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Over the years, as it had fallen into ruins, it became known as the "Maid's Heap", and locals had come to believe that it had been the place where she'd so often gone to pray --- until someone bothered to read the trial transcripts and learned that it had actually been the chapel of Notre-Dame de Bermont, on the far side of Greux.
In 1869 Mgr Dupanloup came to Domremy and was shown the ruins, which were near the still-flowing fountain. The ruins of the little chapel were excavated, revealing its foundation and the pediment of the chapel door on which the name Etienne Hordal was engraved. Also found was the keystone with the arms of the du Lys family. Mgr Dupanloup wanted to re-establish the little oratory. But his plans were to be realized more grandly, as over its foundation, and over the spring, and over the place where the Maid's Tree had stood for so long, they built a basilica. It is a beautiful building, but I wonder why they built it directly over all those valuable places? Opposite is a Carmelite Convent, and nearby a hotel and restaurant and souvenir shop. Tourists stop by, and their children and spouses pose out front for the traditional tourist vacation-album photo.
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