Keycamp holidays - the Holy Grail tour

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Holy Grail - tour overview.

Full map highlighting Keycamp campsites recommended for the Holy Grail tour

Holy Grail - tour introduction

Since its 2003 publication date, and its movie release in 2006, Dan Brown's novel The Da Vinci Code has had an immense impact. The Da Vinci Code put the words "Holy Grail" on everyone's lips and created debates and arguments throughout the world of literature and the related world of the arts but also in the social and political spheres. Featuring Robert Langdon, the Harvard symbologist who was also the lead character in Brown's 2001 novel, Angels and Demons, the story takes the book's characters on an intense tour of Europe, predominantly France.

With its multi-layered plotlines: the idea that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene were married and had a child; deciphering the symbols found in many works of art, including Da Vinci's painting The Last Supper, that indicate this secret history; and the resulting power struggles between the Catholic Church and a secret society named the Priory of Sion over what to do with these explosive facts, the book reached many readers who might not usually read fiction. The Holy Grail itself was described as the earthly remains of Mary Magdalene, the wife of Jesus, plus a set of documents detailing the true story of Jesus and his descendants. The Grail, he says, was buried under the floor of the "inverted Pyramid" at the Louvre, before being held at the Rosslyn Chapel in recent decades by its protectors. There is mention of the Knights Templar, a fighting force of the Priory of Sion.

With the trail for the Da Vinci Code running all over Paris and historical sites relating to the Priory of Sion and its Knights Templar all over France, in particular the Languedoc region, never has it been so easy to follow the trail yourself and see if you can "crack the code". The signs are all there, the buildings all stand, it is is simply a case of "What does it all mean?".

Stay 1. Paris International – recommend 5 days

Local Map of Paris highlighting nearby attraction and monuments described below.

Recommended Sites: International (282)

To make the most of a visit to the world's biggest art gallery, The Louvre, it's best to arrive either early or late to try and avoid the crowds. With over 60,000 works of art, the museum attracts hundreds of visitors every day of the year so make sure you allow plenty of time to get round everything. It's also worth noting that famous pieces, such as Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, are often obscured by groups of tourists with flashing cameras, so it's worth doing this either at the beginning or end of the day.

Apart from the legendary smiling lady, you can also visit La Grande Galerie, where in the book "Da Vinci Code" Jacques Saunière dies after leaving a trail of clues for his granddaughter Sophie to follow, accompanied by her new companion, Professor Langdon. Other notable works include Da Vinci’s Virgin on the Rocks and a series of Caravaggios, one of which Saunière uses to trigger the Louvre’s alarms.

Whilst at the Louvre take a look at the impressive Pyramid in the centre of the Cour Napoléon. Don’t forget its smaller but, for Da Vinci code breakers, far more significant companion, the Pyramide Inversée (upside-down pyramid). The pyramid’s point, if you follow the novel’s hero, Robert Langdon’s train of thought, is the final resting place of Mary Magdalene - the real Holy Grail.


"Saint Sulpice "	"The Louvre"

On leaving the Louvre, travel South across the Seine to the church of Saint Sulpice in the city’s St Germain quarter, where poor Sister Sandrine meets her fate in the novel. If you believe Dan Brown, the church stands on the site of an ancient temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis. Although this is difficult to prove, what is certain is that the Rose Line (the original Meridian line before Greenwich) runs through this church. Look out for the window with the letters P and S, which Brown claims stand for Priory of Sion, but which the church maintains stand for their patron saints, Peter and Sulpice.

Take a break from your code breaking and head back north across the Seine to the Paris Ritz, where Robert Langdon receives the urgent call to come down to the Louvre in the middle of the night. Although a night's stay here may break the bank, taking tea or an aperitif in the bar won’t, providing a pleasant place to reflect on the clues you’ve uncovered so far.
Whilst in the city centre, why not visit the Bois de Boulogne, made famous for all the wrong reasons by Langdon’s night time car chase. In reality, this large park is one of the city’s greenest areas, with woods, lakes, riding schools, floral displays and cycling routes. If code breaking in the city is tiring you out, it’s a great place to retreat to for some quiet time.

