Author: Golden Owl Hunter

The Golden Owl treasure hunt is won after 31 years

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

Michel Becker, the treasure hunt organiser, announced on October 3rd 2024 that the correct solution has been given to him. The longest running treasure hunt in the world* is finally over!

A video released on October 13th explains that the winner wishes for total anonymity, and that the answers to the clues won’t be revealed until April 23rd 2025. This is the 32nd anniversary of the hunt.

This long wait is disappointing for all involved with the hunt, and seems to be because the reveal will be in a TV documentary. This delay is so unpopular with owlers that a petition launched to demonstrate the strength of feeling and amassed 2,500 signatures. It was removed following a legal threat to the owler who set it up, as it mentioned problems with Michel Becker’s organisation of the game. Another petition has launched and simply asks for the clue answers to be revealed. It currently has 2,000 signatures and can be found HERE.

In an attempt to maintain interest in the hunt Becker will release two clue paintings in the lead up to the reveal, apparently depicting the ‘becalmed nave’ and the sentinels.

In one interesting detail in the video Michel Becker reveals that the bronze owl has left France. This detail suggests the winner was not from France, which is quite remarkable. He also reveals that a private buyer contacted him with an offer of 300,000 euro to buy the gold owl, but the winner declined this offer.

Becker first announced the win on his Discord server on the morning of 3/10/2024, and said, ‘A potential winning solution is currently being verified. The verification system is currently locked and no longer allows you to submit your solutions. Further information will be communicated to you as soon as possible.’

He followed this up with a second message around two hours later.

Don’t go digging!  We confirm that the Golden Owl countermark was unearthed last night, simultaneously with a solution upload to the online verification system. It is therefore useless to go digging on the location you assume to be the cache. As previously announced, we are verifying the validity of the proposed solution.

The chouettedor.com official website confirms the owl was found on October 3rd.

We were promised an update by video on October 4th, but it didn’t happen.

In chat on his Discord server on October 6th Becker was asked about the delay. He said, ‘Tons of emotions to manage for all those who are responsible for managing the end of this episode and complex logistics to put in place.’

On October 8th Michel Becker gave a new update.

Last minute ! I knew it, it’s no surprise, conspiracy theorists, litigants and haters of all stripes are in turmoil and vociferating. The leaders of the A2CO association are trying to accredit the existence of another solution that would lead to the first missing countermark. As usual, everyone is flooding the media with unfounded rumors and unproven assertions. Fortunately, journalists are not being fooled and I thank them for that. We are preparing a complete legal file for them that will prevent them from dwelling on fakes. It is therefore confirmed that the game “On the trail of the golden owl” is now over! The solutions indicate a specific location and only one perfectly defined and from where the countermark numbered 2/8 was extracted. This is without any doubt or possible dispute. It is therefore no longer possible to submit your solutions or to claim to be the winner. All these bad loser ramblings cause us extra work and make us waste precious time. The good news is that the latest information we were waiting for concerning the organization of the end of the game and the means of disseminating the solutions, has just reached us. I will need you very much for this and I will tell you more very soon. Finally, thank you for your countless tags, I do not drink, I do not speak, but I do not sleep either … See you very very soon! Michel BECKER

A document explaining the legal history of the owl was also published. (English translation here.) This document attempts to halt the conspiracy theorists, who worry at the odd fact that Michel Becker’s recovered envelope of solutions led to a rusty duck buried in the ground. The original owl stamped 1/8 is still missing in mysterious circumstances.

On October 11th Michel Becker spoke in a community chat on his Discord server and said the winner wants to remain anonymous.

So we’re still waiting for answers on where the owl was buried, with it looking likely that there will be no more news for months! I’ll update this page if more news comes through.

Well done to the finder of the owl, huge congratulations are due. I hope we will learn the finder’s name in due course, and finally find the answers to the clues.

One of the community sites, the A2CO, keeps an ongoing tally of the length of this hunt. It’s quite amazing to think that that someone has finally solved this after so many long years!

The A2CO is now taking the bullish position that it is not the original countermark marked 1/8 buried by Max Valentin that has been uncovered, and for some owlers the game goes on. You can read more about the mysterious disappearance of the original bronze owl here. We can only hope that the resolution of the game at this stage includes some more explanation of why the original owl was missing.

*Sur La Trace de La Chouette d’Or founded in 1993 is the longest running unsolved treasure hunt with a single prize. The Secret treasure hunt was founded in 1982 but 3 of the 12 prizes have been found.

Submit a solution online to win the Golden Owl

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

A new way to solve the Golden Owl treasure hunt is now available, and it will open up this treasure hunt to players outside France.

This game launched in 1993 when the internet was barely born, and the only way to win the owl was to dig for the prize in a French forest. Now a website has been created at https://chouettedor.com/ and players can enter a solution to be checked by the game organiser, Michel Becker. If the answer is correct the lucky owler will be informed and can travel to France to dig up the bronze owl and exchange it for the golden prize.

Here’s how the new system works.

  1. An account must be created at https://chouettedor.com/ listing your contact details.
  2. A fee of  9.50 euros is paid per solution verification (or 7.50 for AOC members). The solution must be detailed in no more than 1000 characters, listing a postal code for the owl’s location and a ‘super solution’ that describes how it is found.
  3. The solution is time-stamped and encrypted, and sent to be read by Michel Becker. He aims to respond within 24 hours. A ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer is given to inform a treasure hunter if the answer is right.

This is a major change to the game, and Michel Becker says it will stop unnecessary money being spent by owlers checking their solutions by travelling around France. He wants to discourage people from digging holes in the French countryside, sometimes breaching local bylaws. However, the online system is optional, so old school treasure hunters can still choose to check their solution the old fashioned way by taking a shovel and digging for treasure.

Good luck, whichever way you choose to play!

An additional clue regarding the line to draw in the 560 clue

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

On August 29th 2023 Michel Becker released an image clue on his Discord server. Since he took over the organisation of the game and received the solutions in 2021 he has been urged by owlers to draw the lines on the map to verify this aspect of the solution. He finally did this and showed a picture of his map with rulers and a second map underneath.

It was quickly noticed that there was a pencil line drawn on the second partially obscured map.

Becker revealed that this was a line drawn in relation to the 560 clue.

Many people attempted to replicate this line, and it appears to start at Cherbourg and land slightly to the west of Llanes in northern Spain.

It is interesting to note that the angle of this line echoes the image in the 560 illustration.

On its journey across the map the line does not appear to hit any previously mentioned places in the game. Its placing is quite a mystery with no obvious direction leading to a line in this place.

Here is the line’s approximate position.

It is worth reflecting on the line and the text of the 560.

When, at Carusburc (Cherbourg), you will have Albion in the back,
Look for the Opening that reveals the Heavenly Light.
Do not wait, do not ask for your rest, But get ready to walk on the water.
Twice, Neptune will come to your rescue And lead you away from the icy North.
Pursue your way and do not interrupt your journey
Before seeing through the opening, the becalmed Nave.
Without deviating an inch, draw a line, and you will not regret what you did.

Does this mean that the line passes through an ‘Opening’ and the ‘becalmed Nave’? It does fit with the idea of Neptune’s rescue, presuming this means that the God carries us across two seas.

This line is not on any trajectory that has been explored by owlers before so it’s going to lead to a lot of debate.

Becker’s comments on drawing the lines 

Here are a few comments from Becker, in case they offer additional useful information.

