There is the France that you know, with its unmissable monuments, its breathtaking landscapes and its magnificent villages. But behind these places sometimes hides a more secret, more surprising and worrying France. What if we discovered behind the scenes, the hidden side of our country? Today let's follow in the footsteps of the alchemists. We will discover the places where these shadowy men practiced their art of transmuting metal into gold in the greatest secrecy. We will visit Bourges, the city which was the capital of alchemy in the Middle Ages. In Bourges , there was somewhere a kind of
occult kingdom in fact. So it's actually the center of France, you could say esoteric. In Paris, mysterious messages engraved in stone for centuries continue to intrigue us. Notre Dame de Paris. It is the mothership of alchemy. We have alchemists who, since the Middle Ages, have been trying to decipher these inscriptions that we have here. We will also go to Vendée, where the fortresses of Gilles de Rais. The most disturbing of all alchemists has a terrible past. In this tower, he will begin to perform somewhat secret rituals and above all to involve a lot of blood.
In the Lot, at the Château de Cénevières, this obscure art was also practiced out of sight. Among the guests, there are only a few who will have recognized different signs in the house and who have said they are in this castle. Some work on this science of alchemy. Not everyone fits in this room. France has countless places linked to alchemy. Witnesses to the history of this science through the centuries. You will be surprised by the obscure past of Versailles or Chambord and will discover others instead of this discipline located in the four corners of France.
Occult sciences par excellence. Alchemy is rich in legends and incredible stories. And in all the places associated with this discipline there is an aura of mystery. Let's now set off on a unique journey to alchemical France. Paris, symbol of French culture. Millions of visitors flock to the capital every year and rush to attack these monuments known throughout the world. But what most do not know is that in some of these alleys, on the oldest residences, we can observe traces of a mysterious, little-known Paris. Far from the postcard popular with tourists. A medieval Paris where alchemy
was practiced. We are in the Marais district. It was here, in the Middle Ages, that a certain Nicolas Flamel lived. Nicolas Flamel had his shop right here, where the sidewalk of Rue de Rivoli is today. It backed onto the church which was there behind me, Saint-Jacques de la Boucherie, of which only the tower has been preserved. Before becoming a legendary character, Nicolas Flamel ran a book stall in the heart of Paris. Flamel is not a fictional character as one might believe, since he appeared not very long ago, in a few pages of the Harry Potter
saga. He is truly a historical character. Known as the most famous alchemist. Flamel actually lived in Paris in the 14th century. Who was he really? What trace did he leave in Paris? Between myths and reality, we will follow the clues that lead to the real Nicolas Flamel. Of modest origins, he lived in the heart of the city with his companion, Lady Pernelle. In his neighborhood. Flamel is nothing more than an ordinary bookseller. An individual above all suspicion who, one fine day in 1382, will become rich, very rich. That is to say that Flamel's life, ultimately,
although he surrounds himself with a certain discretion, becomes quite mysterious, because suddenly he enriches Nicolas Flamel. The couple Nicolas Flamel and Pernelle become very rich. It's an immense fortune. Yes, we can say that. There is even talk of a fortune which approached that of the king, and we do not know where it came from. An immense fortune which, at the time, raised questions. Where is she from ? To get the beginning of an answer, we went to one of the 73 residences that Nicolas Flamel had built. Today, the only one still visible is here in
the heart of the third arrondissement. Built in 1407. It is the oldest house in Paris located at 51 rue de Montmorency. A unique building which, at the time, attracted attention. Nicolas Flamel is a rich person, and his wealth shows. Interesting detail, it is built in limestone. This means that he has the money to build with limestone because it costs much more than building with half-timbering like all the houses were in Paris at the time. Normally, palaces or churches are built in limestone. But how was a simple bookseller able to afford all these buildings? Where does
all this money come from? Short of a logical explanation, fantasies and speculations begin to circulate. In the capital, the rumor will grow. Nicolas Flamel allegedly practices alchemy and discovered humanity's most coveted secret. A formula that would allow him to change lead into gold. For some enthusiasts, Flamel even left evidence of his discovery on several buildings, such as on the facade of his home in the Marais. Here, we have inscriptions which were made, created, thought out, desired by Nicolas Flamel, and we have alchemists who, since the Middle Ages, have sought to decipher these inscriptions Which we
have here by saying But there, is the secret, there I will understand. Maybe he was clearer here. Maybe this detail makes sense. Maybe that's the key. We will say to ourselves and yes, perhaps behind these enigmas, behind this astonishing angel, perhaps there is a secret. So it's a bit normal that this legend was made about the personality of Nicolas Flamel. These mysterious inscriptions will help to forge the legend of Flamel, the Alchemist. It was in his Parisian laboratory, in an alley in what is now the third arrondissement, that after years of work, He decoded a
previously indecipherable work. The book of Abraham the Jew, which explains in particular how to transform matter. Thanks to this book, on January 17, 1382, Flamel would have made gold. Legend has it that he buried his secret in his Parisian neighborhood under the famous Saint-Jacques Tower, still visible today. Under this Saint-Jacques tower, Nicolas Flamel buried a cedar chest with inside a copy of the work of Abraham the Jew and Nicolas Flamel's explanations of this work, and then also projection powder which would allow transmutation the ocean as gold if the ocean were mercury. Projection powder in alchemical
