The enigma of the Golden Owl, a treasure hunt across France which had lasted for 31 years, has probably been solved, the man who held the key announced Thursday morning.
“We confirm that the countermark of the Golden Owl was dug up last night,” wrote Michel Becker on the internet forum for this enigma, on the Discord network.
“Don’t go digging!” he says to all the players who think they have a solution. “We check the validity of the proposed solution.”
This replica was buried in April 1993, in a place that had to be identified using 11 enigmas presented in the book “On the trail of the golden owl”.
Finding this replica allows you to win this famous owl, a sculpture weighing around ten kilos in precious metals, mainly silver but also gold, encrusted with diamonds. Its value was initially estimated at around 150,000 euros.
The creator of the enigma is an author of books on marketing, Régis Hauser, who took the pseudonym Max Valentin so as not to be harassed. He made rare public appearances, hiding his face.
Michel Becker designed the sculpture, made by a goldsmith. He presented the enigma in the television shows where he was a guest, without knowing its resolution.
The owl experienced many adventures, which did not prevent the game from continuing.
In 2005, the trophy was seized by the liquidator of the publishing house of the third version of the book, “On the Trail of the Golden Owl”. Régis Hauser and Michel Becker recovered it in 2009 after a trial.
Three months later, in April 2009, Régis Hauser died at the age of 62. Michel Becker, who never knew the solution, entrusted to a bailiff in Paris, entered into a long legal conflict with the heirs to obtain the envelope.
He tried to sell the sculpture at auction in 2014. Drouot backed down in the face of the mobilization of the treasure hunting community.
In 2021, the heirs allow Michel Becker to finally see the solution, engraved on an old floppy disk. One night, he checks with a bailiff that the countermark is still where Régis Hauser buried it. He finds a rusty iron bird, and replaces it with a new bronze owl.
Relaunching the game on Discord, with additional clues, apparently led to its resolution.
The owl was exhibited in April 2023 in Rochefort (Charente-Maritime). In June 2024, Canal+ broadcast a documentary on this long quest.
