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All France Beauvais Jeanne Hachette Statue
AO Edited

Jeanne Hachette Statue

A monument to the “other Joan” who bravely defended the town of Beauvais with an axe in hand.

Beauvais, France

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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This axe-wielding heroine bravely defended a French town.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
This axe-wielding heroine bravely defended a French town.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Jeanne Hachette’s tale is relatively obscure these days, but holds a special place in the hearts of locals.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
A plaque describes the deeds of the late Jeanne.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Jean Hachette stands guard over a town square.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
Pay your respects to the other Joan.   Fred Cherrygarden / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The town of Beauvais, Oise, is not a major tourist destination despite it having an airport of its own. Most of the visitors will head straight to Paris, but stay here for a bit and you may discover a fascinating episode in post-medieval French history.

The story goes back to 1472, when Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, laid siege on Beauvais. The town repelled the relentless attack thanks to a brave, hatchet-wielding young woman named Jeanne Laisné (or Fourquet according to some sources), better known as Jeanne Hachette, or "Joan Hatchet."

Though now a legend larger than life, Jeanne was most definitely a real figure about 18 years old at the time of the siege. The popular narrative claims that she fought an enemy with an axe, took down the Burgundian flag, and reignited the morale of the town’s defenders. She led the battle to victory, becoming a heroine in French history, albeit an obscure one.

In 1851, Beauvais commemorated the legend with a life-size statue of Jeanne wielding her trusty hatchet in the town square, created by Parisian sculptor Vital Gabriel Dubray.

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The statue is free for all to see.

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Fred Cherrygarden

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Osage

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Published

September 26, 2024

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Jeanne Hachette Statue
51 Pl. Jeanne Hachette
Beauvais, 60000
France
49.430426, 2.082708
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