jargon is the mythical philosopher's stone, a material capable of making gold, Prolonging life, but also a cure for all illnesses. But under the Saint-Jacques tower, no one has ever found the slightest chest. And yet, enthusiasts are convinced that Nicolas Flamel left clues, leads for future generations. And he wouldn't be the only one. In Paris, another place would be rich in alchemical messages. It is one of the most famous monuments in France, Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral. All over these portals, these stained glass windows. In these stones, alchemical symbols would be present. Notre-Dame de Paris is the
mothership of Alchemy. Notre-Dame remains one of the special places for alchemists. From the Middle Ages, Bishop William of Paris, who was at the origin of these decorations, was an alchemist. So he had undoubtedly left some symbols there that could be of interest to great art. Notre-Dame de Paris is a place that will attract alchemists. We know that as early as the 16th century, they met there to discuss and get together. And then there will be a certain number of works by alchemists who will detail certain sculptures by giving them very precise alchemical explanations. On the
central portal, 24 medallions representing religious scenes Would in fact have a double meaning. Through its walls. Notre-Dame Cathedral would reveal certain clues as to how to find the philosopher's stone. They are books of stone. Of course, this book can be decoded on two levels. There is the level, I would say, of the open book, that is to say the religious book as it should be, because it is still a monument also for practicing religion. On the other hand, there is also a second reading at another level, that is to say what I would call the
closed book, the esoteric book. And so we always decode the biblical writings, but at an alchemical level. Here, each symbol would have a hidden meaning. This bird, for example, represents one of the steps, the first that alchemists must undertake to find the philosopher's stone. Intriguing messages carved in stone. They are found in different places in France. For those in the know, all the great Gothic cathedrals are sacred landmarks in Paris, but also in Chartres and Amiens, the cathedrals are the guardians of secrets that only the most knowledgeable can decipher. So we can think that the
builders, and therefore the project owner, were tasked with conveying this double standard. A double language specific to this art which dates back to time immemorial. Alchemy was born in Egypt, around 200 BC. But it was in Arab countries that it matured from the 7th century. Later, it was the great Eastern Crusades which brought this science back to Europe. Alchemists have always had the habit of hiding their knowledge behind symbols. It is up to the student to make the necessary effort to acquire the totality of the knowledge which is partially dispensed in the symbols of stone
and glass. In alchemy, using a coded language understandable only by adepts is called hermeticism. At the origin of these texts indecipherable by laymen, a man revered by alchemists since Antiquity. There was a legendary character regarding the origins of alchemy in Egypt, who holds a very important place, it is the famous Hermes Trismegistus who would in fact be the father, therefore, in the second or third century BC, of the famous Emerald Table. It's a fairly brief little text, but it perfectly summarizes the ingredients, ultimately, of alchemy. Translated into Latin in the 6th century, the Emerald Tablet
is the pillar of alchemical art of which it provides the main foundations. Visit the interior Of the earth and by grinding you will find the stone. This is the most famous message from the Emerald Tablet. In France, it was especially in the 15th century that we discovered this discipline. Over time, alchemy will seduce the bourgeoisie and the adventurers. Religious people. The Lords. And even kings. At the very beginning of the Renaissance, one city in particular became enthusiastic about this new science. This is Bourges, a flourishing city which welcomes the intellectuals and notables of the kingdom.
At that time, the Duke of Berry, Son of the King of France, was installed here, surrounded by a sumptuous court. The city will very quickly become the capital of alchemy. Bourges in fact is the center of France in fact. The idea is that in Bourges, there was somewhere a sort of occult kingdom in fact. So. So it's the center, it's the center in fact of France, we can say esoteric. Undeniably, Bourges is the capital of alchemy. Capital in the 15th and early 16th centuries. And in these places, behind its walls, there were a certain number
of alchemists. There were probably not all houses, but almost, since all houses have cellars. And in these caves, well it was the art of alchemy. It's easy to imagine the alchemists taking refuge in these cellars making multiple attempts to make the philosopher's stone. To make the philosopher's stone. It's simple, it's very complicated. We start from the principle that all matter is composed of two main principles, what we call sulfur and mercury. For the alchemist, it is necessary. Separated from matter. These two principles. Once he has succeeded in separating them, he must purify them and once
he has purified, He puts them back together in what is called chemical marriage. And it is from there that a little child will be born who will be called the philosopher's stone. But in practice, alchemists have difficulty moving forward in their quest. They test products, operations. They always grope and operate discreetly. These underground passages were guarded. We couldn't, everyone couldn't go into these underground passages. Alchemists, in their practice, always kept a secret part, very secret, that is to say they did not reveal the way in which they operated. And they worked very long. They could
work for days and days. And it was known that they did it. But just how they did it was kept very secret. The street names of Bourges still bear traces of this sulphurous past today. Rue du Mauvais Secret. Rue du Puits Noir. Alchemy Street. It is easy to imagine the alchemists at work at the time. The most emblematic monument of this period and one of the most remarkable in the city is the Palais Jacques Coeur. This name is that of a strange character who marked the history of the city. Jacques Cœur was a merchant who
owned a colossal fortune. A wealth greater than that of Charles VII, of whom he was great financier. To find out more about this essential business genius in the kingdom, you must visit the palace. An architectural masterpiece, witness to the extent of Jacques Coeur's fortune. So he made this palace to show everyone what he was. So a great financier of his time, an enormous power. He is better dressed. He wears better than the king himself than his king. It was also said that Jacques Coeur the king does what he can. Jacques Coeur does what he wants.