“Nothing changed regarding the precision of the end solution.”

“Many wanted me to draw the lines, I did. Some are not decisive, that’s all.”

“I never said one line or another was wrong, and added that I was leaning into never-resolved but non-blocking stuff. I struggled a bit myself with the lines, it’s not what is best explained in the solutions. But rest assured, it works and, for what might not be found, it will not prevent the discovery of the cache.”

It will be interesting to see if this new clue leads to any new theories. It may well disappoint many owlers who feel they have well developed solutions but have no line in this section of the map.

A treasure hunter’s checklist: Facts to point you to the correct solution

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

This is an attempt to put together a checklist of essential elements that we’ve been told must be in place to successfully solve this hunt. Your solution will almost certainly be wrong if you haven’t ticked off all these factors.

Of course, the 11 clues detail many more elements in addition to these things, but these are 12 things that can be checked objectively.

Don’t despair if you don’t yet have answers to all 12 questions, no one does, or if they did the owl would be found!

1.Have you found uses for Bourges, Roncevaux, Carignan, Golfe Juan and Cherbourg?

These five places aren’t named at random, a correct solution must incorporate each place in some way that leads to the owl. This might either be through drawing lines on the map, or the places might give some other information that advances the game. But each place must have a purpose. Many owlers draw a line from A_Ronceveaux, through Bourges to Carignan. The majority also draw a line from Golfe Juan to Dabo. The use for Cherbourg is much less certain.

So what is the overall purpose of all these lines? And if they lead to the owl’s location how do they do point us to it?

It’s debatable whether the 10 towns listed in clue 580 have a role to play in the solution, they may just provide the answer to clue 600. But we do know that the 5 locations scattered among the 11 clues have a role to play, so what is that role?

2. What is the meaning of ‘a key is hidden on the black perched ship’?

Michel Becker has suggested a place must be identified in clue 600. We have very little information about the purpose of the ‘key’ mentioned here, and what exactly is the black perched ship? Dabo fans will point to Saint Leon church perched high on a hill with its ship-like silhouette at dusk. Dabo sceptics will point out this church is not black at all! Most owlers feel a need to pick a side! One thing is certain, the solution to this clue is important to solving the whole hunt.

3. At 185km from Carignan do you find a ‘spiral with four centres’?

The 500 clue suggests taking a right angle from Carignan where at 185km we find a ‘spiral with four centres.’ Many people note that this description can land on Dabo, where a spiral path leads to the church of Saint Leon. But why does the clue mention ‘four centres’? A spiral with four centres may be a mathematical geometric spiral, or perhaps these ‘centres’ may be symbolic.

Some people have attempted to show the Dabo path fits a mathematical definition of a geometric 4 centred spiral… But this is a treasure hunt from 1993. No one solving this hunt in this era would be able to use Google to obtain a picture of the path, nor could they use a Photoshop overlay to demonstrate this is correct.

4. Where does Apollo’s arrow land at 559km from Golfe Juan?

In the 420 clue we are in Golfe Juan, where Apollo fires an arrow 559km towards a 650m high point. Many people think this is a line drawn to Dabo as the distance is right and the famous Rock of Dabo is around 650 metres above sea level. Drawing this line also fits the Tour de France clues (see below.) But where does your arrow land, and what is the purpose of Apollo’s arrow in your solution?

5. What line have you drawn for the 560 clue?

This clue places us in Cherbourg, ‘with England at our back’. We are instructed to look for ‘the Opening’ that reveals ‘heavenly light,’ as well as a ‘becalmed nave’ and we are asked to ‘draw a line.’

The ‘opening’ is Bourges in an earlier clue, there are also references to light earlier in the game. The clue says ‘Without deviating an inch, draw a line, and you will not regret what you did.’ So where exactly is this line placed, and why do we draw it?

6. How is Neptune helping you twice?

In the 560 clue we ‘get ready to walk on the water’ and the text says, ‘twice, Neptune will come to your rescue and lead you away from the icy North.’

Which element of your solution explains Neptune’s ‘help’ as you walk on water? Most people think this means a line will cross the sea or rivers to explain this description. So what’s your water walking answer?!

7. Do you have a becalmed nave found from a starting point at Cherbourg?

The 560 clue places us in Cherbourg and suggests we take ‘a journey’ before ‘seeing through the opening, the becalmed Nave.’ Is it the line mentioned earlier that helps us find the becalmed nave? The word nave suggests both churches and ships, and an additional clue links the becalmed nave to the ‘black perched ship’ clue; many people assume the solution to this clue is, once again, the Saint Leon church in Dabo. What is your nave?

8. Have you found Sentinels at 8000 measures east and at a 45 degree angle from each other?

The 650 clue describes finding ‘Sentinels’ with our back to the ‘Ponant’ (archaic word for West) at 8000 measures or 2.64km. There are various theories about what the Sentinels are, we know they were called ‘Guardians’ in an earlier version of the clue. They are described in an extra clue as, ‘IMMOBILE AND FAITHFUL, TANGIBLE AND MASSIVE, SIMILAR AND DISSIMILAR’ and it’s highly likely there are three. Max also revealed that once we find the first we will see the other two at 22.5 degrees of a line east from the first. So the formation of the three sentinels is at 45 degrees, similar to the picture on the left. How confident are you of your sentinels, and are they lined up as described?

9. How do you use the numbers 71721075, and does your method work equally well with 75 and 57 as the last two digits?

Michel Becker, the organiser of the hunt since 2021, has revealed a few bits of useful information about the mysterious numbers in the 650 clue. We must ‘use’ them or decrypt them rather than decode them. We know that an earlier version of the clues reversed the last two digits. Becker has stated that the 71721057 version of the number will also work for the solution. The use of these numbers is one of the most debated aspects of this hunt. We know the numbers connect to the mysterious sentinels. A successful solution must know how they are used.

10. Do you have ‘three meetings in the Cantabrian sea’?

Max said this is ‘the most important additional clue.‘ The ‘Cantabrian sea’ is an archaic name for the Atlantic Ocean that borders the northern coast of Spain. We need to decide if the meetings are lines, historical events, or something else?

If you have the correct solution you need to understand what these three meetings in the sea mean.

11. Do your lines on the map fit the Tour de France additional clues?

In 1993 Max revealed some important additional clues that tell us exactly where five lines on the map must be drawn.

The line we draw for Apollo’s arrow crosses between Serre-Chevalier and Isola 2000 in the Alps.

A line we draw on the map crosses between Isola 2000 and Marseille.

A line we draw on the map is placed between Orthez and Bordeaux.

If we consider a virtual line of Tour de France riders travelling between Bordeaux and Brétigny-sur-Orge (just outside Paris) we should find that our solution lines will cross this line twice, and that the cyclists pass between these two lines. So that suggests we will need two of our solution lines running West to East across France. The image on the right demonstrates this concept.

 

12. Have you found a super solution leading to an exact spot to dig?

One of the mysteries of this game is why Max, the originator of the hunt, and Michel Becker, the man who has read his solution, differ in the way they describe the end game of the hunt. We know there is some kind of a ‘dig x distance from the x landmark’ instruction hidden in the clues. Max said we must look for and ‘assemble’ several ‘remnants’ of things remaining after the decryption of the 11 clues to find this final instruction. Becker said, ‘The remainders don’t exist, what comes back are notions or thoughts that automatically come back when you need them.’ He stresses that the last two clues mostly make up the super solution. In any case both agree that this hidden instruction is accurate to the centimetre and can be discovered before going to the dig site. You need this solution to find the owl.

