The mysteries of Rennes-le-Château and the Priory of Sion have gripped the imagination of modern culture, producing factual and fictional best-sellers which have spun webs of mystery and speculation. Works like The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, The Templar Revelation and The DaVinci Code are all united in drawing much of their information from the research of the only man who has uncovered the true story of the Priory of Sion from the inside, French author and journalist Jean-Luc Chaumeil.
Now for the first time, his revelations and the research which fuelled the whole movement are made available in English, providing the most revealing and coherent exploration of the web of ciphers, genealogies, secret societies and esoteric mysteries which surround its tangled tapestry of bloodlines, lost kings and hidden treasures.
Jean-Luc Chaumeil's discoveries are all brought together in a wealth of documents, experiences, ciphers, interviews and intelligence reports which combine his three French works (Rennes-le-Château: Les Archives du Prieuré de Sion; Rennes-le-Château - Gisors; and Rennes-le-Château: Le Testament du Prieuré de Sion) on these intriguing modern myths which have been derived from ancient knowledge and truths.
The nature of the treasure of Rennes-le-Château is discussed, from claims of buried treasure sacked by the Goths from Rome and containing the artefacts of the Temple of Jerusalem, to gold made by the alchemist Nicholas Flamel, to drops of the blood of Christ saved by Joseph of Arimathea and Mary Magdalene. The author reveals the truth behind the bloodline of the Merovingian Kings, and the treasure allegedly found by Father Bérenger Saunière at the turn of the twentieth century, and spent on the Magdala Tower with its statue of Asmodeus. He shows how history has been re-interpreted through clever manipulation by a few individuals, exploring the origins of the Order of Sion and its connection to John the Baptist, as well as the schism with the Knights Templar.
This book is the definitive work on Rennes-le-Château and the Priory of Sion by the only man who has had access to all the major players, places and papers. It contains copies of key documents such as Stone and Paper (Pierre et Papier), and vital information gleaned from his contact with the propagators of the Priory of Sion - Pierre Plantard, Phillipe de Cherisey and Gérard de Sède.