His craziest expense is certainly this immense mansion , a Gothic-style stone gem that he bought for the astronomical sum of 100,000 gold crowns, or more than 40 million euros. He insisted above all on the fact that there is no symmetry. It is something unique and not another monument in France that has this characteristic. And inside, he placed a considerable number of sculptures, small sculptures, friezes. He put these mottos in a number of places "With a brave heart nothing is impossible." A richly decorated interior where the hearts which represent the signature of the rich merchant are
omnipresent. Period scenes meticulously reproduced. Large rooms with luxurious decor. Jacques Cœur wanted the best for his palace, a showcase supposed to bring him respectability. To afford such a home, this business genius must have made a lot of money. He was the first Frenchman to establish and maintain commercial relations with the countries of the Levant, today's Middle East. In any case, this is the first explanation of the origin of his wealth. Jacques Coeur himself, we must not forget that he was a financier and that Jacques Coeur did with the Levant, very much what we would say
today about trafficking. That is to say that Jacques Cœur took these silver ingots to Beirut or Alexandria. He had borrowed a royal stamp with the fleur-de-lis and stamped these silver bars to show that he had the king's agreement, which he did not have. And there he exchanged them for gold bars. And at that time, we had a lot of money in the West, very little in the Levant. On the other hand, they had a lot of gold and exchanged a gold bar for a silver bar. When they came back, they had done what we call
the somersault, that is to say they had multiplied their turnover by ten. This is the classic version of the origin of Jacques Coeur's fortune. But for some, the explanation lies elsewhere. At the same time, wouldn't he have abandoned himself to alchemy? It was the only way. To explain why. Someone who starts from nothing, that is to say who is not noble, also becomes rich. Especially since the hypothesis of Jacques being an alchemist at heart is entirely credible. He and his entourage were keen on these occult sciences, as we can say, and therefore on alchemy. There
are also these signs that can be observed in each room, on each facade of his famous residence. They would be proven indications of his interest in this occult science. In fact, he left extraordinary symbolic elements in his home, which is the Palais Jacques Coeur. Because we are going to find in the chapel, we are going to find in the building itself, we are going to find a really abundance, abundance of symbolic elements. And then we have a banner that says “speak, silence.” And there it is typically alchemical, that is to say little. Alchemy which must
not reveal everything, do a lot, is work, especially work, and keep quiet from all those who are not adepts. Because alchemy is, I would say, a practice that we cannot entrust to everyone. There are a lot of gogos, there are a lot of crooks. And alchemy is a very serious art. Jacques Coeur, the Alchemist, through relentless research, made an extraordinary discovery. He would have found a way to make not gold, but silver at will thanks to alchemy. The rumor reaches the ears of the king who feels threatened by this character who is too rich for
his taste. The problem was that he was so rich that he found himself in the middle of political intrigue. The king could not bear to have this character whom he otherwise liked, but above him, with this palace. Especially since Charles VII did not live in, I would say, in luxury was not. You just have to see it in portrait to be sure. Charles VII, at the time nicknamed the little king of Bourges, therefore had every interest in using this man. A financial interest. As Charles VII still had a war to wage against the English, it
was the end of the 100 Years' War. He needed money and so to raise armies, he had to call on Jacques Coeur. So Jacques Coeur, ultimately, found himself a bit trapped because he may have had money, but he had to give a lot of it. And if he didn't give it to the sovereign, he was a bit stuck. Not only did he lend to the king, but also to a number of notables. And so he had done a lot enemies within Charles VII's entourage. It was the beginning of the end. In 1453, Jacques Cœur was
tried for the crime of lèse majesté and illegal trade. The king confiscated his property and cast him aside for good. Ultimately, the only way Charles VII had to neutralize him because he could not repay the loans was to throw him in prison. He escaped and died on November 14, 1456 on the small Greek island of Chios, far from his alchemical laboratory and his palace. After Jacques Coeur, alchemy will continue to flourish in Bourges, a few hundred meters from the famous Palais Jacques Coeur. Another residence owes its prestige to alchemy. This is the Lallemant hotel, built
a few years later. So in this upper courtyard of the Lallemant hotel, well we see that there are quite extraordinary sculptures which show the interest of the Lallement brothers in symbolism and even in the symbolism which is specific to the 'alchemy. The Lallemant brothers, two mayors of the town of Bourges in the 16th century, were passionate about esotericism and they are said to have covered their private mansion with symbols. But the real jewels of the Lallemant hotel are the boxes located inside the oratory. Enthusiasts see references to the experiments carried out by alchemists. Through 30
boxes the Lallemant brothers wanted to show the knowledge they had at that time of alchemical art. So we start, for example, from the armillary sphere, that is to say we recover the raw material at the bottom of the earth, we put it in this sphere and then We heat it. And at the end, well we have the igneous dove and of course the dove on fire which leads to the rose and the five-lobed rose, and this five-lobed rose which is also a trait of the Lallemant brothers. Well, that’s the philosopher’s stone. At the time, references
to alchemy spread like wildfire in Bourges, but also in all regions of France. In the Lot, the castle of Cénevières has long been an alchemist's lair. During the Renaissance, everything that happened within these fortified walls remained secret. Today, we come here to admire this monument with its atypical architecture, but also to enter one of the most original rooms in France. Initially, we remain on a model Of a medieval castle with everything for defense, everything for defense. And it was only afterwards, at the end of the 15th century, that we began to visit Italy with Charles