Here’s a summary of the checklist of ‘must have’ elements for a correct solution:

General: Have you found uses for Bourges, Roncevaux, Carignan, Golfe Juan and Cherbourg?

Clue 600: What is the key hidden on the ‘black perched ship’?

Clue 500: At 185km from Carignan do you find a ‘spiral with four centres’?

Clue 420: Where does Apollo’s arrow land at 559km from Golfe Juan?

Clue 560: What line have you drawn for the 560 clue?

Clue 560: How is Neptune helping you twice?

Clue 560: Do you have a becalmed nave found from a starting point of Cherbourg?

Clue 650: Have you found Sentinels at 8000 measures east and at a 45 degree angle from each other?

Clue 650: How do you use the numbers 71721075, and does your method work equally well with 75 and 57 as the last two digits?

Additional clue: Do you have ‘three meetings in the Cantabrian sea’?

Additional clue: Do your lines on the map fit the Tour de France additional clues?

Clue 520 and others: Have you found a super solution leading to an exact spot to dig?

 

Michel Becker’s hints, tips and controversies

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

Michel Becker took over the organisation of this treasure hunt in 2021. He decrypted the 1993 floppy disc containing the Golden Owl treasure hunt solution and now knows the answer to where the owl prize is buried.

Max Valentin, the original game organiser, answered thousands of questions about the game on the Minitel, an early form of the internet. The questions and answers became known as ‘Madits.’ (meaning ‘Max told me’.) Now Michel Becker takes a similar role, answering questions on his Discord server. Some people call his statements Beckerdits, or Midits.

Michel Becker has made some bold statements about the game, challenging many of the things that have been accepted as truth for nearly 30 years. I’ll summarise the key points here.

-He insists searchers should not trust Max Valentin’s Madits, as many are misleading, or take hunters off track.

-He suggests that Max’s repeated statements about the way the 12th clue ‘super solution’ is put together should be ignored. He says that the final directions to find the treasure are simply found in the last two clues (650 and 520.)

– He says the first 9 clues have mostly been solved, with answers available online. We can suppose that commonly accepted solutions such as Bourge and the game measure 33cm are correct. But does he mean more cryptic elements are online somewhere too?

– He tells us there is an expression in the clues that gives a kind of ‘eureka moment’, that helps us to unlock the solution. He says that when this expression is understood it helps hunters understand the numbers and the supersolution, and it leads players to do something. He has suggested the expression is a fairly common phrase, “used every day by millions of people” rather than a specialist clue-style phrase such as ‘becalmed nave’.

– In addition there are many small new details that were not revealed by Max. There are no calvary crosses in the game, the opening is not used for the super solution, the 600 clue gives a place, we have the area at the end of the 9th clue, either 75 or 57 will work equally well as the last numbers of the 650 clue, the super solution can only apply in one place, and during the super solution we don’t go back to previous puzzles. And there are no doubt many more.

– He has released his own additional clue, in the form of a poem called Pierrette et le pot-aux-roses. 

There is an excellent site called 71721075.fr collecting many of Becker’s statements and summarising them. If you set your browser to auto-translate it is easy to navigate in English.

Becker claims he read around 5,000 private messages from treasure hunters on Discord and he learned some people have elements of the solution. One or more persons have found a mechanism for the use of the mysterious numbers 71721075 in the 650 clue, and someone who has amusingly become known as ‘the entity’ has the right idea for the supersolution. All this has caused an outcry in the community, with many people angry that the hunt organiser is giving tips to those who sent him messages. However, Becker reassures searchers not to be disheartened. He said this new information only proves the game is ‘solvable’ but the people who wrote to him with ideas didn’t seem to know the significance of what they’d suggested.

To add to the controversy of Michel Becker challenging elements of the game that have been accepted for decades, many people point out that when Becker retrieved the solutions and dug in the treasure location he found a bird made of iron, and not Max’s owl marked 1/8. He placed a new bronze owl marked 2/8 in the spot so the game could go on. There are some people who think Max Valentin’s solutions lead to the original owl and that Becker was duped with false solutions. Could there now be 2 owls buried in France with Max’s super solution leading to owl 1 and Becker’s super solution leading to owl 2? I personally do not believe this, but it’s an interesting theory.

It’s certainly been an eventful time for hunters since Becker became involved. It adds even more complexity to the hunt that now each hunter must decide whether to take a lead from Max’s tips or Becker’s new hints. This is especially the case with the clear divergence in the method of the super solution which reveals the exact burial spot of the owl. A Becker route says the super solution is mostly devised by the final 2 clues, while Max’s instructions repeatedly tell us to assemble ‘remnants’ of the clues and assemble them in order. I like to think both methods might be right, but just use a different emphasis. Possibly Max’s remnant approach relied heavily on the final two clues for the super solution? Or maybe Becker understands a simplified version of the super solution that he thinks works with just two clues? Quite possibly Becker’s  ‘expression’ is a phrase that Max might describe as one of the important ‘remnants’?

All of these extra bits of information must surely mean this this long running hunt will finally get solved in the next few years… Or will it? I’ve a feeling that if Becker’s owl 2 is found, there’ll still be some obsessed hunters who won’t quit until Max’s fabled owl 1 is unearthed. Happy hunting!

Golden Owl Forums

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

I’ve made the difficult decision to close the forum at Golden Owl Hunt. There are a number of reasons for this.

– It was regularly flooded with spam sign-ups, it was a lot of work going through hundreds of junk sign-ups to find the few genuine owlers who wanted to be new members.

– The forum was memory intensive and this has led to a couple of site crashes recently.

– The forum wasn’t much used, and there is now a thriving discussion forum for English speaking owlers on Discord.

If you have any questions about this, want to be put in touch with forum friends, or see old posts get in touch. 

Below are some of the best options for English language discussion about this treasure hunt. To find discussions in French check the community section of this page.

DISCORD

The most popular discussion forum is on Discord. If you’ve not tried Discord before it is very easy to use and works in a browser or as an app. The Discord server is operated by Michel Becker the organiser of the hunt, and although most of the discussion is in French there is an English language section too. Join HERE.

 

 

FACEBOOK

The Golden Owl of France Facebook group is an english language group that is starting to be used a little more recently. It currently has 189 members. Why not join and get the discussion started?

Join the group HERE.

 

 

MYSTERIOUS WRITINGS

The Mysterious Writings forum has a board devoted to the Golden Owl treasure hunt. It has a few active members and some interesting threads. Try the forum  HERE.

 

 

REDDIT

I use Reddit regularly so started a subreddit for the Golden Owl. It hasn’t really got off the ground, but like any community it just needs a few people to get the ball rolling! Try it HERE.

 

 

 

If there are any groups or forums I’ve missed please let me know. If there are enough UK based owlers for a live meet-up, perhaps in a London pub, get in touch and we’ll see if there’s enough people for a get together to talk owler things!

Happy hunting, Jo

 

An additional clue from Michel Becker for the 30th anniversary

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

Michel Becker, the game organiser since 2021, has released a short poem as an additional clue. The clue was released on April 22rd, at the get together at the Musée de la Chouette d’Or in Rochefort, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the owl treasure’s burial.

A translation would be:

Pierrette and the pot-aux-roses

In a place everything begins,

In a point everything ends.

