The Middle Ages

In the 9th century, under the rule of the counts of Rhedae, the city of Rhedae occupying the site of Rennes-le-Château reached the height of its power. From the 10th century onwards, however, it commenced its irreversible decline. A pawn in the constant battles for territorial hegemony, it passed back and forth between the counts of Carcassonne and the counts of Barcelona.

A second church? In 1880 the local historian Louis Fédié mentions the presence of two churches in Rennes-le-Château. The question of where precisely the second church once stood has occupied researchers for several years.

Did you know…? The church of St Mary Magdalene was furnished from the outset with a large stone basin serving as a baptismal font. Around 1897 Father Saunière had the basin moved and reused it at the entrance to the cemetery… as a planter!

Documents

Louis Alban Buzairies, “Notices historique sur les châteaux
de l’arrondissement de Limoux” (texte) in Journal de Limoux (n.13) 31.3.1867, (n.15) 14.4.1867, (n.19) 19.5.1867, (n.20) 26.5.1867, (n.21) 2.6.1867, (n.23) 16.6.1867. ›  

Louis Fédié, "Rhedae" in Le Comté de Razès et le diocèse d’Alet, 1880. ›  

Louis Alban Buzairies, “Notices historique sur les châteaux
de l’arrondissement de Limoux” (texte) in Journal de Limoux (n.13) 31.3.1867, (n.15) 14.4.1867, (n.19) 19.5.1867, (n.20) 26.5.1867, (n.21) 2.6.1867, (n.23) 16.6.1867. 

Further reading

Photos of the large stone basin serving as
a baptismal font, October 1966 - May 1968. ›  

Jean Fourié, Rennes-le-Château : L’histoire de Rennes-le-Château
antérieure à 1789, Jean Bardou, 1984. ›  

Homepage - Welcome to the museum From prehistoric times to the Roman occupation From the Visigothic to the Carolingian era The Middle Ages The church of Rennes-le-Château The Carolingian pillar The Knights’ Stone Rennes and its seigneurs - The Hautpoul family Legends of buried treasure Marie de Nègre d’Ables (1714–1781) The village of Rennes in Saunière’s day The Saunière family Bérenger Saunière, priest An eventful start First building works and discoveries Completion of work in the church Secular building projects The small world of Father Saunière Years of darkness – The court case The other Father Saunière The final years The Domain without Father Saunière The priest’s treasure The first books and ‘gold fever’ Treasure theories An ingenious treasure trail The Priory of Sion A secret linked to the church Mary Magdalene and her mystery The tomb of the Lords of Rennes Father Saunière’s singular colleagues A few words by way of conclusion

© 2009-2013 All rights reserved • Texts Antoine Captier, Christian Doumergue, Mariano Tomatis

Contributors Corjan De Raaf, Patrick Mensior, Octonovo, Morgan Roussel, Paul Saussez, Marcus Williamson.

Translation Karen McDermott Art Director Mariano Tomatis