VIII, Louis XII, Francis I. We see beautiful things, we develop a taste for beautiful things. And the last years, of the lords of Gourdon who died here in 1616, were devoted to decoration and embellishment. We modify the old part of the Middle Ages, we block up old windows and we make an Italian-style palace with large staircases, large rooms, painted ceilings and a room with mythological paintings and an alchemy cabinet. The architect of this change was Flottard de Gourdon, the owner of the place at the beginning of the 16th century. It makes the Château de Cénevières
an unmissable meeting place for scholars and wealthy intellectuals, but only those with a penchant for esotericism. So here we are in the large living room. It was the main room in which the small local courts, the friends who came, the bishop, the intellectuals of the region gathered . So, in the center of the living room is this black Quercy type fireplace and the important sign to look at here happens to be the Seal of Solomon. You therefore have two inverted triangles, one which shows towards the north all the symbolism of fire and the other facing
the south which shows the symbolism of water. The Seal of Solomon which is a physical indicator for people who pass Through this room and who are initiated into the science of alchemy. This castle suspended above the Lot is in fact at the time a place where alchemy was practiced in secret. Once again, clues that go unnoticed by ordinary mortals speak here to the initiated. More than symbols in this castle, a room is entirely dedicated to these men of the shadows. A unique place of its kind, An alchemy cabinet. Among the guests or people who spend
the day here, there are only a few who will have recognized different signs in the house that they said in this castle. Some work on this science of alchemy. So we're going to say that it would be a club of initiates among people who are already a little informed, an informed public. Not everyone fits in this room. Here, we philosophize, we exchange, we share our knowledge of physics and chemistry. Some seek to unlock the secrets of immortality. Others focus on the transmutation of metals. We are here in a firm that represents two themes at the
same time. First philosophy, with here paintings which retrace the whole of a work called Ovid's Metamorphoses. Here we have a series of drawings and at the same time we were in the somewhat spiritual And philosophical domain and at the same time a concrete side with this little athanor, it is the hearth, the name we give to the hearth which made it possible to working with chemical elements at the time. In this secret cabinet, we work on the material to transform it by immersing ourselves in the scenes painted on the walls. 18 frescoes and as many
messages for apprentice alchemists. Sometimes even warnings, like this painting representing the fall of Phaeton, this son of Helios who wanted to drive his father's solar chariot without really knowing how to control it. The message is not because a man knows how to do something that he should not impose any limits on himself. I have to make sure what I'm doing is in the right order. Maybe I'll cook something that will explode. Maybe I'll prepare something that will kill, that will destroy. Are we setting limits by saying that it's too dangerous in the end, I don't
do it. At this time, almost everywhere in the kingdom, alchemists were hard at work, guided by this moral code. Away from prying eyes, they experiment, test and work on the material. And their research sometimes leads them to make very practical discoveries. They each had the ambition to discover the mystery and in any case to develop this science which made it possible, apart from the search for the philosopher's stone, to also manufacture metals, glasses, Enamels, things like that, which have been very useful for daily life. Ceramics, paints, all that is chemistry. And we didn't just have
the side, we're going to say search for the philosopher's stone and gold. The Alchemist in the history of science are known to have been at the origin of certain discoveries. Urine, since urine was one of the materials on which alchemists worked, urine will allow the alchemist Brandt to discover phosphorus. But much further than that, we have Roger Bacon, the monk who discovered gunpowder. We have Bernard de Palissy who discovered earthenware. Alcohol for example, which was born from distillation and was discovered by people who were involved in a little alchemy. From Antiquity we can think of
the mythical Mary the Jew who is said to have invented the bain-marie. We have a wealth of alchemical discoveries that continue to help us in our work in the 21st century. Alchemists have therefore helped to improve our lives. But some of these discoveries, the fruit of several years of research, would undoubtedly not have seen the light of day without the money of rich patrons. Alchemical research were not within everyone's reach, mainly because. That the ingredients, the minerals, The substances that were used were expensive. Some alchemists sought the protection of prelates or nobles or sovereigns precisely
to be able to obtain funding for their research. It's a way of sponsoring alchemical research. The alchemists had to find these sponsors themselves, sometimes by going door to door. The obligatory step when you are an alchemist is to find homes and patrons who are interested in these subjects. We had a lot of alchemists coming, wandering from castle to castle. The sovereigns in question were all the more inclined to favor his Research as he saw an interest in it, since if one could ever obtain gold and silver at will, that suited them well. You have, for
example, a king like Philip the Fair who had, who had a team of alchemists at his service. Everyone is benefiting. In this way, research progressed for the better. And for the worse. In this way we had a circulation of information, even if everyone wanted to keep their little secret. It was still interesting to tell a little piece of it for the neighbor who in exchange would give you a little piece of the formula or the experiment that he had successfully carried out. Or also, we exchanged failures by saying we must not take this route, we
