享受舒适阳光的时候，你会追问：奥尔良的人是不是也像这片土地一样，让人感到舒适阳光；当你在奥尔良森林里迷路的时候，你会回头朝市中心望去，努力让自己看到那座圣十字大教堂。

是的，“绿色、舒适、有趣”是奥尔良市给很多中国游客留下的印象，吸引他们在奥尔良逗留，引领他们加入到法国最盛大的节日之一——圣女贞德节。

圣女贞德节起源于法国的女英雄贞德的牺牲。贞德本是一个普通的法国农村少女。在贞德16岁那年，她毅然从军，希望能解救即将被英国占领的法国。几经波折，17岁的贞德在奥尔良以牺牲200余人的代价消灭英军约4000人。

随后，贞德率领军队一次次地击退英军，收复失地，让法国的军队、民众士气高涨。甚至让当时的查理王储成功加冕为查理七世。以至于，年仅18岁的贞德成为当时法国整个民族的希望。

但是，后来贞德被英国人俘虏、迫害，最终以异端和女巫罪被判处火刑。临刑前的贞德依然不忘自己保卫祖国的使命：对于上帝赐予英国人的爱和恨，我毫不知情，但我知道它们都会被赶出法国。

19岁的军事天才贞德被处死的消息，在当时的法国引起了巨大轰动。在贞德死后的第25年，贞德被平反，500年后被梵蒂冈封圣。在贞德牺牲后的600多年里，人们为缅怀这位勇气、智慧、善良、拯救法国于水火之中、为信仰宁死不屈的少女，而举行圣女贞德节。

以至于英国前首相丘吉尔竟这样评价贞德：

不可征服的勇气，无限丰富的感情，单纯者的美德，正直人的智慧，这一切都在她身上放出了光彩。她解放了养育自己的土地，因此赢得了光荣。军人们都应该读一读她的故事，思索一下这个真正的军事家的言论和行动。她虽然没有学过战争艺术，却在短短的二年时间里在各种形势下揭示了制胜的诀窍。

如今，贞德的故事流传在奥尔良城的每一个角落。贞德的形象更是无处不在，在圣十字大教堂的彩绘玻璃窗上、殉难广场上的雕像、纪念品专卖店、人行横道线…处处出现着贞德的logo。甚至在法国政府的标志上，也画着一个短发少女的形象。这个标志上的少女是谁已经不重要了，关键是她所代表的“自由、平等、博爱”普世价值观，与圣女贞德相同。

这时候有人会问：贞德为什么这么伟大啊？

贞德的伟大不仅在于她那堪比拿破仑的军事才能，更在于她将爱国主义进行到底，将善良坚持到底，将信仰坚守到底。把这些简单的事坚持一段时间是容易的，但把这些事坚持到生命的最后一刻是大部分人做不到的。

而贞德在法国处在茫茫黑暗时期里，用生命去将爱国、善良、信仰坚持到底，告诉所有法国人：这个国家还有希望。没有什么比这实际行动更能让人振奋了。

现任法国总统马克龙去年以法国经济部部长的身份，出席了奥尔良的圣女贞德节，并当众宣布准备竞选法国总统。

所以，如果你恰巧在四月底来到奥尔良，你一定会参加到这个具有特殊意义的活动中去。在这个盛典中，会包含市长宣誓词、盛大古装游行、灯光秀等活动。在活动中感受奥尔良的浪漫与创意，并且反思它背后的普世价值。

活动的最后，也许你会来到奥尔良的殉难广场，凝视着圣女贞德的塑像，仿佛渐渐读懂了奥尔良这座城。

（文中图片源于互联网）