At the initiative of the Orléans Rotary Club, the Cropet Mill welcomed two guests for the evening. Clémence Miot, the young woman who portrayed Joan of Arc in Orléans this year, and Rory Davis, chosen by New Orleans, our sister city in the United States. In the company of members of the Rotary club, of the Orléans Jeanne d’Arc Association, the owners of the Mill, and elected officials from Orléans and Meung, they shared a special time.

Jean-François Pichon, the enthusiastic owner of the mill, turned on the water wheel especially for them. They learned about the different steps in the work of a miller, how the restored pieces operate, and the history of the mill that overlooks the banks of the Loire -- an immersion into the local cultural history that got people talking.

A beautiful meeting and sharing of experiences

Though thousands of kilometres separate Orléans and New Orleans, the two young women found similarities between them. Both were chosen to portray Joan of Arc, a universal figure of courage and determination, in their respective cities – a mission that comes with the role of ambassador. For the past four years, the Rotary club sponsors this exchange : the Joan from Orléans participates in the American Joan of Arc activities and parade ; since school exams prevent the American Joan from being present on May 8th, she comes at the end of June or first of July. « The American festivities are a bit different from ours. They begin January 6th and continue with many carnival parades that crescendo on Mardi Gras », explains the representative of the Orléans Joan of Arc Association.

This afternoon, Rory and Clémence enjoyed getting to know each other and sharing their experiences and anecdotes : especially since Rory studies in a French-speaking American high school and speaks perfect French. For the owners of the Cropet Mill, welcoming these two young Joans in such a place filled with cultural history perfecty illustrates the site’s mission : the transmission of living heritage by encouraging encounters and openness to the world.