Going from one to the other, clasped between her hands,

Pierrette’s rose, Valentine’s present,

Has sown its petals, like little white pebbles,

While hesitating, measured, rhythmic,

To the end of the road her steps had carried her,

As in another world of which she would be the center,

Diligent and zealous, Pierrette came to understand…

By the Chouette d’Or®, finally, she would be surprised.

It’s interesting to see an additional clue in a very different style to any that Max Valentin would have written, but it’s enigmatic, and doesn’t give too much away. A lot of owlers were worried it would open the hunt up too much and lead to a race to find the owl, but I don’t think that will happen.

A few thoughts…

The pot-aux-roses

English speakers will not be familiar with this phrase. It’s a French expression that means to discover a secret,  ‘découvrir le pot aux roses’ (literally ‘to discover the pot of roses’). The origin of the phrase is thought to be from the Middle Ages, when women would hide letters and gifts from lovers in flowerpots. When these were found, the secret relationship was discovered. Other theories about the origin of the phrase are to do with perfume or make-up, or possibly from the Latin phrase ‘sub rosa’. The title suggests Pierette is sharing her secrets with us, and the poem uses the emblem of rose petals to play with this secrets idea.

Who is Pierette?

Pierette is a girl’s name is of French origin meaning “rock”. So does that mean the treasure is by a rock, or that the sentinels are rocks? It would be a bit obvious if that’s the only reason for the choice of name!

It is a name that is familiar in France due to an old fable about a milk maid who carried a pot of milk on her head. ‘Perrette, sur sa tête ayant un Pot au lai.’  It is unlikely that this has direct bearing on the clue, but the fable gives a warning about watching where you walk. Doesn’t every treasure hunter need to follow the right steps carefully?!

The Rosetta Stone in French has the name is ‘Pierre de Rosette’. Pierre is the boy’s name variant of Pierre and also means stone. Pierrette’s rose is clearly some word play about this. The Rosetta stone was engraved with Egyptian hieroglyphs and also ancient Greek which meant that the hieroglyphs could be translated. This seems like a clear hint to decryption of some sort, is there a secret encryptions of some sort in the clue text? A hidden word spelling out the super solution would make a lot of sense.

In a place everything begins, In a point everything ends.

This beginnings and endings phrase for me echoes the introductory text. The treasure is there for you… or for eternity ! And also the capital spelled ETERNITY in the 530 clue. It also might suggest circles which have no end and no beginning. Though the wording is subtle and should be studied carefully. Where is the place everything begins? Perhaps that is space. Where does everything end? Perhaps heaven or the afterlife. It’s notable that these are concepts already present in the clues. We have a planet theme in the 420 clue and there is a reference to ‘heavenly light’ in the 560.

The falling petals

The phrase ‘Pierette’s petals’ is all about those ‘pot of roses’ mysteries that lead to ‘Valentine’s secret.’ It’s interesting that Becker describes that she has ‘sown its petals, like little white pebbles’ following this with imagery to do with the measuring, steps, a road. To me this suggests the marking of the clue towns on the map, are the secret petals the pebbles making the road? The use of the word white is intriguing and maybe this echoes the light theme used throughout the clues. It reminds me of the Tour de France additional clue. ‘The world champion could peddle fast enough for his jersey to become white.’ That’s two clear hints that the colour white should be understood in forming a solution.

Steps to another world

Another thought this clue inspired was the references to an otherworldly place. There’s, ‘In another world of which she would be the center’ and, ‘a place everything begins’ plus ‘to the end of the road her steps had carried her.’  So is this the place where the owl treasure is hidden, or is it more of a hint to the theme of how the owl is found? Why is Pierette at the centre? Is the road and steps to do with the ‘FIRST STEP’ clue 780?

There are so many things to think about with this new clue, and these are just my initial thoughts. I will add to this page if any new ideas follow. Well done to Michel Becker for releasing a clue that is intriguing and echoes so many themes of the hunt, without giving too much away! It’s going to add some fun to this game to have this new clue to puzzle over.

The original French version is below, in case you want to play with different translations. It is always possible that the subtlety of the text is lost when using Google Translate.

Pierrette et le pot-aux-roses
En un lieu tout commence, En un point tout s’achève.
Allant de l’un à l’autre, serrée entre ses mains, La rose de Pierrette, présent de Valentin, A semé ses pétales, tels petits cailloux blancs, Tandis qu’hésitants, mesurés, cadencés,
Jusqu’au bout du chemin ses pas l’avaient portée, Comme en un autre monde dont elle serait le centre, Diligente et zélée, Pierrette vint à comprendre…
Par la Chouette d’Or®, enfin, elle se ferait surprendre.

An official new organiser for the Golden Owl Hunt

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

Michel Becker, the illustrator of the Chouette d’Or, has officially taken ownership of the management and organisation of this long running treasure hunt. The announcement came via a video press release on October 30th 2021, followed by a text press release. Several more strange developments in this hunt have followed, as part of the ownership handover.

In April 2021 the original sealed envelope of solutions created in 1993 by Max Valentin was transferred from Regis Hauser’s family to Michel Becker, and to his trusted legal bailiff, Blanche Neige-Schmitt. (Hauser is the real name of treasure hunt author, Max Valentin, however, I use his pen name ‘Max’ throughout this site.) A contract has been set up passing all rights of the game from the heirs of Regis Hauser to Michel Becker and his company Éditions de la Chouette d’Or®

The sealed envelope of solutions
The floppy disk containing the game solution

The bailiff wrote a report detailing this handover. It describes how Max’s envelope of solutions contained a protected file on a floppy disk, which was written in 1993 on word processing software that is no longer supported. As the bailiff could not decipher the old file, Michel Becker worked to decrypt the .sam format file. The text of Max’s solution was finally presented to the bailiff on October 22nd 2021. The bailiff checked the solution text and validated it as real in her opinion.

The files on the floppy disk

Michel Becker and the bailiff travelled to the location mentioned in the solutions to check if the buried bronze owl was still there. They hoped they could confirm the owl’s location so the hunt could continue under their new management.

In 1993, when the game launched, Max Valentin stated that a bronze, varnished replica of the golden owl was buried around 40-50cm from the surface, with some kind of protection from metal detectors. The owl was cast as one of eight replicas of the solid gold bird, and marked with a number 1/8. Along with the owl Max said he placed a phone number, a password and details of what to do when the bird was found. The bronze owl replica, when found, would be swapped for the valuable gold owl prize.

The hole dug to find the owl

On the evening of October 22nd. Becker and the bailiff went to the owl’s location and measured a distance, as specified in the ‘super solution’ to then dig a hole. At around 80cm under the earth they found a rusted iron bird wrapped in a plastic bag. The bag had the numbers S09 2005 written on the plastic. Becker has speculated that the iron bird was placed in the ground by Max in 2005. Max Valentin died in April 2009, presumably knowing that there was a replacement bird at the location?  It is not clear why the bronze owl was replaced, or where the bronze owl marked 1/8 is now.

A rusty iron bird in the hole
The plastic bag around the rusty bird with letters S09 2005

As Michel Becker wants the treasure hunt to continue in good order, he placed a new bronze owl marked 2/8 in the ground. He also added an envelope containing new instructions and password for the finder of the bronze countermark. It seems he had brought a second bronze owl with him on his digging mission in case it was needed.

