Rennes le Chateau

Yesterday I drove a long way east almost to the Mediterranean coast to visit a church around which a popular mystery has become known world wide - Rennes le Chateau.  Here at the turn of the last century, an obscure priest, was assigned to pastor a small and very ancient community/castle at the top of a mountain.  He is reputed to have found, in the course of renovations of the tiny chapel there, either a treasure that made him rich (Knights Templar treasure it is sometimes suggested - they were based in this area in the middle ages) or a document in the altar that had incriminating information which he took to Paris and came back with no end of money at his disposal. He spent the next years rebuilding the chapel and the rectory and towers and such with his own money.  The church was dedicated to Mary Magdeline whose ancestors are said to have become the Merovingian kings of France.  The presiding bishop was suspicious about the source of Sauviere's money and had him charged in church court to explain it.  He never would and was relieved of his priestly duties but kept on with the renovations and building for another 10 years or so until his death.  I think he is mentioned in The Da Vinci Code. There's more interesting stuff to the story.  These pictures are of the church, the surroundings, the little village etc. enjoy

 

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