Documentaries
Rare films that shaped our understanding of the Rennes-le-Château mystery. These BBC documentaries by Henry Lincoln introduced millions to the enigma of a small French village and its secrets.
The Shadow of the Templars
The first of Henry Lincoln's groundbreaking BBC Chronicle documentaries that started it all. This film introduced the world to the mystery of Rennes-le-Château, exploring the strange story of Abbé Saunière and his inexplicable wealth. Lincoln investigates the coded parchments, the mysterious tomb in Poussin's painting, and the geometric alignments in the landscape that would later form the basis for "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail".
The Priest, The Painter and the Devil
Henry Lincoln's second BBC documentary delves deeper into the connections between Nicolas Poussin's painting "Les Bergers d'Arcadie" and the Rennes-le-Château mystery. The film examines the symbolism hidden in the artwork and its links to the treasure allegedly discovered by Saunière.
The Lost Treasure of Jerusalem
The documentary that began Henry Lincoln's investigation into one of history's greatest mysteries. After reading "Le Trésor Maudit" by Gérard de Sède, Lincoln was intrigued by coded messages in ancient parchments. This film follows his initial journey to Rennes-le-Château and the beginning of a quest that would captivate millions.
Timewatch: The History of a Mystery
A BBC Timewatch documentary providing a critical examination of the Rennes-le-Château phenomenon. This film revisits the evidence, interviews key figures, and assesses what is fact and what is fiction in the enduring mystery that inspired "The Da Vinci Code".
About These Films
These documentaries are presented for educational and research purposes. Henry Lincoln's BBC Chronicle films from the 1970s were instrumental in bringing the Rennes-le-Château mystery to international attention and directly inspired the research that led to "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail" (1982) and subsequently Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" (2003).