Rennes-le-Château facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rennes-le-Château
|
||
|---|---|---|
Tour Magdala
|
||
|
||
 Rennes-le-Château
Location in France
Rennes-le-Château
Location in Occitanie
|
||
| Country | France | |
| Region | Occitanie | |
| Department | Aude | |
| Arrondissement | Limoux | |
| Canton | La Haute-Vallée de l'Aude | |
| Intercommunality | Limouxin | |
| Area
1
|
14.68 km2 (5.67 sq mi) | |
| Population
(Jan. 2021)
|
Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
| INSEE/Postal code |
11309 /11190
|
|
| Elevation | 272–568 m (892–1,864 ft) (avg. 435 m or 1,427 ft) |
|
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
.svg)
Rennes-le-Château is a very small village in the south of France. It is located in the Aude department, which is part of the Occitanie region. In 2017, only about 80 people lived there.
This quiet village is famous for a long-standing mystery. Many books, movies, and even video games have been inspired by its legends. People from all over the world visit Rennes-le-Château to explore its secrets.
Contents
Rennes-le-Château: A Village of Mystery
Rennes-le-Château sits on a hilltop, offering great views of the surrounding countryside. It is known as a "commune," which is a small administrative area in France. The village is part of the Limouxin area.
The Village Church
The main church in Rennes-le-Château is called the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene. It is an old building with many interesting details. The church was renovated by a priest named Bérenger Saunière in the late 1800s.
When you enter the churchyard, you might notice a Pediment above the entrance. It is decorated with a Memento mori symbol, which is a skull and crossbones. This symbol reminds people about death.
Inside the church, there is a tympanum above the main door. This is a decorated space, often with sculptures. You can also see a Holy Water Stoup. This stoup is supported by a strange figure of a demon named Asmodeus.
Above the church entrance, there is a Latin inscription. It says Terribilis est locus iste, which means "This place is terrible." This quote comes from the Bible.
The altar inside the church features a bas-relief of Mary Magdalene. Below the altar, there is another Latin inscription. It asks for Jesus to wash away sins through Mary Magdalene's tears.
The Mysterious Priest
The mystery of Rennes-le-Château mostly revolves around its former priest, Bérenger Saunière. He was the priest from 1885 to 1909. When he first arrived, the village and its church were very poor.
However, Saunière suddenly became very wealthy. He spent a lot of money renovating the church and building new structures. He built a beautiful tower called the Tour Magdala and a grand villa called Villa Bethania.
People wondered where his money came from. Some thought he found a hidden treasure. Others believed he discovered ancient secrets or documents. This sudden wealth is the starting point of many legends.
Famous Legends and Theories
Over the years, many stories have grown around Rennes-le-Château. These stories often involve hidden treasures, secret societies, and ancient mysteries.
One popular legend suggests that Father Saunière found a treasure belonging to the Knights Templar or the Cathars. The Cathars were a religious group who lived in this region long ago. They were persecuted in the 13th century.
Another famous theory connects Rennes-le-Château to the Priory of Sion. This was a fictional secret society. This idea became very popular after the book The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail was published. This book claimed that Jesus had descendants and that a secret society protected this lineage.
These stories are often called "conspiracy theories" or "pseudohistory." This means they are not proven facts but are interesting ideas that people have explored. Many books and documentaries have been made about these legends.
Political Visits
Rennes-le-Château has even attracted famous politicians. For example, François Mitterrand, who later became the President of France, visited the village in 1981. He was a candidate in the presidential campaign at the time. His visit shows how well-known the village and its mysteries have become.
Images for kids
-
A Pediment decorated with a Memento mori Skull and crossbones figure above the entrance to the churchyard
-
Altar of Saint Mary Magdalene, it features a bas-relief of Mary Magdalene. At the bottom of the altar a Latin inscription (once lost, now restored), reads: Jesu medela vulnerum Spes una poenitentium Per Magdalenae lacrymas Peccata nostra diluas, that translates as "Jesus, remedy against all our pains, The only hope for the penitent, Through the tears of Magdalen Thou washest away our sins"
-
Tympanum of Saint Mary Magdalene
-
Latin inscription quoting Genesis 28:17 Terribilis est locus iste ("This place is terrible") above the church entrance
-
The Holy Water Stoup, surmounted by four Angels and featuring the inscription By that sign you shall overcome him and below, two Basilisks topped by the BS monogram
-
A Relief Fresco of the Sermon on the Mount
-
The Statue of Saint Roch set up between the tenth and the eleventh Stations of the Cross
-
The Statue of Sainte Germaine set up between the fourth and the fifth Stations of the Cross
See also
In Spanish: Rennes-le-Château para niños
