THE MYSTERY OF RENNES-LE-CHATEAU

Secret societies abound in France. Since the French revolution there has been a strong divide between Republicans and Royalists with all kinds of societies supporting various claimants to the throne. Most them seem to have the support of one catholic group or another, not all of which appear to be strictly Roman in their beliefs. One in particular, the Priory of Sion, has claimed to be the guardian of the secret of Rennes-le-Château.

 
Nicolas Poussin, the father of French Classical painting, is said to have hidden messages relating to a great secret hidden in the area in some of his paintings, specifically, in “Les Bergers d’Arcadie” (The Shepherds of Arcadia).


In 1985 a huge pentagram was found in the landscape, its geometric points marked by ancient sites which now have mostly Christian churches on them. This figure was found to be part of an incredibly complicated geometrical pattern, requiring a very sophisticated knowledge of mathematics, laid out thousands of years ago, probably before the birth of civilisation as we know it.
Whatever it was that abbé Saunière found, it kept him in comfort for most of his life. However, his housekeeper and lifelong friend, Marie Denarnaud, was the only person he confided in, and both of them took the secret with them to their graves.
Templars - Cathars - the Holy Grail - Mary Magdalene - the Tomb of Jesus - The Priory of Sion - the Devil’s Treasure - Solomon’s Treasure - the Ark of the Covenant - the Royal Line of Kings - all these and more have been suggested as his find.
This is a real treasure hunt - with maps, parchments, pictures, lost wills, messages on gravestones and the Language of the Birds to lead you along the way - up the garden path half the time! - to what?
What did abbé Saunière find? Did he find anything? Was he supported by some rich, clandestine patron or secret society? Or was he himself part of the mystery, as indicated by the curious acts of homage to his body immediately after his death?