Since 1890 the mysterious hoard of gold supposedly discovered by the impoverished parish priest of Rennes-le-Chateau has baffled first his parishioners and later the wider public. Fuelled by ever more fantastic rumours, this mystery has never before been thoroughly investigated and credibly solved. Did Berenger Sauniere find a fabulous treasure in his church at Rennes-le-Chateau which enabled him to rebuild the church and create for himself a luxurious estate? Was it the treasure stolen from the Temple in Jerusalem when the Romans sacked the city in AD 70? Or was it simply knowledge of a secret that brought fabulous rewards to the priest for keeping his silence?

Bill Putnam and John Edwin Wood reveal the true source of Sauniere's wealth and unravel the astounding hoax that has so confused the trail. The hoax is one of the most elaborate ever perpetrated and has grown to include false genealogies and international conspiracies. Was one of these the mysterious Priory of Sion, which closely guarded a secret for 2,000 years? A historical detective story, The Treasure of Rennes-le-Chateau: A Mystery Solved will captivate those interested in mystery, conspiracy and archaeology.