An ancient past
In the south of France there is a village called Rennes le Château. Its strategic position places it on a rocky peak. Come and discover its mysteries…
70 million years before JC, the dinosaurs had invaded this place. Some traces were found in two different locations. There are also objects dating from the Neolithic period (10000 BC).
During the 2nd century BC, the Romans occupied Gaul, their domination was beneficial for our region. They exploited the minerals of our mountains and built thermal baths near Rennes-les-Bains which have become a spa today.
From the 5th century AD, Rennes-le-Château was the scene of invasions and persecutions. In turn, the Visigoths and the Franks, then the Crusade against the Cathars, left traces that are still visible in our castles, churches and among our art objects, notably Rennes-le-Château.
A more recent history
Today the famous remains of Rennes-le-Château are the traces of a more recent past. A past that began in 1885 with the arrival of a new priest: Bérenger Saunière.
When, in the last century, the Abbé Saunière, a small parish priest in Rennes-le-Château, became an archaeologist and then undertook colossal works around the small village church, everyone thought he had discovered a treasure, with many questions about his comings and goings in the Vatican and about his relationship with esoteric circles.
No one knows what Abbé Saunière discovered under the crypt of the church and in the surrounding mountains. The only certainty is that the Visigoths who settled in the Razès a long time ago, before continuing their migration to northern Spain, had made Rennes-le-Château their capital.
The men of Alaric, the Visigoth king who gave his name to a mountain in the Corbières near Arques, had sacked Rome earlier when the Romans under Titus had just brought back the treasures of the holy city and the temple of Solomon. Researchers, more or less serious, have been unable to shed light on the mystery of Abbé Saunière and his Magdala Tower. An enigma that crosses the roads of the secrets of the Cathars and the Templars.
From 1885 to 1917, Bérenger Saunière not only renovated the church and the presbytery but also bought the adjacent land to build the Villa Bethany, the Magdala Tower and the Glass Tower, all topped by a magnificent viewpoint.
Only one question, where did the money come from? During the 1960s, the mystery of Rennes-le-Château intrigued residents and visitors alike. The interest in this small town is growing day by day and the whole world is looking at it. But no one has yet been able to explain the enigma of the billionaire priest…
A place accessible to all!
A visit out of time
You will be seduced by the mysteries of the Abbé Saunière’s domain but you will quickly be conquered by the rich history of Rennes-le-Château and the particular atmosphere that emanates from it. It is an invitation to travel through the discovery of our cultural and natural heritage whether you are in family, couple or group.
For the whole family : For children and adults alike, come and discover the mysteries of Abbé Saunière’s domain. A treasure hunt is available at the reception desk for the whole family to share a moment of complicity. Ideal family outing, it will be for you a source of discovery, pleasure, meetings, reunions and complicity for the best of your vacations or weekends.
As a couple: Want to spend an unforgettable and mysterious moment as a couple? Rennes-le-Château, a timeless site, calls for dreams and will make you live unforgettable moments.
In group: You are a group of friends, an association wishing to discover the treasures of Rennes le Château? So don’t hesitate and go for it!