The bronze owl 2/8 in the hole

Becker, the new organiser of the hunt, has released various official documents through his new company. On the website a new set of game rules has been published (the unofficial English version is here – for information only.) There is also a form to fill in if you dug for the owl at a date before October 2021 and want your solution checked. Presumably this is because there was rusty iron buried deeply, and not a crafted bronze owl at the location? Owlers can send in their solutions until December 31st 2021, they will be checked by the bailiff in January 2022. Anyone who has the correct solution will be told, and asked to dig up the bronze owl to fit the rules of the game. It is worth noting that this form seems to be intended for use by those who dug in the past… However treasure hunters outside France may be tempted to use it to check their solutions, without paying for an expensive plane fare!

Various reports and minutes from the bailiff have also been published online, giving legal legitimacy and certainty to what has happened with the hunt in the last few months. The golden owl has seen a few complex legal cases over the years, and there is currently an ongoing challenge from Yvon Crolet who appears to claim the owl was never buried. He states that he solved the clues but discovered the owl was not there at the final location, so he is challenging the game organisers. As part of the work to put this treasure hunt in good order, Becker asked the bailiff to check the solution submitted by Crolet. She confirmed that this does not match the location she had visited, or details of the solution that were devised by Max Valentin.

This unusual situation, and mysterious rusty iron ‘bird’ has certainly got the owler community talking! It is possible we will never know why a replacement ‘treasure’ was placed in the hole, and by whom. Here are a few ‘best guesses’ that are being discussed.

There were legal complications around the hunt in 2004 – 2005, with the publishing company going bankrupt, so some theorise that Max removed the bronze owl for some reason related to that. It doesn’t seem very obvious how an iron bird not a bronze owl connects to this story. If someone presented an iron bird to Max then he would know they had solved the hunt, and presumably give them the bronze owl marked 1/8? But why would this ruse be needed?

Max told a friend that he dug up the bronze owl marked 1/8 many years after it was buried. He said he wanted to check if the paperwork had survived. All phone numbers in France had changed so the old one listed with the owl was invalid. However, a clear detail of this story is that he wanted to place new paperwork with the owl. Yet with the iron bird there was no kind of paperwork at all.

It is understood that Max wanted to protect his game in the event of his death, yet leaving an iron bird in the ground effectively destroyed this great hunt altogether. The rules state that the bronze owl replica must be swapped for the real gold version. If someone had found an iron bird then they would get nothing. If the rusty iron bird has been in the place specified by the super solution since Max’s death, no one could win the game in all those years!

One theory doing the rounds is that Max might have left a false trail on the floppy disk, so the true solution has not been written down anywhere. This could mean that Becker and the bailiff dug in the wrong place, fooled by Max with a false solution. This seems unlikely, and would lead to an awkward situation with two buried bronze treasure hunt owls and both 1/8 and 2/8 now buried somewhere in France.

Another theory is that an owl hunter dug up bronze 1/8 and didn’t exchange it for the gold owl, leaving an iron bird in the hole. This seems highly unlikely for obvious reasons!

There are some who suspect Michel Becker of something illicit in this situation, but in my opinion it is in his best interests to keep the hunt going and to make it respected. He will want to sell copies of his clue book, and promote his golden owl museum in Rochefort.

If a winner of the hunt is declared any time soon they will certainly come under great scrutiny. Two people now know the solutions, but previously no one living knew the owl’s location. However in every treasure hunt we have to have a degree of trust in the integrity of the game and its organisers. As strange as all this is, I do think this game will continue, and be just as enjoyable to play as ever.

The mystery of the rusty iron bird is a strange one, and equally mysterious is the location of bronze owl 1/8. I’m going to keep working on this hunt, and I’m planning my next trip to France soon. One way to look at this is that the hunt is now more exciting than ever, when we dig we don’t know if we will find owl 1, owl 2, more rusty iron, or, nothing at all and back to the drawing board!

Michel Becker seems to be having a little fun with the missing owl twist, offering a reward to the presumed owl 1/8 finder who perhaps chose not to claim a golden reward…. The following post has appeared on the Les Editions de la Chouette d’Or® social media accounts.

WANTED POSTER: To anyone who has deciphered the final enigma of the game On the Trail of the Golden Owl, and who would come into possession of the bronze owl marked 1/8 before the one, numbered 2/8, is unearthed by another player, you are warmly invited to contact Editions Choutte d’Or without delay in order to exchange it for the prize awarded to the winner, namely: the golden owl set with jewels on its base of zoisite veined with rubies.

At least it seems finding either owl 1 or owl 2 wins a reward!

 

Note: The details and images used in this article are from the reports written by the bailiff, Blanche Neige-Schmitt, that have been widely shared online through websites, forums and on social media The photos remain copyrighted to the author of that report. I share them here aiming to bring clarity to the English speaking seekers of this treasure community. Additional colour photos of the site can be found here.  

The questions to ask if you think you have the solution

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

These 25 questions are adapted from a post on Patrick Salvy’s blog. Sadly the site no longer exists but I have found the questions a good checklist to see if a solution might be right.

The questions are based on the fact that there are a number of questions that no one has been able to answer. At least not with the precision needed to locate the owl. Some of the questions appear to be simple, yet not one has a clear answer accepted by everyone in the community. Patrick suggests everyone seeking the owl should have ‘humility’ and take a pause before announcing they have the answer. Many people jump to the conclusion that their theory is right, and ignore the fact that cognitive bias is a huge problem in all treasure hunts.

I hope you find these questions useful.

