At which castle did Joan of Arc first meet the future Charles VII?

Joan of Arc first met the future Charles VII at Chinon Castle. She reached Chinon in 1429 after persuading local authorities and commanders to help her travel to the dauphin’s court.

According to later accounts, Charles initially tested Joan by disguising himself among members of his court. Joan identified him despite the deception, although the details of this episode come from later testimony and should not be treated as a modern eyewitness transcript.

The meeting led to examinations of Joan’s character and beliefs at Poitiers. After these investigations, Charles allowed her to accompany the French army toward Orléans. Her arrival helped transform her from an obscure village teenager into a symbol of French resistance.

Chinon was a major fortress and royal residence in the Loire Valley. It should not be confused with Reims, where Charles was later crowned, or Rouen, where Joan was tried and executed.