The Rennes-le-Château Researcher is dedicated to the study and exploration of the mysteries surrounding the French village of Rennes-le-Château. Established from and with a passion for storytelling and a deep respect for the past, we're dedicated to bringing history to life for Rennes-le-Château Affair. Our team of historians/researchers work tirelessly to uncover, document, and share the events and figures that have shaped the world of the Rennes-le-Château! We offer;
- In-depth research in the form of articles, research papers and essays that delve into the various aspects of the Rennes-le-Château mystery. This includes studies on the local priests Bérenger Saunière [and the famous church dedicated to Mary Magdalene] as well as Henri Boudet, priest of Rennes-les-Bains and his strange book La Vrai Langue Celtique et la Cromleck de Rennes-les-Bains. Our site also looks at any supposed treasure [material or spiritual], the Priory of Sion and its two main steering characters Pierre PLANTARD and Philippe de CHERISEY & the many conspiracy theories that have emerged over the years involving them. There is even a Skeptics corner, for there are many who think the whole Affair is/was a hoax.
- Historical Context: The site provides extensive background on the history of the area, including its significance during different historical periods, the various legends associated with it and the very interesting local archaeology. It also looks at local theology and religious history and any wider implications.
- Mythology and Symbolism: we explore the symbolism and mythology commonly associated with the Rennes-le-Château mystery, examining how these elements contribute to the story's allure and the theories that have developed. It also focuses on occult connections and esoterica lore associated with it [such as the Tarot de Marseille]. Local religious revivals contemporaneous with Bérenger Saunière are also examined.
- Updates on Ongoing Research: The site features updates on new findings, publications and events related to Rennes-le-Château, making it a valuable resource for both newcomers and seasoned researchers interested in the topic. The site aims to keep abreast of French research offering translations of texts to open up this avenue of investigation to the English speaking public.
Our site is a go-to source for anyone looking to get to the truth of the complex world of Rennes-le-Château, providing a blend of scholarly research and speculative exploration.
And who are "Rennes-le-Château Researcher's?" We are individuals or groups who study the mysteries surrounding Rennes-le-Château.
Researchers investigate a range of theories including;
- Hidden Treasure: revolving around the discovery of a vast treasure, which could be anything from Visigoth gold to ancient religious relics, such as the Holy Grail or the Ark of the Covenant.
- Religious or Occult Mysteries: does Rennes-le-Château hold significant religious or occult knowledge, possibly involving the Merovingians, the Knights Templar, or secret societies such as the Priory of Sion?
- Mystical Geography: Many believe that the location of Rennes-le-Château is important in terms of geomancy or ley lines, suggesting that the village was deliberately chosen for its spiritual or energetic significance.
- Art and Symbolism: symbolism in the artwork and architecture found in the local church (dedicated to Mary Magdalene) and the surrounding area, interpreting these symbols as clues to hidden knowledge or treasure. And of course, any involvement of the famous French painter Nicolas POUSSIN.
- the archaeology and history of various artefacts and documentation as well as manuscripts/legends/myths.
- the life of the characters involved in the Rennes Affair.
- Historical remains/monuments/discoveries.
Notable English researchers include authors like Henry Lincoln, who co-wrote
Holy Blood, Holy Grail, which popularised many of the theories surrounding the village and brought it to wide scale attention in the 1980's. These authors seem to have strayed far from the beaten track, falling for what perhaps was a very enormous red herring, the idea of a bloodline from Jesus and Mary Magdalene! Notable French researchers include Pierre Jarnac and Christian Doumergue. Each have their own approaches, for example as archival and documentalists, others who use a much more prosaic approach.
Rhedesium favours various approaches to any research because a dry list of timelines does not always illuminate the full truth of events. As one blog writer asserted;
".....
the way we are taught history is very minimalistic [&] very reductionary. History can be presented as a very blank timeline with bits and pieces uncovered and to punctuate that timeline, we add these bits and pieces and we tend to think of it as linear isolated civilisations popping up and falling in succession - and this [arguably] is the worst way to present our limited knowledge of the past. Instead of this blank timeline, perhaps history should be taught more like a detective crime scene with whiteboard and string, notes, pictures and artifacts connected in a giant spiderweb. Otherwise theories, evidence, documents, forensics and other archaeological remains and ideas [littering] most of human history, which hasn't been written, won't be and are not explored. It's rather misleading to teach history in the context of "all we can safely say through the written word" rather than using all avenues possible to record history. Take someone like the Iceman found in Europe. His frozen remains date to 3000 BC, but in academic spheres you're not allowed to suggest that the Iceman was a world traveller & that he could have gone to Asia and back, or that he could have been a wealthy and renowned man, a shaman or Mystic or a Healer. He could have been on a mission for something, or making new discoveries or he could have been a king. The point I am making is that there's no room for imagination and history - if it wasn't directly presented to us then we cannot 'see' this aspect of the Iceman when he is presented as just a body in ice. Perhaps only fiction writers should teach history. If you want to tell the truth you write Fiction - it's the difference between saying Alfred the Great wanted to unify England to spread Christianity and make written accounts of everything - which historians report dryly, versus Bernard Cornwell's historical fiction "The Last kingdom" in which Alfred the Great's dream to unify England, to spread what he believed to be the True Religion, lead poor Farmers out of the dark of ignorance into the elucidation of writing and religion all because as a child he was taken to see the Pope and to study in Rome inspiring what would be his life's work. This is what forged the course of history. It seems to me that the moment you even entertain an alternate idea you are forever associated with that idea and blacklisted. BUT it is okay to be curious and ask questions. As Einstein said; "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when one contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries to comprehend only a little of this mystery every day.” [my emphasis].
This seems an excellent approach for researchers into Rennes-le-Chateau and so we often cross between historical fact and speculative fiction as per the guide lines above, blending archaeological evidence, local folklore, religious history and oral testimony as well as verifiable facts [as Lincoln liked to say].
For more about the personal Rhedesium story - you can read that
HERE.
Here on this website research has been broken down into individual sections. You can click on the link below to be taken to these.
ARTICLES