Rennes-le-Chateau is a fascinating little town with a long history of Templar and Cathar connections. In the 1880s many of these legends and mysteries began to unfold.

In 1885 the provincial village welcomed a new priest for its small church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Abbe Sauniere was an unusual cleric. From the day he stepped into town, using next to no funds, he ordered lavish changes to the church including strange and obscure renovations and designs. He built peculiar buildings and seemed to have access to a huge amount of funds, strange for a country priest on a low income.

Many believed he discovered something during his renovation of the church that brought him to the attention of the leaders of the Church and State, and this made him a very powerful and wealthy man.

While many have identified what he discovered as a great treasure, ranging from Templar gold to Cathar jewels, others feel it was a manuscript or hidden knowledge perhaps regarding the origins of Christianity which brought protection, power and wealth.

While Rennes-le-Chateau has always a reputation for mysteries, it skyrocketed to fame with the publication of a range of books on the mysteries of Abbe Sauniere in French, and then with the shattering revelations of Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

There have been a vast number of books on the mystery with some truly outrageous speculations ranging from UFO cults to the supposed location of the hidden body of Christ. But most have not spent much time investigating the real background to the region and its people.

Markale’s background as a well respected, if not eccentric, historian, Celtic scholar and author, makes him ideal for the task.

Markale takes us on a road trip; he describes the landscape, the people, the sites and localities which are central to the mystery. He then focuses on specific elements that he believes are significant.

These include the role of the Templars and Cathars, and he also uncovers the key to the suppressed role of Mary Magdalene in Christian history.

He believes Mary Magdalene is the prime element within Rennes-le-Chateau which links together all the different aspects of this amazing story.

He maintains Mary Magdalene was the high priestess who anointed Jesus into his priesthood, in accordance with an ancient religious tradition. Thus, she has a role that has been hidden from view within Christendom.

He says her rediscovery will transform the face of modern Christianity and restore the sacred feminine to its true role.

This legacy connects the pre-Christian traditions of the region with the Gnostics, Templars and Cathars, offering a deeper and more profound interpretation of the Rennes-le-Chateau story.
    
This is a great read, a well written story, and an insightful view into the Rennes-le-Chateau tale. His use of first person narrative and a travel guide approach gives you a real sense of the people, countryside and heritage.

Too often Rennes-le-Chateau is reduced to a treasure hunt and the great beauty, history and legacy of its people forgotten.

The Church of Mary Magdalene: The Sacred Feminine and the Treasure of Rennes-le-Chateau is an excellent introduction to the subject.

– Reviewed by Robert Burns in New Dawn No. 87