24 July 2008

A Medieval Mystery

A NEIGHBOR LET me borrow a book I have just started reading called The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, a controversial book that was first published in 1982. I'm familiar with the general theme of the book (so are you if you read or saw 'The Da Vinci Code') and I don't subscribe to the main theories put forth by the authors. However, I am particularly interested in the book now because a good deal of it centers around a claim that a priest in the medieval castle village of Rennes-le-Chateau, Father Bérenger Saunière, had found proof of a secret society known as the Priory of Sion.

Again, I don't buy into most of the theories the authors put forth, but I'm quite interested in the story because it just so happens that Rennes-le-Chateau is about 12 km from where we are living this summer. We're planning a trip to the village soon and I'm sure it will be an interesting experience. The village is still considered by tourists to be packed with clues to an alternate view of religious history which has long existed in the area.

The story is very interesting and you can click here for a quick synopsis. It's especially fun if you love history and/or religion.

1 comment :

Penny said...

That sounds like it will be a fun trip. I must say I enjoyed my trip to the Louvre after reading the Da Vinci Code (not that I wouldn't have anyway!). But it was fun to look at some of the details discussed in the book.

:)