For more than 30 years, treasure hunters have scoured the French countryside, solving complex riddles in search of a mysterious golden owl. Now, it seems the decades-long hunt may finally have reached its thrilling conclusion.
The Golden Owl treasure hunt began in 1993 when author Max Valentin published On the Trail of the Golden Owl, a book that contained 11 cryptic puzzles leading to the location of a buried bronze owl statuette. Valentin’s creation sparkaed a worldwide treasure hunt that saw thousands of enthusiasts, known as chouetteurs, trying to decipher the clues and uncover the owl.
This golden owl is in offer to the winner in exchange for the buried bronze replica. Photo courtesy of Michel Becker
This week, Michel Becker, the illustrator of the original book and sculptor of the owl, made an exciting announcement on a treasure-hunting forum. He revealed that a “potentially winning solution” had been submitted and that a bronze replica of the golden owl had been unearthed.
We confirm that the Golden Owl countermark was unearthed last night, simultaneously with a solution upload to the online verification system,” Becker’s message said.
He further urged chouetteurs to refrain from continuing their search: “Do not keep digging! It is therefore useless to go digging on the location you assume to be the cache.” Becker also shared that the solution was currently being verified, though he did not reveal the identity of the treasure hunter or the exact location where the bronze owl was found.
The hunt was not without its challenges. Treasure hunters had to solve 11 complex riddles to reach a town in France, where a final, hidden 12th enigma would lead them to the owl. Over the years, many hunters came close but ultimately fell short of solving that last elusive puzzle. Becker’s announcement marked the end of a quest that had captivated treasure hunters worldwide.
The book that started it all. Photo by Michel Becker
Reactions among the treasure-hunting community were mixed. Some expressed disappointment at the hunt’s end, with one community member posting on the forum, “The news was a real blow.” Others found a sense of relief. “I have to admit, I shed a few tears,” said another participant, while one remarked, “Curiously, I’m quite relieved … I’m free!” The quest wasn’t just a test of wit and perseverance—it was also a bonding experience for thousands of chouetteurs, who shared their theories, frustrations, and discoveries on online forums.
I’ve only been a chouetteur since lockdown, but I’ve had the most incredible adventure with this family—dysfunctional, certainly, but so colorful.” said one hunter.
Max Valentin once remarked in 1996, “If all the searchers put all their knowledge together, the owl would be found in… two hours.” Despite this bold claim, the owl remained hidden for more than three decades. Valentin’s puzzles were so intricate that they sparked countless theories and led to multiple legal battles, including one involving Becker himself after Valentin’s death in 2009. Becker had sued Valentin’s family to obtain the precise location of the owl after the author passed away without revealing the full solution.
As the treasure-hunting world holds its breath for official confirmation, many are comparing the Golden Owl hunt to another legendary treasure search: The Secret. That hunt, which began in 1982 with the publication of Byron Preiss’s book The Secret, involves the search for 12 buried treasure boxes scattered across the U.S. and Canada.
So far, only three of the boxes have been found, making The Secret one of the longest-running active treasure hunts in the world. Watch below for a look at adventurer Josh Gates as he looks into The Secret on an episode of “Expedition Unknown”.
Sources: People | The Guardian
