The 30-year hunt for the Golden Owl, or La Chouette d’Or, is a tale of mystery and obsession that captivated treasure hunters worldwide. The story began in 1993 when French author Régis Hauser, under the pseudonym Max Valentin, buried a bronze sculpture of an owl somewhere in France. The sculpture was a placeholder for a far more valuable prize: a golden owl, created by the artist Michel Becker. It featured six pounds, ten ounces of gold, and 15 pounds, seven ounces of silver with diamond chips on its face. It is estimated to be worth $165,000. Alongside this, Hauser published a book titled On the Trail of the Golden Owl, which contained 11 cryptic riddles—and a hidden 12th one. As part of the hunt, Hauser and Becker required that whoever discovered the buried bronze replica must present it along with the solutions to the book’s riddles to claim the original golden owl.
The treasure hunt grew into a cultural phenomenon over the next three decades. The book built a cult-like following of more than 200,000 players, called “Owlers,” from France and abroad. These enthusiasts attempted to solve the riddles, organizing events in France to meet and share tips. However, the clues—written by Hauser—were famously intricate, involving layers of wordplay, historical references, and geographic hints. Despite the dedication of many hunters, who often spent years on the quest, the location of the bronze owl remained elusive, leading some to speculate that Hauser’s clues were too complex or even unsolvable.
In 2009, the hunt took an unexpected turn with the passing of Régis Hauser. His death cast doubt on the future of the quest, as Hauser had been the only one with complete knowledge of the puzzle’s solution. However, he had taken measures to ensure the hunt could continue, leaving behind instructions and clues for the prize to be claimed even in his absence. Michel Becker, the artist behind the golden owl, also became more involved in the narrative as time went on, occasionally providing insights into his collaboration with Hauser. The duo’s partnership had created a physical treasure and a decades-long enigma that blended art, history, and cryptic puzzles. A new edition of On The Trail Of The Golden Owl written by Michel Becker was published in December 2019, called The Secret Notebooks (4th edition 2019).
Baptiste Giroudon/Paris Match via Getty Images
After 30 years of relentless searching, the Golden Owl was finally found on October 3, 2024. “Don’t go digging!” warned a message on a channel on the chat app Discord with tens of thousands of followers. “We confirm that the Golden Owl countermark was unearthed last night,” the message read, unleashing a wave of sad and crying emojis. “It is therefore useless to go digging.”
The exact details of the discovery, including the finder’s identity, continue to be shrouded in secrecy. The puzzle’s solution, long considered one of the hardest in treasure-hunting history, was finally cracked. The moment represented the culmination of Hauser’s vision and Becker’s artistic contribution, ending the mystery that had intrigued thousands.
As the news broke, Discord users’ reactions started to roll in. “Time to get the tissues out,” one wrote. Said another, “It’s the end of an era.”
The final discovery of the Golden Owl marks the end of an era, but its legacy lives on in the hearts of those who chased it. For 30 years, Hauser’s riddles and Becker’s art captured the imaginations of treasure hunters, historians, and puzzle enthusiasts alike. The hunt will forever be remembered as one of history’s most legendary scavenger hunts. The partnership between Régis Hauser and Michel Becker is a testament to the allure of unsolved mysteries and the human desire for adventure and excitement.
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