If you visit Rennes-le-Chateau and take any photographs of any building works or changes being carried out there, please send them to me and I will add them to this page.
May 2007
As part of Jean-François Lhuillier - Mayor of Rennes-le-Château on going 'improvements' to Sauniere's domain, the hand painted wallpaper that once adorned the walls of the stairway in the presbytery has been stripped off. Has it been replaced with a similar style wallpaper to preserve the ambiance of the building, no, it has been replaced with magnolia paint and a cheap looking flowery border.
The flowery border taken through a frosted glass panel of the locked door
As access to the upper floors are for the moment no longer possible, a locked door bars the way, it is impossible to find out what other changes are being made upstairs. Perhaps this is in preparation for turning the upper floors back in to hotel rooms, though no one in the village knows anything about this and I doubt even Lhuillier would go this far, or would he?
No more Blue Apples
A warning to anyone planning to visit Rennes-le-Chateau to view the 'Blue Apples on January 17th.'
The phenomena that is the blue spheres of light, known as the blue apples, was caused by sunlight shining through a circular shaft in the wall onto and through a certain area of a stained glass window in the church. At Rennes-le-Chateau this occurred on the 17th January and many traveled to the village on this date to specially witness this event. This light would move along the wall and then across the altar until it stopped. About two years ago the Mayor had the church exterior walls re-pointed and in the process blocked up the small circular shaft which caused the blue apples event, preventing them from ever being seen again. Why would he do this?
As Jean-Luc Robin said, "... it seems the mayor wants everyone to come to the village to spend their money, but he doesn't want them to see anything interesting. Even the story of the priest Sauniere is no longer explained so anyone new to the story or visits without knowing anything about what happened, still won't learn anything even after touring the museum and Sauniere's domain."
APARC - The Rennes-le-Château preservation fund.
Researcher and author Jean-Luc Robin would like to make two announcements concerning the Rennes-le-Château preservation fund, APARC. The organization, which was formed to protect the heritage of the village and preserve its historical integrity, will hold its Annual General Meeting on the 10th of August in Esperaza at Robin’s establishment, Le Restaurant des Deux Musées. All are welcome (even those who don’t mind the mayor).
Additionally, Robin and Rennes-le-Château icon Henry Lincoln will be hosting two seminars in support of APARC on the 25th of August; the first, from 10-Noon and the second form 2-5 pm. Each will be theamed Rennes-le-Château in a Geo-Political Context. Admission of 20 Euros will be applied towards APARC. To book, call: +33 (0) 608 224 293 or contact them here at there website: http://aparc.editionsfortuna.be/ or email: rlc.robin@wanadoo.fr
New bookshop in the village
A new bookshop specialising in old books opened two months ago in Rennes-le-Chateau. It is situated next door to the existing book shop and contains a lot of interesting books including some very hard to get hold of books about the Rennes-le-Chateau mystery.
March 2007
Renovation works at Rennes-le-Chateau.
Presbytery works.
Renovation work is being carried out to Sauniere's Presbytery which now houses the museum. The walls are being re-pointed and it looks as if work is also being carried out on the roof and guttering. Maybe soon they will get around to repairing the church interior and cleaning off all the years of accumulated dust on the Fleury Fresco and the other decorations in the church, maybe then we will be able to see their details clearer.
Thanks to Tobal for permission to use the photograph.