The Golden Owl: France’s 31-Year Treasure Hunt Finally Ends
September 18, 2024
A 31-year-long treasure hunt that captivated thousands of enthusiasts across France has reportedly come to an end. Known as "On the Trail of the Golden Owl," the hunt, which began in 1993, was based on a book of riddles that required participants to solve 11 puzzles, along with a 12th hidden one, to discover the location of a token. This token was the key to claiming a grand prize: a golden owl. On Thursday, social media channels connected to the treasure hunt announced that the elusive token had been found, signaling the close of one of the longest unsolved scavenger hunts in history.
The announcement quickly spread across platforms like Discord, where a large community of over 200,000 players, affectionately known as "owlers," had long followed the search. The message confirming the discovery urged participants to stop digging, sparking an emotional response among the group. Sad and crying emojis flooded the channel, and many lamented the end of a search that had spanned decades. The treasure, an owl made of gold and silver, adorned with diamond chips, had become a symbol of mystery and adventure for many who dedicated their time and efforts to solving the riddles. The next step involves verifying the claims of those who stated they had unearthed the token.
The treasure hunt was originally conceived by author Régis Hauser, who published the book under the pen name Max Valentin to maintain anonymity, and artist Michel Becker, who designed the owl. Over the years, the hunt gained a cult following not only in France but internationally. Hauser, who passed away in 2009, and Becker buried a replica of the owl while keeping the original prize safely locked away. The estimated value of the owl stands at approximately €150,000, making it a highly coveted reward. For players to claim the prize, they needed to submit the replica along with the correct solutions to the riddles, a task that remained unaccomplished for decades.
Events for "owlers" were regularly held, allowing treasure hunters to gather and exchange tips and theories. Participants became deeply engrossed in the hunt, with some spending years and countless weekends searching for the hidden token. One such individual, interviewed by French media, expressed a bittersweet feeling upon hearing the news, stating that while he was disappointed, he also felt a sense of relief now that the search had come to a conclusion.
The concept of the treasure hunt was inspired by another famous puzzle book, "Masquerade," published in 1979 by Kit Williams. Much like the Golden Owl, Williams’ book challenged readers to solve riddles to locate a golden hare, which was eventually found. While the Golden Owl hunt has now come to an end, it has undoubtedly left a lasting legacy in the world of scavenger hunts, having inspired thousands of participants over the course of three decades. Whether or not another hunt of such magnitude will rise remains to be seen, but for now, the final chapter of this extraordinary chase has been written.
The announcement quickly spread across platforms like Discord, where a large community of over 200,000 players, affectionately known as "owlers," had long followed the search. The message confirming the discovery urged participants to stop digging, sparking an emotional response among the group. Sad and crying emojis flooded the channel, and many lamented the end of a search that had spanned decades. The treasure, an owl made of gold and silver, adorned with diamond chips, had become a symbol of mystery and adventure for many who dedicated their time and efforts to solving the riddles. The next step involves verifying the claims of those who stated they had unearthed the token.
The treasure hunt was originally conceived by author Régis Hauser, who published the book under the pen name Max Valentin to maintain anonymity, and artist Michel Becker, who designed the owl. Over the years, the hunt gained a cult following not only in France but internationally. Hauser, who passed away in 2009, and Becker buried a replica of the owl while keeping the original prize safely locked away. The estimated value of the owl stands at approximately €150,000, making it a highly coveted reward. For players to claim the prize, they needed to submit the replica along with the correct solutions to the riddles, a task that remained unaccomplished for decades.
Events for "owlers" were regularly held, allowing treasure hunters to gather and exchange tips and theories. Participants became deeply engrossed in the hunt, with some spending years and countless weekends searching for the hidden token. One such individual, interviewed by French media, expressed a bittersweet feeling upon hearing the news, stating that while he was disappointed, he also felt a sense of relief now that the search had come to a conclusion.
The concept of the treasure hunt was inspired by another famous puzzle book, "Masquerade," published in 1979 by Kit Williams. Much like the Golden Owl, Williams’ book challenged readers to solve riddles to locate a golden hare, which was eventually found. While the Golden Owl hunt has now come to an end, it has undoubtedly left a lasting legacy in the world of scavenger hunts, having inspired thousands of participants over the course of three decades. Whether or not another hunt of such magnitude will rise remains to be seen, but for now, the final chapter of this extraordinary chase has been written.