La chouette d'or
Encyclopedia
La chouette d'or is a bronze
statue
of an owl. It was buried in a secret location somewhere in France by Max Valentin in April 1993. Valentin provided a series of eleven clues to the statue's location, accompanied by illustrations by the sculptor Michel Becker. To date the clues remain unsolved and the owl remains hidden. Should the sculpture be found, it may be exchanged for a more valuable piece, originally valued at 1 million francs. Valentin died in 2009 with his mystery still unsolved.
by his then boss during 1978. The clues were unused, however, until he met Becker. They planned the game, to which Becker would provide images. Valentin buried the owl at 3:30 am on 24 April 1993. The pair published their book "Sur La Trace de la Chouette d'Or" shortly afterwards, which contained the eleven clues.
The owl has inevitable attracted more desperate attempts, and Valentin was the subject of much nuisance and malicious correspondence. One notable incident involved a treasure hunter bombing a chapel
in the mistaken belief that the sculpture was buried underneath it.
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of an owl. It was buried in a secret location somewhere in France by Max Valentin in April 1993. Valentin provided a series of eleven clues to the statue's location, accompanied by illustrations by the sculptor Michel Becker. To date the clues remain unsolved and the owl remains hidden. Should the sculpture be found, it may be exchanged for a more valuable piece, originally valued at 1 million francs. Valentin died in 2009 with his mystery still unsolved.
Origins
Valentin was asked to provide clues to a treasure huntTreasure hunt
A treasure hunt is one of many different types of games which can have one or more players who try to find hidden articles, locations or places by using a series of clues. This is a fictional activity; treasure hunting can also be a real life activity. Treasure hunt games may be an indoor or...
by his then boss during 1978. The clues were unused, however, until he met Becker. They planned the game, to which Becker would provide images. Valentin buried the owl at 3:30 am on 24 April 1993. The pair published their book "Sur La Trace de la Chouette d'Or" shortly afterwards, which contained the eleven clues.
Attempts
Many people have attempted to solve the clues. One attempt apparently came very close, as Valentin noticed when checking the owl that nearby ground had been disturbed. Valentin received a great volume of correspondence regarding the puzzle, and has said that Dr. Gay, an immunologist and prolific treasure hunter, has come closest.The owl has inevitable attracted more desperate attempts, and Valentin was the subject of much nuisance and malicious correspondence. One notable incident involved a treasure hunter bombing a chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
in the mistaken belief that the sculpture was buried underneath it.