Although you’re unlikely to find much symbology here, Da Vinci Code purists should also visit the Gare du Nord, where Langdon and Sophie purchase their erroneous tickets to Lille, throwing Chief Inspector Fache off their scent.


"Bois de Boulogne"	"Château Villette"

Outside the City:

Not all of the Parisian sites mentioned in the Da Vinci code lie in the city centre and its well worth making a trip to see the less urban locations featured.

Château Villette, the home in the novel of duplicitous Leigh Teabing, is just a short drive from the city centre and makes an interesting trip. It’s certainly not one of France’s most impressive châteaux, but it is a beautiful, private residence with its own chapel, lake and water gardens. The dedicated Da Vinci code breaker can even take a guided tour of the rooms featured in the book.

For those looking to investigate the Merovingian kings and their supposedly holy blood line, the Basilica of St Denis in the northern outskirts of Paris is definitely worth checking out. For 1200 years, from the reign of St Dagobert, the last great king of the Merovingian dynasty and founder of the Basilica, up until the reign of Louis XVIII, all the kings of France have been buried here. The Basilica is widely considered to be the birthplace of Gothic style of European architecture, and today visitors can take a tour of the cathedral, its tomb and the crypt.

The Merovingians ruled various districts of France until they were supplanted by Charlemagne and, if you believe Dan Brown, had the blood of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in their veins. Whatever you believe, the Basilica is certainly impressive as one of the finest medieval churches in France. A magical place to round off your code breaking journey in Paris.

Stay 2. Languedoc-Roussillon – recommend 7 days

Local Map of Costa Dorada highlighting nearby attractions, monuments, towns and villages described below.

Recommended Sites: Marseillan Plage (697), Vias Plage (696), St Cyprien (670) Portiragnes Plage (662) or Canet Plage (671)

The Languedoc region is often referred to as the Land of the Cathars or the Land of The Templars. Here, you can visit ancient sites, impressive châteaux, medieval castles combined with Gothic Cathedrals, Romanesque churches and Abbeys. This is a an area full of mystery and is deeply entwined in the mystery that is the Holy Grail.

Start your visit to this region with a tour of the impressive Rennes-Le-Château - a mysterious land structure set high on a hilltop above the Aude Valley. Visit the Church, Tower (Tour Magdala), Museum, Sauniere's Domain and the Grand Villa Bethania.

Also visit the Montsegur Castle, possibly the most incredible Cathar Castle standing today set atop an impressive 1000 foot crag. This castle provided refuge for over 200 Cathars in 1244 during the Albigensian Crusade until they were martyred on a burning pyre after they descended. There is continuing speculation that a large amount of treasure is buried here!


"Montsegur Castle"	"Rennes le Château"

To further your tour, visit the Château de Peyreperteuse, clearly one of the least-ruined castles of the area built high on a large rocky crest in the late 12th-century. Hiking up to the top of the ridge will bring its own rewards. Continuing with a visit to the Château de Queribus set even higher than most others at an impressive 2200 feet high above the village. This site was first recorded in 1020 and was a Cathar stronghold in the 13th century, becoming their last refuge. Lastly, a hike to the Puilaurens Castle will compliment a few days burying deep into the history of this region.


"Château Comtal"	"Emblem of the Knights Templar "

No visit to the Languedoc region is complete without a visit to the impressive city of Carcassonne, with its incredible medieval walled city. Visit the beautiful Basilique St-Nazaire with its outstanding 14th and 15th century stained glass including two beautiful rose windows which was a major stronghold of the French Cathars during the 13th century. Readers of the book "Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse, will recognise a lot of this impressive structure, built by the Trencavel family, a legendary name in these parts. Were the Trencavel family a crucial part of the protecting the Holy Grail? If you think that the outer walls of Carcassonne are impressive, then take a look at another Trencavel acheivement, the Château Comtal, a superb visit.

Finally, Colloure is a gem on the Roussillon Coast. A lovely village and charming port on the Mediterranean Sea that has been a magnet for artists since the early 1900s and home to the Château Royal built by the Knights Templar in the 13th century.