must not do that because this or that consequence. From time to time, there is physical damage to the houses which burned because of this. But the real danger for alchemists comes from elsewhere. At this time, beware of anyone who knows too much. There, we had the two versions, the spontaneous version, the guy who passes or who has been invited, who comes and does it obediently. And most often, it was a little violent because we would forcefully seek out this or that person who we had learned had found an interesting formula. They therefore kept them prisoners
so that they could find the philosopher's stone and be able to replenish their coffers which were often in a disastrous state. Whether he is a prisoner or free. The situation is just as risky for the alchemists, because the sovereigns who have them work in their castle expect concrete results. Several adventurers have ventured down this path. In this little game, an alchemist particularly marked the history of France. The Count of Saint-Germain, a character as troubled as he is brilliant. In the 18th century, he succeeded not only In putting the French court at Versailles at his feet,
but also in having the castle of Chambord lent to him by the king himself. The character is so extraordinary that he had given rise to quite a few studies, in particular by Napoleon III who had commissioned someone to produce a file on Saint-Germain. Well, quite complete, it seems. I say, it seems, because this file in question burned during the fire of the Tuileries in 1871. If Napoleon III himself wanted to investigate Saint Germain, it is because this colorful and multifaceted character , always been an enigma that unleashed passions. Voltaire said of him: He is a
man who never dies and who knows everything. The story of this man who claimed to be an alchemist and to whom Extraordinary powers were attributed , began near the Palace of Versailles in 1758. In the salons he frequented, he stood out for his appearance and his unusual qualities. of the common. Saint-Germain excels in many arts. It shows right away. That he is an exceedingly brilliant being, because today we have paintings that he made and also pieces of music that he wrote. And he was a very good musician. In addition, he excelled on the violin. This
is still a person who must speak around ten languages. He has a completely exceptional aura and he impresses the people who meet him. He carries many precious stones with him. It’s a bit of his Dada sound in fact. The precious stones of rubies, topaz, sapphires, etc. Saint Germain, an extremely atypical character, is also intriguing with his manners. He consumed what we call potable gold and potable gold. So we're talking about alchemical gold. And the drinking hour is a substance that we take in very small quantities in drops that we put in water and consume and
which allows us to prolong our existence. Who is Saint Germain? And above all, what does he want? What did he come to do at the court of Louis XV? France was the leading power in the world at the time. All courts in Europe speak French. In England, we speak French, in Russia, we speak French. So France shines. Going to France means being at the top of the social, even political, pyramid. Go to France and above all wander the corridors and gardens of Versailles. In the salons, he could use his charm to find a place in
this universe. In the gardens, they could study the alchemical messages they contain. The garden was created for an initiatory, essentially esoteric, purpose. All the perspectives that were made In his garden refer to light, refer to alchemy. The entire architecture of the drawings refers to the esoteric triangle circle. Everything is completely thought out. All these people were initiated. Because if the project manager here was indeed André le Nôtre. They worked under the influence of advisors initiated in alchemy, like Colbert. Lully. And Le Brun. Everyone wanted to leave alchemical references to the castle. In the gardens, but
also in the Hall of Mirrors for example. Extraordinary places where Saint-Germain would thrive. This will not take long, because the count shines in the salons with his eloquence and makes very powerful friends. It actually goes through the Marquis de Marigny, who is the brother of the Marquise de Pompadour. He will succeed in getting closer to King Louis XV. So he gets an interview with the Marquise de Pompadour. So let's imagine. He arrives at Versailles. It's the light, the apotheosis, that's what he wanted. And he has. He arrives and he is of course facing The building,
facing the marvel, facing the power we will say of the earth. Now it's up to him to rise to the occasion. He meets the marquise who falls under his spell. We could almost speak of an intellectual love at first sight, of course. It's happening here in Versailles. The Marquise de Pompadour will very quickly speak about Saint-Germain to King Louis XV. She describes a fascinating character who practices alchemy and is a specialist in precious stones. The king summons him immediately. He was noticed by the king in a good way because the king had a diamond in
a ring on his hand, and this diamond had a flaw. It's a shame because the diamond is also enormous, and the Count of Saint-Germain Obviously sets out to dissolve this stain. A month later, Saint Germain will return with this diamond without the defect. Sleight of hand or the fruit of true alchemical know-how. In any case, the tale manages to seduce King Louis XV, to whom he becomes very close. The enormous sympathy, one could say almost friendship, will be established between the two men and Saint-Germain will be invited very often, but very often, to the king's
little suppers, little king's suppers which are at the Grand Trianon. Small dinners have a particularity, which is that they are without labels. That's to say ? Informal familiarity is required. There is no longer a Lord, etc. There is Louis. From that moment on, it is true that relations between St-Germain and Louis XV were going to be in good shape. An intimacy that will not please everyone. Some high-ranking people begin to spread rumors and try to sully the reputation of Saint-Germain. Saint-Germain is an intriguer. Some will say a charlatan. He even annoys. There is of course
a lot of talk about him. Imposter or peerless alchemist? From all sides, more or less improbable stories are being heard. Like for example this exchange he would have had with the ambassador Madame de Cergy. The first time we meet the Count of Saint-Germain, she says to him But, sir. We know each other. We already met a few years ago and the Count of Saint-Germain said to her Yes, indeed, madam, we have already met in Venice. But the lady told him What is surprising is that 50 years ago, I was very old, but you, if my
