France Link

Joan of Arc ring returns to France after auction sale

The ring, given by Joan of Arc to an English cardinal before her execution in 1431, was bought by the Puy du Fou foundation for £300,000.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

A medieval ring said to have belonged to Joan of Arc, the French heroine who fought the English during the 15th Century, has returned to France after nearly 600 years in England, reports the BBC.

The ring was bought by the Puy du Fou foundation, which runs a historical theme park in France, at auction in London for $425,000 (£300,000).

Joan gave it to an English cardinal before she was burned at the stake.

The Puy foundation said the ring's return to France was highly symbolic.

The French heroine is thought to have handed the ring to England's Cardinal Henry Beaufort on the eve of her execution in 1431.

It remained in England ever since, and there is thorough documentation to establish its provenance.

On Friday it was flown back to France.

Puy du Fou president Nicolas de Villiers told French TV it was a "glorious return" for a "French treasure".

Read more of this report from the BBC.