Golden Owl: End of France’s 31-year treasure hunt ‘On the Trail of the Golden Owl’

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After three decades, the famous French treasure hunt, On the Trail of the Golden Owl, has seemingly come to an end. On Thursday, official social media channels linked to the hunt announced that the coveted token needed to claim the grand prize had been unearthed, reported the news agency AP.
The long-running quest, which began in 1993, attracted thousands of “owlers”, treasure hunters from across France and beyond, all seeking the prized golden owl.
The treasure hunt was based on a book of riddles created by author Régis Hauser and artist Michel Becker. To find the hidden token, participants had to solve 11 riddles in the book, and a 12th secret puzzle, to pinpoint its exact location.
However, with Thursday’s announcement that the “Golden Owl countermark was unearthed last night,” enthusiasts were urged not to dig anymore. The solutions provided by those claiming to have found the token are currently under review.
The 1993 book, On the Trail of the Golden Owl, built a dedicated following of over 200,000 players, according to the hunt’s official website. Over the years, participants from France and abroad joined forces, organised events, and exchanged tips in pursuit of the prize. Hauser, who wrote under the pen name Max Valentin, and Becker buried a replica of the golden owl, while keeping the real treasure — made of 3 kilograms of gold and 7 kilograms of silver with diamond chips — safely stored. Its value is estimated to be around €150,000 (approximately $165,000).
Despite Hauser’s death in 2009, the hunt continued, drawing new generations of treasure hunters. However, with the recent discovery, the 31-year adventure has seemingly come to a close. Reactions from the treasure hunting community have been bittersweet, with many expressing sadness at the end of an era. “It’s the end of an era,” one participant wrote on the hunt’s Discord channel, which hosts tens of thousands of followers.
For some, like a 30-year-old participant from southern France, the conclusion brings mixed feelings. Speaking to France Inter radio, he shared his disappointment at not being the one to find the treasure, despite having spent the past two years searching every weekend and digging through the night. Yet, he also expressed relief that the search had finally come to an end.
The treasure hunt’s inspiration was The Masquerade, a 1979 book by Kit Williams that also featured riddles leading to a hidden golden rabbit. Similar to The Masquerade, On the Trail of the Golden Owl captivated a global audience, making it one of the longest-running unsolved scavenger hunts in the world.