The search for the mysterious Golden Owl, otherwise known as the "Chouette d'Or" is finally over, as the 31-year treasure hunt for the acclaimed artifact has been announced to be over. It is important to note that the concealed Golden Owl that was used for the treasure hunt is only a replica, but successfully finding the legitimate copy would award the finder with the real one.
Also known as the 'Sur la trace de la Chouette d'Or,' the hunt was created by Régis Hauser, under the pseudonym "Max Valentin," and it gave the global treasure hunters one of the toughest challenges in history.
Chouette d'Or, a.k.a. The Search for the Golden Owl, is Finally Over
The iconic Golden Owl replica has already been found, and it was revealed by its official website that on Thursday, October 3, the long hidden artifact was already discovered in France. The latest update by the organizers marks the end of an era which started in 1993, making this the longest treasure hunt in the world that lasted as much as 31 years and became a global phenomenon.
The "Chouette d'Or" gave treasure hunters worldwide a significant challenge since it was first introduced in the early 1990s, offering cryptic clues and complex puzzles that were previously thought to be impossible to solve.
It was revealed on the hunt's official chatline that the search is over after a treasure hunter shared proof of the legitimate bronze owl replica, also requiring a solution to the puzzles to verify it.
Golden Owl Winner, Discovery Site is Not Yet Revealed
Hauser passed away in 2009, but he was succeeded by Michel Becker, the illustrator of the original novel, who oversaw the search and provided more clues via Discord.
While Becker confirmed in the hunt's Discord server that there is already a winner of the Golden Owl, the committee did not share any specific details like who was the person behind finding the replica and where it was dug up.
The real Golden Owl was crafted using gold and silver said Interesting Engineering, and diamonds were added to its head. It was revealed that it weighs 22 pounds (10 kg) and is worth $165,000 alone.
That being said, the one and only Golden Owl is the prize of this world's longest treasure hunt, but it was not yet revealed if it has been collected already by the winner.
Treasure Hunting is One Challenging Hobby
In your TikTok FYP or YouTube recommended videos, you may have already come across accounts which discover certain artifacts or novelties that were hidden by anonymous groups or individuals, being a niche trend. This is known as Geocaching, and National Geographic celebrates August 21 as the International Geocaching Day, commemorating the modern adventure which incorporates GPS locations into the hunt.
Four years ago, an announcement shared online rattled the world as it promised the keys to a Jelly Bean factory which was promised by its owner and founder, David Klein. The contest is reminiscent to Roald Dahl's iconic children novel known as "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," but in this case, it was the creator of the jelly bean who also used the "Golden Ticket" as the prize to search for.
Modern treasure hunts that individuals have orchestrated as a form of entertainment, adventure, and brain teaser that challenges a person to the extreme, like the Golden Owl, is still a popular search for many.