memory serves me correctly, you had the same face, you were already around fifty years old. 'years. It is also rumored that he is over 3000 years old, that he knew Jesus Christ, that he made diamonds and made himself invisible. The Count of Saint-Germain is amused by all these remarks. He will never deny anything that can be said about him. Far from discrediting him, these rumors will strengthen his aura. We begin to think that nothing is impossible for this man. Ultimately, he may well be a true alchemist with supernatural powers. With this reputation, protecting oneself from
the king continues to obtain privileges. We know that it is Marigny, therefore the brother of the Marquise de Pompadour, who will ask the king and on behalf of the Count of Saint-Germain, if I may say so, who will ask him to benefit in fact From the apartments of certain apartments of the Château de Chambord. Chambord Castle, one of the most prestigious castles in France. It is the consecration for the tale which has something to be envied. And obviously, his arrival on the scene will not go unnoticed. The inhabitants of the region were a little surprised
to see someone with this reputation arrive in a large castle which was one of the main castles of the region and especially with the authorization of the king. And it's true that this reputation, at the time, we were still not far from the time of witches who were burned alive, can make this character quite noticed, quite feared perhaps in a certain way and above all intriguing. enormously the population. What is this strange man doing within the castle walls? Officially, Saint Germain would work on dyeing work, but behind the scenes, he promised Louis XV, the richest
and rarest discovery, that the philosopher's stone had been made. When we talk about dyeing, we don't necessarily just mean clothing dyeing. Of course, there is clothing dyeing, that’s the tip of the iceberg. But behind it, in alchemy, the dye has a meaning. It is therefore for him a tincture, it is an alchemical work. The tale of Saint Germain has the reputation of engaging in alchemist work, of being able to change lead into gold, of working on changing the material of precious stones, and of creating new ones. We are also told about work for a factory.
So did he want to launch work on precious stones on a large scale? We remain in a more or less thick mystery. This research never had time to come to fruition because very quickly, another rumor would spread about him. Saint Germain would be a spy. In 1766, he went into exile and placed himself under the protection of the King of Prussia, Frederick II. Even today, opinions are divided on the Count of Saint-Germain. Were his talents as an alchemist so extraordinary? What was his true identity and why was he hiding it? And above all, was he
truly immortal? Saint Germain will never say I am immortal. He will never say the opposite. On the other hand, when we ask him about Christ. He will recount like no other the last meal of the Last Supper. As if he were there. He is able to tell what was happening at the time of Francis I. Saying that François Iᵉʳ was a completely kind man. After his death in 1784, the mystery of Count Saint-Germain continued to fascinate crowds. In the following centuries, many witnesses reported seeing it. And that's not all. Other rumors will revive doubts about
his immortality. A century after the official death of the Count of Saint Germain on February 27, 1784 and after his burial at Chapelle Saint-Roch. A century later, the tomb was reopened. And what do we observe with amazement? Obviously the tomb is empty. Once again, these mysteries are the charm of alchemy. One of these other legends takes us to the Château du Plessis-Bourré in Maine et Loire. It was Jean Bourré, minister of Louis XI and renowned alchemist towards the end of the 15th century, who had the monument built, Undoubtedly the most enigmatic of the Loire castles.
Legend has it that it contains a precious alchemical treasure. For the visitor who approaches Le Plessis and enters Le Plessis, there is undoubtedly an aura that is attributed to the presence in this castle of the philosopher's stone. Is a philosopher's stone really here? Everyone is free to believe it. Once in the castle, there is another treasure, clearly visible this time. Huge paintings on a ceiling, an enigma thought up and commissioned by Jean Bourré himself. In these frescoes, as in the German boxes where the engravings of Notre-Dame are hidden, clues for alchemists are hidden. In this
first part of the ceiling, the first sixteen boxes are rather composed of animals or imaginary creatures, drawing heavily on the classic medieval bestiary and in particular perhaps the most representative, it is that of the unicorn that we have just here. It is certainly the most emblematic animal of the Middle Ages. Animals will designate materials, will designate alchemical operations. We call it the alchemical bestiary. There will be allegories which will designate the operations, which will designate the particular point of the great work, etc. The great work is the realization of the philosopher's stone in alchemical language.
The unicorn symbolizes mercury while the lion represents sulfur. The two dogs Would be an indication of proportion between the ingredients. The phoenix would symbolize the color red. As for the boxes placed at the back of the room, these would be advice intended for apprentice alchemists. So there is one which is quite amusing, which illustrates a man above a well who is talking. And all the things he says are symbolized by stones falling into a well. And there, we see that there is a stone which has not yet reached the bottom of the well, that there
are already drops of water splashing on it. In symbolism, in fact, the last thing is barely said and barely pronounced before the consequences already fall on him. Indeed, alchemy is an esoteric science and we had to be very careful in what we said, in what information we divulged. Hence this precisely coded language that they certainly established to protect their knowledge and also to protect themselves from the risk of ending up at the stake as perhaps some did. Lord Jean Bourré like a little before him. Could Jacques Coeur have unraveled the mystery of the philosopher's stone?
