Golden Owl Treasure Hunt Finally Solved After Three Decades

In a thrilling conclusion to a 30-year mystery, the elusive "Golden Owl" treasure has been unearthed in France. Michel Becker, the guardian of the treasure, announced on a popular Discord forum that a replica of the Golden Owl was dug up overnight. The forum, which has over 7,000 participants, has been buzzing with excitement as treasure hunters have been working together to solve the puzzle.

The Golden Owl, a ten-kilo gold and silver sculpture encrusted with diamonds, was buried in France in April 1993. To find it, treasure hunters had to solve 11 fiendishly difficult riddles published in a book called "On the trail of the Golden Owl." The prize, worth an estimated one million French francs or around 150,000 euros, has been the subject of a three-decade-long search and numerous legal battles.

The treasure hunt was conceived by marketing writer Regis Hauser, who published the book under the pen name Max Valentin to avoid attention from fans of the puzzles. Hauser rarely appeared in public and always covered his face. Becker, who designed the Golden Owl sculpture, publicized the game through TV interviews, without knowing where the treasure could be found.

The puzzle survived numerous challenges, including the seizure of the Golden Owl by the liquidator of the publishing house that produced the book’s third edition. Hauser and Becker fought to regain the treasure, and eventually, they were successful after four years of legal battles. Hauser passed away in 2009, but Becker continued to fight for control over the solution to the riddles, finally gaining access to the solution in 2021.

With the solution in hand, Becker replaced the original iron replica Owl with a bronze one and, along with additional clues and cooperation from Owl trackers, the treasure hunt has finally come to an end.