530: Why the word “opening”? [1]
We know for a fact that “opening” is the answer to the 530 clue’s riddle. This is Bourges, the place to start the game. But the word “opening” must have some other justification. Why did Max choose the word “opening,” what is the purpose of this word?
780: What is the “first step” that will induce others? [2]
The “first step” referred to in the title of the clue is not taken with our feet, and the fact that it is the first implies that there are others. What does this first step consist of?
470: Why is there an “A” in front of “Roncesvalles”? [3]
This clue gives a place. The result of the riddle is “A_RONCEVAUX”. Why is there an “A” in front of “Roncesvalles?” The riddle of the first enigma only gave “Bourges” with no additional letter. Roncesvalles seems to be a destination while Bourges was only a starting point, but wouldn’t we have understood that the hunt was leading us to Roncesvalles if the result of this clue had only been “RONCEVAUX”?
470: What is the light? [4]
At the end of this clue, we must be sure of what the light is, and the light does not only concern this clue. If we don’t see the light at this stage of the game, it would suggest a serious problem. Max said that an element prior to this clue allows us to know if it is the “right” light. What does this light represent that we see from the “whole” of the clue through the opening?
470: What is the heart? [5]
There is only one heart in the book. An additional clue said that ‘from the opening a heart was born’. Between the heart born from the opening and that of this clue, the symbol is identical, even if the meaning is slightly different …So what is this heart?
470: What does the arrow aimed at the heart represent? [6]
The arrow of this puzzle is not the same as the arrow of Apollo. Max said this arrow is incapable of killing. The word “arrow” must be interpreted by the treasure hunter. If this arrow is aimed at the heart, is it because it has not yet left the bow at the end of the riddle? Aiming for the heart means aiming in a certain direction and not in another. No doubt we will reach the intended destination later (or have we already reached it?) But what is the meaning of this arrow aimed at this destination?
580: Why is the geographic distribution of the ten cities important? [7]
The order of the cities in this puzzle must surely be important.
If it is only a question of finding the answer that A = 0, B = 1 etc … the order does not matter. But why is Angers at the end of the list rather than at the beginning? Would Angers-Bourges-Cherbourg have been inconvenient from a geographical point of view? Would it have harmed the understanding of the direction of rotation represented by the distribution of the ten cities? What does this direction of rotation mean?
600: What is the perched black ship? [8]
The decryption of this clue leads us to search for a black ship that is somehow ‘perched’. What is this perched black ship? Do we need to look for something that comes close to such a description, or do we have to interpret this expression?
600: What is the key that is hidden on the perched black ship? [9]
In the decryption of this clue we learn that ‘the key is hidden on the perched black ship.’ We are supposed to find out what this key represents and why would it hide? What is this key?
600: How is the key useful? [10]
Is the key a decryption key? Digital? Alphanumeric? Alphabetical?
Or is it to be somehow interpreted in order to understand what to do next? How is the key useful for deciphering the following riddle?
500: What does “2424 …” represent? [11]
“2424 …” is a place where we arrive thanks to a line already found and from which one sets out again, at a right angle and in a straight line, towards the Spiral with four centers. But what is this place? Is the generally accepted decryption of Carignan, based on Morse code, the correct one? Why did Max choose to use 2’s and 4’s?
500: What is the Four Centre Spiral? [12]
We must find it (Max doesn’t say ‘draw’ it, but he might mean that) at 560,606 measures of “2424 …” and we should know what it is at the end of this clue. We know that the spiral has four centres. What are these four centres which must be identified? Is it a truly four-centre spiral, in the geometric sense of the term?
420: Where is the “there” located? [13]
The “there” mentioned in this clue is an important location, it is the place where Apollo shoots his arrow. Is it linked to where the previous clue ends, at the Spiral with four centres?
420: What does “count 1,969,697 measures towards the zenith” mean? [14]
Apollo counts 1,969,697 measurements towards the zenith before firing his arrow. Is it important that it is Apollo? Why does Max mention the altitude or height of the landing place? Is it because this guarantees the precision with which the arrow will land? The clue says, “count 1,969,697 towards the zenith” to solve this clue we need to know exactly what this means.
420: Where does Apollo’s arrow fall? [15]
Since it is a question of finding the point where the arrow falls, this suggests it aims at something concrete and real, located by its height. Max told us the exact laws of ballistics do not apply to a Greek god, we can ignore the possible mountains located on its path! So where is the arrow’s landing place?
420: What is the arrow that we find at the end of the clue? [16]
At the place where the line of Apollo’s arrow falls we are told we must “hasten to find it”, to discover only one arrow. The arrow is some kind of imagery in this hunt. Why is it necessary to suggest that its length is less than the route it will have made? What is this arrow?
560: What does “searching for the opening” consist of? [17]
Max suggests that from Carusburc, it is impossible to see the Heavenly Light through the Opening. This suggests “looking for the opening” might mean some movement on our map to get into the axis of the Opening and the Light. Or should we carry out the movement when we are on the axis of the Opening and the Light? Since the course seems to be interrupted when we see the Nave through the Opening, are the Opening, the Light and the Nave aligned? What exactly does “seeking the opening” consist of?
560: Where does the journey end? [18]
When we see the Nave through the Opening, Neptune is helping us. He is the god of fresh water and salt water, so we must be in an ocean or a large lake. Since Neptune interrupts his help at this point, are we on a shore? And what is this place? Is the orientation “back to Albion” enough to find it?
560: What is the ‘Becalmed Nave’? [19]
“La Nef”, located in mainland France, is tangible and above sea level. The word nave suggests a church or ship. Max said it has seen crowds pass or go there. What is this calmed ship? Is it the same entity as the perched black ship?
650: Where are we in the 650? [20]
Are we where Neptune left us after he gave us his help? Are we near the Becalmed Nave? Are we beyond the Nave on the “line we won’t regret”?
650: What does the “71721075” series of numbers correspond to? [21]
These numbers must be related to the other puzzles. How? Overall? Taken separately? Should this block of digits be decrypted or is it designed to be used as it is?
650: What are the sentinels/sentries? [22]
Max said these sentinels have a generic name without having a proper name, and their number is confirmed in one of the clues. They watch over something important in the context of the game and can be considered in their military sense of the term. They are massive but you cannot physically see them from a distance of 8000 measurements. We can only touch them separately even if at the foot of any one of them we can see the others. What are these sentries who get wet in rainy weather?
520: What does “them” represent? [23]
‘Between them, there would only be two gaps, if they were aligned.’ It is conceivable that this “them” is already encountered in a certain form in one of the preceding clues. Max said it represents something tangible. Does the word “them” relate to the sentinels?
520: What are the “threads”? [24]
What are these threads? Max said they are tied together by a single knot and can be counted once untied.
520: What doubt will remain? [25]
What will be the ‘doubt’ that will be inflicted on us at the end of the game? Is it the announcement of a super-solution?
Your ability to dig up the Owl might be determined by the number of correct answers given to the above questions.

Less than 10: You still have a lot of work to do!

Between 10 and 14: You have some good ideas but it’s unlikely you’ll find the Owl until you know more.

Between 15 and 20: Not bad! Persevere and you should be able to identify the final zone on the 989 map.

Over 20: Well done! You have every chance of digging in the right place. But this is a difficult game and most likely you need to be able to answer EACH of the 25 questions to uncover the Owl!

Good luck!

The Secret Notebooks (4th edition 2019)

Posted on | By Golden Owl Hunter

A new edition of the Trail of the Golden Owl book is now published. The book, written by Michel Becker, offers insights into the development of the Golden Owl treasure hunt. I’d recommend buying a copy if you’re serious about this hunt and speak French. The new game rules state that you must hold a copy of the clue book to claim the golden owl prize.

This new edition of the Chouette d’Or book includes the original clues, along with an earlier version of the clues, with a very different theme. The Hunt of Father Méhus is about a quest for a golden egg. The theme was changed to an owl following discussions with the game’s backers as golden eggs were connected to Faberge.

Becker also presents two ‘intermediate’ clues, created between the egg version of the hunt and the final published clues.

The early versions of the clues reveal subtle differences that might hint at a solution to the final puzzle. They are almost identical to the Golden Owl clues, but have a few changed visuals and words. The book also contains the instructions written for Becker to create the art, these instructions could show the emphasis we need to place on the visuals.

The early clues list the colours that would be shown on each page, green, blue-green etc. This was later changed to the colour wavelength numbers we see now 530, 500 etc. This is because the colours couldn’t be printed exactly accurately, and using the numbers make this element of the puzzle more solvable.

The first draft of the clues

Here are the new clues (translated to English) with the key differences noted. I’ve listed them in the acknowledged game order. Earlier versions in French can be found here.

Clue 1 B enigma, THERE IS NONE SO BLIND AS THOSE WHO WANT TO SEE

There is none so blind as those who want to see.

1 = 530
3 = 470
5 = 600
7 = 420
9 = 650
11 = B

Notes for illustration: A rainbow on a black background on the left, with all the colors blending on the right to produce white.

Differences from final version: The numbers are the same as in the final version, but here we find the addition of 11 = B. Presumably B=blanc or white.  Does this suggest the game order and then returning to the B enigma for the super-solution? The illustration notes are followed, but with the addition of a statue.