For some enthusiasts, these strange frescoes prove it. And through these paintings, the Lord would have wanted to transmit clues to future generations. Over the centuries, France has become a playground for alchemists. Through all these symbols, They seek to reconstruct the recipe that will lead them to the philosopher's stone. Among these places which have fascinated and still fascinate followers from all over the world, another castle rich in alchemical clues, that of Dampierre sur Boutonne, in Charente-Maritime. So this castle is designed as a fortified castle first. A closed court is a tournament court, but began in 1550
under Henry II the eight Protestant versus Catholic wars of religion in our region. So this castle will be almost destroyed. There, the dormer windows were added in the 17th century. It's much more, I would say Louis 14th than 16th. And the gallery, well, it was reworked, of course, with the north tower which was recreated in the 18th century to balance this castle. It's a small Italian palace. It's not a French castle, it's an Italian palace. Everyone says it's a little gem. Queen Margot. Henry IV. Francis I. Many royal figures have passed through this castle. Did
they know the secrets these walls hold? For the visitor who discovers the place. The first step of the alchemical journey is by exploring the gardens. A green setting, a labyrinth where mosaics and plant creations contribute to the mysterious charm of the place. To understand why this castle has become a mecca for alchemy, you have to look at its history. In the 16th century, the owners Claude Catherine de Clermont and Albert de Gondi were fond of esotericism. Obscure practice, alchemical exercise. They are part of a circle of initiates. Among the followers of these esoteric sciences, Catherine
de Medici and Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of Henry II. Both the queen and the mistress Diane de Poitiers are versed in esotericism. Diane de Poitiers, cousin of the castle owners , every morning absorbs a golden potion to try to become immortal. But followers of alchemy, which promises wealth and eternity, will soon have to practice their art in secret. Gain immortality. the Church does not like the idea. They do not look favorably on this pseudo science which overshadows it. Francis I, pushed by the Church, burn all books with subversive content. So, to protect the secrets
of the alchemists and preserve their findings, the owners decide to engrave their knowledge in stone. You are there in a book of stone and each box is a page. Each group of nine boxes is a chapter and each chapter separated by the royal initials of Henry II with his mistress Diana. This is the key to knowledge. This is the key that has been reserved for initiates. A key which, through 93 boxes, would allow anyone who can decipher them to obtain the famous philosopher's stone. A giant rebus where each drawing has its hidden meaning. We are
going to find the Ouroboros, the snake that bites its own tail. After two blowing angels who are on the mountain. And then we will finally find Lucifer. Lucifer who is truly the primordial initiate, since he was the light bearer in heaven, God's favorite. The fight chased him from paradise and it was he who gave his emerald to the initiates. The initiates engraved on this emerald The secrets of the universe which it transmitted to them. Obviously impossible for the layman to grasp all of these coded messages. Especially since this recipe carved in stone has been damaged
over the centuries. It must be said that this gallery was sieged three times during the wars of religion. At the end of these religious wars, the gallery was completely dislocated and only half resisted. So we can't read the full message. Today, the castle contains another wealth which delivers a very complete message. It is called the Splendor Solis. It is the reference book in the field, an extremely rare work attributed to the legendary Salomon Trismosin, one of the leaders in alchemy. Alchemists take this book as a reference because it is the most complete. Moreover, Nicolas Flamel
certainly also took his inspiration from where we see the different retorts which symbolize the evolution of the material, but also from the scenes of peasant scenes around German rural scenes . Moreover, we recognize the Germans from the scenes warriors. And this book, obviously, is a key book for all alchemists around the world. If this book is so appreciated by initiates, it is because it is one of the rare ones to evoke the fundamental values of the discipline. Through these pages, alchemy is revealed not as a simple quest for gold, but above all as a spiritual
quest. By transforming matter the Alchemist seeks to transform himself and ultimately, it is an exercise of purification which represents, which is not far from Zen Buddhism. There have been many alchemists who tried their hand at being gold miners and who, I would say, became charlatans. These charlatans, hungry for power and wealth, despised the philosophy essential to this mystical art. These false alchemists were called blowers, those who shake the bellows. Not only were there forgers, but there were a whole bunch of charlatans, but the real figures of alchemy are very, very little compared to the number
Of forgers, there were so many of them. So one of the great techniques was to put a little gold in the crucible. And then to cover it with a slightly conductive paste as we would say for metals today. And then by heating, of course, it made the paste disappear and then the gold reappeared. So there is gold. Well, since we started with gold , it was certain that we were going to have gold. The fate reserved for them, when it is proven, is appalling. It goes very badly since they are hanged or burned, or they
are generally strangled in their cell. Each era has had its share of prompters, sometimes leading to particularly sinister excesses. To be convinced, all you have to do is go to Vendée, to the Château de Tiffauges. A fortified enclosure which experienced the worst clashes during the wars of religion. If we come today to admire historical reconstructions. Above all, it is the story of one of its owners who has forever marked this place. In this castle lived an illustrious and terrifying character in the history of France. Gilles de Rais, a man who chose to explore much darker
