Adventurers of the Golden Owl, put away your shovels and Michelin maps. Your dreams of fortune and glory, too… It’s official, the copy of the golden owl – the real one, adorned with precious stones, being in the chest – buried somewhere in France in April 1993, has just been unearthed in the night of October 2 to 3, 2024.
It took almost 31 years to complete this treasure hunt which has become legendary because this treasure hunt was so difficult. Passion, mysteries, reflections, patience, adventures, this treasure hunt has fascinated thousands of researchers of all kinds and of all ages who had to decipher the eleven enigmas, and the super-enigma for the final winner.
But what is this cool story?
The treasure was buried on the night of April 23 to 24, 1993 by a certain Max Valentin, real name Régis Hauser. The following May 15, he published, with his illustrator Michel Becker, On the Trail of the Golden Owl, a book of 11 riddles to solve and link together to find, within one meter, the burial site of the treasure. Following the death fifteen years ago of Max Valentin, Michel Becker became the repository of the solutions to the puzzles in the early 2020s and delivered new clues, arousing the disapproval of some of the historical players. The fact remains that La Chouette d’or remains a “fascinating” treasure hunt, begun at the time when the author’s clues were distilled by typing an expensive 3615 on the Minitel. More than thirty years later, hunting still brings together a community of thousands of “owlers”.
What is its value?
The one that was discovered during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday is made of bronze. It’s a replica, “the countermark” explains Michel Becker. The real owl, made of gold and silver and set with precious stones, is found in a bank safe, the organizers having wanted to protect it from the effects of time. Its value was already estimated at one million francs in 1993, or 150,000 euros today. The statuette measures between 50 and 80 centimeters. Expertly sought after by nearly 200,000 owls, its fame could well increase its value. A value which has in any case increased with the price of gold. It remains to be seen whether it should be declared for taxes or not…
How was she found?
Aficionados may stamp their feet and conjecture, but Michel Becker has not yet said it. He announced the news of the end of the quest Thursday morning, at 8:26 a.m., on the owl Discord forum: “We confirm that the countermark of the Golden Owl was unearthed last night, simultaneously with a solution sent to the online verification system,” he wrote, asking everyone to stop digging and move. Thursday evening, at 6:38 p.m., he posted a new message. “I refuse to deal with these events in haste […] Many parameters are still evolving at this very moment, I’m postponing until tomorrow [donc ce vendredi] my first intervention on YouTube. Thank you for not being mad at me,” he said. So, will he finally reveal the super-solution or the profile of the “discoverer”? The mysterious fog cannot suddenly dissipate…