Clue 2 : 530 enigma, OPENING

Opening

My first, first half of the half of the first age,
Precedes my Second and Third, seeking their way.
My Fourth is inspired, my Fifth is in rage,
But, without protest, follows my Fourth and the roman alpha.
My Sixth is hidden at the limits of ETERNITY.
My Seventh, standing, spits his venom.
To find my all, just to be wise,
Because the Truth, in truth, will not be a Devin’s affair.

Notes for illustration: A sign marked ‘13469696’ pointing to a rooster. 

At the top of the page is the instruction for the colour. ‘4 – sheets. Sheet green.’ Possibly Max might have wanted the whole page coloured green? The 4 is a bit of a mystery, perhaps he planned to print this page in fourth place in the book? It was eventually the fifth page. 

Differences from final version: The riddle seems to be exactly the same, and spells out Bourges. However the illustration direction is quite different, it says, ‘a sign marked “13469696” and pointing to a rooster.’

In the next version of this clue Becker is told to draw the following, ‘A rooster (the symbol of France) stands in the middle of France – its legs are up to the city of Bourges.’

In the published book’s final illustration it is the rooster’s eye on the centre of France not its legs. The number sign is gone completely. Presumably, discussions with Becker led Max to agree to an illustration suggesting ‘Bourges’ but with the french cockerel positioned differently.

Some people think the  13469696 number, multiplied by the game measure, suggests a thousand leagues, and Bourges location in the middle of France. 13469696 * 0.33 = 4445 m = 1000 leagues = “middle”. A problem with this theory is that we are given this clue before we’re given the game measure… BUT, we have to remember this early version was to sell the idea to publishers. Max hadn’t finalised everything, and might he even have manipulated the text to make it appear that the illustrations were more important than they really were?

Clue 3: 780 enigma, FIRST STEP

There is only a first step.

Where you want,
By the nag and the coachman.
But where you must,
By the compass and the foot.

Notes for illustration: A compass whose circumference is exactly 33 centimeters. North is at the bottom of the page, and the needle therefore points down.

(Feuillet rouge-violet.)  Red-purple sheet.

Differences from final version: The final version of this clue has a simple title of ‘PREMIER PAS…’ So, there was a slight title change in the earlier draft, it said ‘IL N’Y A QUE LE PREMIER PAS. Or, ‘There is only a first step.’

The clue text appears to be the same, and the illustration note seems to confirm the game measure of 33 very clearly. The final drawing has a depiction of a coach and figure as well as the compass.

Clue 4: 470 enigma, THIS IS THE RIGHT PATH ONLY IF THE ARROW IS AIMED AT THE HEART

This is the right path only if the arrow is aimed at the heart

My first multiplies by gaiety.
My Second offers you space,
My Third from the air, and my Fourth from the water.
Sleep, my Fifth hums.
My sixth is worth a hundred, and my seventh is just one node.
My eighth tastes like laurel,
while my ninth, with astonishment, stays behind.
My tenth is always naked when there’s a link.
My eleventh, finally, is the unknown.

Find my All, and through the Opening you will see the light.

Notes for illustration:  Something that evokes Roncevaux, or Roland (Durandal stuck in a rock?)

Sheet blue.

Differences from final version:  This clue seems to be identical, save for a few  minor word changes. We have ‘couche, mon cinquième ronfle’ (sleep, my fifth hums) in this early version. The final version phrases this with a few more words, ‘Quand il est couche, mon cinquieme ronfle.’ Becker chose to illustrate this clue with the Durandal sword as Max suggested.

Clue 5: 580 enigma, THE GOOD WAY, IT IS THE WAY OF THE OPPOSITE WAY, AND VICE VERSA

THE GOOD WAY, IT IS THE WAY OF THE OPPOSITE WAY, AND VICE VERSA
19.9.13.12.15.19.18.21.15.9.19 the navel and the heart is first
12.15.19.18.21.15.9.19.18.9.13.8.15.4 from where Dix left in thirty, is second
9.13.16.16.9.13.9.5.18 and his faithful Abraham, is third
25.1.12.14.18.9.13.16.9.13 at the divine cellars, is fourth
8.15.4.1.12.9.19.18.15.1.6  at the smoking towers, is fifth

18.9.13.13.5.18.18.1.12.18.9.13.12.15.19 in its golden case, is sixth
20.18.21.15.15.4.9.18.9.13.8 shame of the reckless, is seventh
9.13.18.9.15.19.19.9 victim of the duke, is eighth
15.4.1.12.14.18.1.12.10 where was lost a Louis, is ninth
19.18.9.13.12.15.19.14.1.12, the sweet one is tenth

Notes for illustration:  The letters B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, A (in that order), and something that evokes a musical instrument (bow on the strings of a violin?)

Sheet yellow.

Differences from final version:  In the final version the fancy descriptive text is gone, the clues simply say ‘is worth 1′ is worth 2’ etc.  So we have ‘Issoire will be worth 8’ and no reference to the duke. It seems likely that the descriptions refer to historic associations with the listed towns. 

In the final illustration the order of the letters is changed. Becker’s illustration note changed into ‘The letters B, A, G, F, E, D, C (in that order.)’ Max’s vague instructions about the musicians was unchanged. 

Clue 6: 600 enigma, WHEN AL-MAR ALLIES WITH PRENESTE’S FIBULA, THE DARKNESS SHINES

WHEN AL-MAR ALLIES WITH PRENESTE’S FIBULA, THE DARKNESS SHINES

BDI, J. DF, F. CFD. BJ. HJ. EA, B. BC. E. DC, B.
CDI, B. BAB, H. BE.
CD. FB. BCG, J. BIG D. BE. BG. BJD, B. DB. BGH C.
BC. E.

Notes for illustration: A hand comes out of the water and holds a huge key.

Sheet orange.

Differences from final version: No differences here, this clue links to the previous one, with numbers and letters to decode a phrase. The illustration note makes it clear the background is meant to be water.

Clue 7: 500 enigma, UT QUEANT LAXIS

Ut queant laxis

At 2424 42 42 424 44 224 24 42 24 take the tangent. Count around 560.00 measurements on the Mega, and search for the spiral that has 4 centers.

Notes for Illustration: A walrus (the animal) a musical range, a square, a compass, a ruler going from 0 to 18.5cm (the rest of the ruler is hidden).

Sheet blue-green.

Differences from final version: The final version of this clue said: ‘ At 2424-42-424-44-224-24-42-24, take the orthogonal to find the spiral with four centers, 560,606 measurements, is far away. But the Mega is a million times less.’

So a slight difference of wording, and originally it was a ‘tangent’ not an orthogonal. It is also 560,000 measurements on the mega that you have to count instead of 560,606. The ‘mega’ is sometimes thought to be the smaller, super solution map, but in this original version Max seems to be referring to the main game map.

The final version’s illustration appears to be the same as was described.

Clue 8: 420 enigma, FROM THE SKY COMES THE LIGHT

From the sky comes the light

C’E-10752-365 LA Q-30667-E THE AIGLE
I-687-90677-RI-687-A
687-ARQ-30667-E DE 10752-E-10752 10752-ERRE-10752
DA-60140- 10752 LE 10752-ABLE,
CENT 4330-O-30667-R-10752 AVA-60140-365 DE 10752-E
CA-10752-10752-ER THE
E-365 Y-CAP Y LAI-10752-10752-ER 10752-E-10752
90677-L-30667-687-E-10752

Then lend a bow to Apollo  :
from there, he will count 1959,697 measures towards the zenith.
In a 46,242,688th fraction of a day , his line will fall.
Hurry to find the arrow.

