For the past thirty years, people in France have been on the hunt for a replica of the Golden Owl. The long treasure hunt has officially come to an end. It all started in 1993 when Paul Régis Hauser hid a bronze owl, a replica of the „Chouette d’Or“ (Golden Owl), as reported by the SRF. He then released a book under the pseudonym Max Valentin titled „Sur la trace de la chouette d’or“ („On the trail of the Golden Owl“) to help people find the owl.
The statue was buried in France over 30 years ago, and the search seemed never-ending until now. Michel Becker, an artist, contributed to the design of the book. The person who finds the owl, covered in diamonds and valued at €150,000, will be rewarded with the Golden Owl. Hauser had expected the owl to wait for its new owner in a bank safe deposit box for only about two years, but that was not the case. The search for the owl intensified throughout France. People combed fields, meadows, and villages with metal detectors.
The search became so intense that some individuals searched on private properties or even detonated a railway track. The Golden Owl in the safe deposit box was not safe either. One man attempted to dig a hole in a bank to claim the reward. Hauser even provided a means of communication for treasure hunters to ask questions. He gave further clues on a paid server until it was shut down in 2001. Hauser passed away in 2009, leaving the coordinates with a notary, leading to a lengthy legal dispute.
Becker, who had also created the sculpture of the Golden Owl in addition to the illustrations in the book, considered himself the rightful owner. After a legal battle with Hauser’s heirs, the family handed over the coordinates to him. Becker then released a new edition of the puzzle book and provided more clues online. Finally, on October 3rd, Becker announced that the long-standing mystery had finally been solved, and the Golden Owl had found an owner.
While France’s treasure hunt has come to an end, there are still treasures waiting to be discovered and salvaged in other countries. In Colombia, for example, a ship that sank off the Colombian coast 300 years ago is said to contain gold, silver, and gemstones. Treasure hunting continues to capture the imagination of people worldwide, offering excitement and adventure for those willing to embark on the journey.