Illustration note: The symbols for the earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the letter N.

Sheet violet.

Differences from final version: In the published version of this clue we are told he counts 1969,697 measures  to the zenith. It is 46,241,860 fractions of a ‘sidereal day’ not a day, though I believe this works out the same way. 1959,697 and 1969,697 are quite small changes. Might Max have deliberately used the wrong number in the pre-release copy of the clues in case his papers got into the wrong hands? Unlikely but possible! In the illustration notes for the final version Max lists the planets and also adds ‘a compass planted in the letter N.’

Clue 9: 560 enigma AD AUGUSTA PER ANGUSTA

Ad augusta per angusta

Through the opening you will see the celestial light.
When, at Carasburc, you will have ALbion in your back.
Don’t linger, don’t ask for your rest,
But be ready to walk on the waters.

Turn your back on the North,
Neptune, twice, will have to help you.
It’s the right way, don’t stop
Until, through the opening, Léon appears.

Then we will have to draw a line
So you can go without deviating an inch.
You will not regret what you did,
Because, sometimes, a rolling stone collects moss.

Illustration note: A pencil “splits” the sea, from the bottom of the page, on the right, towards the top, on the left. See example of attached visual.

Sheet green yellow.

Differences from final version: There are a few interesting changes here. The final version includes ‘Before seeing, through the Opening, the becalmed Nave,’ with Léon dropped completely. The published version includes no last line about rolling stones collecting moss.

It’s also worth noting that the visual shows the pencil in a different direction.

A pencil “splits” the sea, from the bottom of the page, on the right, upwards, on the left . See attached visual example. In the final version the note says, ‘A pencil “splits” the sea, from the top of the page, on the right, towards the bottom of the page, on the left . 

Becker also includes an ‘intermediate’ version of this clue that also mentions Léon, but it has a slightly shorter final paragraph. 

Draw a line without deviating an inch,
And only then will you collect moss.

It is the treasure hunter collecting moss and not a rolling stone now. It’s worth noting that ‘tu amasseras mousse’ could also translate as ‘you will collect foam.’ I’d assume that ‘mousse’ is moss and not foam, based on the earlier version of the clue, and the famous saying, ‘A rolling stone gathers no moss.’

We can only guess why this line was removed, but it’s an interesting piece of information. 

Léon might be a town in south western France, but is it also the mysterious ‘becalmed nave’ that’s mentioned in the later clue?

Clue 10, 650 enigma, WHEN EVERYTHING IS REVEALED

This is another clue where we find an intermediate version of the text. 

Version 1  (The hunt for the golden egg)

When everything is revealed

Now you have wings.

Take off and fly north, northeast 11 degrees. 8000 measures further, the three sentries await you.

Illustration note: The numbers 7, 1, 7, 2, 1, 0, 5 7, and a shovel.

NO colour note.

Version 2 (Pre-publication)

When everything is revealed

Back to the Ponant, look for the three Guardians
At 8000 measurements from there, they are waiting for you.
Find them, you need to review them.

Illustration note: The figures 7,1,7,2,1,0,7,5 and a shovel.

Sheet red 650 nanometer

Version 3 (Final published version)

When everything is revealed
Back to the Ponant, seek the Sentinels.
At 8000 measures from there, they are waiting for you.
Find them, you need to review them.

Differences from final version: There are a few helpful points here. There are definitely 3 ‘sentinels’  which is suggested in Becker’s final illustration but made clearer by these iterations of the clue. The ‘sentinels’ are also called sentries and guardians by Max in the two earlier clues.

The 8000 measure is consistent in all the clues, with far more direction in the first version, which directs us to fly north northeast 11 degrees. However this first clue has a different order to the numbers on the illustration, ending with a 57 and not the eventual 75.  A small change, but perhaps significant?

Clue 11, 520 enigma, EARTH OPENS

There are a couple of earlier versions of this text.

Version 1  (The hunt for the golden egg)

Earth opens

Be a little crazy, and to your madness, add a nest, two wings and an egg.

Illustration note: A shiny golden egg at the bottom of a hole surrounded by grasses.

Sheet green-blue.

Version 2 (An intermediate version provided by Becker)

Earth Opens

To the left? To the right ? Between ?
In front of the last or behind the first? …
But, before finding, wasn’t it important to search? 

Illustration note:  Light (reflection of gold) springs from the bottom of a hole surrounded by grasses

Sheet green-blue 520 nanometer.

Version 3 (Published version)

Earth Opens

Between them, there would only be two intervals if they were aligned
But that would be far too easy a game!
Now that you’ve untied all the threads,
Doubt is the last torture that will be inflicted on you, because it is the rule of this cruel part:
Alone, you must find where to carry your shovel.
Show your respect for Mother Nature,
And, before you leave, close your wound.

Illustration note: Light (reflection of gold) springs from the bottom of a hole surrounded by herbs.

Sheet green-blue 520 nanometer.

Differences from final version:  This clue is the most changed, with three very different texts. It’s almost as if Max reached the ‘sentinel’ stage and then wasn’t absolutely sure of the directions to give! We can assume that the first clues nest and wings are to fit the bird and egg theme, but does this tell us anything more?  The version 2 directions tell us to ‘search’ is it a hint that we move now to the super solution?

Summary of key differences in the early version clues

B clue : 11=B

530: A sign marked “13469696” pointing to a rooster.

780: No significant change.

470: No significant change.

580: A little extra text about the locations, a different order of the letters in the illustration.

600: No significant change.

500: A ‘tangent’ not an orthogonal. 560,000 measurements to count instead of 560,606.

420: A day not a ‘sidereal day’, 1959,697 measures not 969,697, adding a compass to the image of North.

560:  We see Léon through the opening instead of the ‘becalmed Nave.’ There is an addition of a line about gathering moss, or rolling stones gathering moss. The visual shows a different alignment of the pencil.

650:  A direction to go north, northeast 11 degrees. Sentinels described as sentries or guardians. 7, 1, 7, 2, 1, 0, 5, 7, instead of 7, 1, 7, 2, 1, 0, 7,5.

520: Completely different text in two earlier versions of this clue, one suggesting going crazy, one suggesting a confusion of directions.

Conclusions

The most interesting thing about these early clues is how similar they are to the final published version. Max quite clearly had his game play mechanics completely worked out, perhaps even the final location for the treasure set. Did he use a mechanic that could be easily tweaked to show any location in France? In that case 71721067 would lead to a slightly different location to 71721075, with both numbers working within his game ‘system’. If that’s the case then might anyone who uses totally fixed places in their game solution be likely to come unstuck?

There is lots of food for thought here. Many concepts remain the same and so must be vital to the solution, while other elements are much more vague… What do we make of the three different words for the three sentinels? Max himself doesn’t seem 100% clear on what these creatures are representing.

Finally, this book confirms, what many people have said for decades, the illustrations are mostly unimportant to the solving of this puzzle. Anyone who sees hidden meaning in the imagery is almost certainly on the wrong track. There are a few conspiracy theories around about these additional clues and information have been faked by Becker, but that seems like nonsense to me.

I was worried that the release of these extra clues would reveal too much information and spoil everyone’s enjoyment of the hunt. They do nothing of the sort, I think they add even more intrigue to this fun game! 

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