paths by practicing Demonic alchemy close to black magic. A character who, in the name of alchemy, will become the first serial killer in history. Initially, however, Gilles de Rais was a hero. Gilles de Rais is a very important character in the 100 Years' War. Gilles de Rais is Joan of Arc's comrade-in-arms. Marshal of France at 25 years old. It is still not nothing. Companion of Joan of Arc with whom he won the Battle of Orléans. This character was initially a fierce fighter who helped strengthen the legitimacy of Charles VII in the Kingdom of France. Distinguished
himself by absolutely extraordinary feats of arms , demonstrating absolutely unfailing courage. And of course, that is the obviously illustrious period. By Gilles de Rais. Initially, therefore, nothing predisposed this warrior to adopt obscure behavior. However, in 1434, Gilles de Rais, the hero of the 100 Years' War, found himself retired. At the age of 29, he retired to his land at the Château de Tiffauges. When Gilles de Rais returns to his castle, to his lands of Tiffauges, he is at the head of an immense fortune. And it's true that when he returns with the help of his
servants, he will organize many banquets. So with all kinds of The most refined dishes in gold and silver china cabinets. They also organize numerous performances, including the famous Mystères d'Orléans in honor of Joan of Arc. With more than 700 actors who will all be dressed in magnificent costumes. On the other hand, we also know that the expenses they spend will be enormous for everything related to books, especially their library. It is said that he has a library worthy of Croesus because the works he has are extremely expensive. He is very spendthrift, extremely spendthrift. Looks like
he's a high roller. A high roller who little by little will change his behavior. Gilles de Rais the Magnificent will give way to a completely different character. A character who would have inspired the story of Bluebeard. It's true that over time, Gilles de Rais will reveal a somewhat dark side of his personality. He will start drinking and sinking more and more into debauchery. And of course, with his numerous expenses, Gilles de Rais. He will end up going into debt and then ultimately having no money at all. There will be nothing left. How to get it
back in again? How to refill Gilles de Rais's coffers? And that’s when. That he had the idea of turning to alchemy. Gilles de Rais needs money, a lot of money. He will therefore try to make alchemical gold. At the Château de Tiffauges, on its Vendée lands. In a room hidden from view, he set up a space entirely dedicated to his research. It is especially in this dungeon that he will begin to become interested in alchemy. He has a vast library in which he has numerous grimoires. He will consult occult works, works of black magic, witchcraft,
all kinds of parchments from which he will draw. So this dungeon will be a real alchemical laboratory since we will find athanor there. They are a kind of cauldron. There we will find retorts, crucibles, All the equipment of the Alchemist. And Gilles de Rais will begin to at least try to transform lead into gold to obtain ingots and try to repay these famous debts. Gilles de Rais immersed himself with fervor in books, immersing himself in alchemy treatises. He experiments, tests processes and tirelessly works with metals. But nothing works. His research is stalling. So obviously, he
can't do it and he will send emissaries throughout France to find masters in the alchemical arts. And one of his servants was a priest. Blanchet goes to find in Italy a man named Francesco Prelati, who is a Tuscan priest, and who has become a master in the art of magic and witchcraft. Furthermore, he is extremely young and attractive. This is also what will please Gilles de Rais who will find himself manipulated and really influenced by Prelati. And it is together in this dungeon that they will indulge in alchemy. At the same time, Gilles de Rais
tried to forcibly take back some of his land which he had already sold. When Gilles de Rais had a dispute with someone who only knew one way to resolve it, it was force. In Saint-Étienne de Mer Morte, a former possession. He goes so far as to threaten the new administrator of the place with death. Right in the middle of a religious ceremony. Pursuing an enemy for private matters into a church is one gesture too many. He will pay dearly for this sacrilege. The fact that Gilles de Rais intervened in the middle of mass and that
he put his hands on a priest still greatly displeased the Church, which put together a case against Gilles de Rais. This gesture will trigger an investigation which will precipitate his downfall because the investigators will examine the actions of Gilles de Rais closely and by dint of searching, he finds it. He would spend a lot of time in Machecoul, a residence now worn out by time. Located in what is now Loire-Atlantique, it is here that he was born. In the region this building is called Bluebeard's Castle. At the time, rumors were circulating about Gilles de Rais.
What happened in this place? What horror could he possibly have been guilty of in the name of his alchemical research? In Tiffauges, Gilles de Rais lives in a residence which is a fortress which is more like a seigniorial fortress. In Machecoul, really there, it's a place a little more secret, preserved, also much more sheltered from prying eyes. And Gilles de Rais is in fact looking for this calm and this discretion to be able to continue his activities. At Tiffauges he began to sink into a life of debauchery. And finally his reputation is also starting to
be known a little. Quite a sulphurous reputation, and he needs to withdraw a little from the outside world to be able to continue his activities as an alchemist a little more secretly. And it's true that in this tower, Gilles de Rais will begin to perform somewhat secret rituals, mysterious ceremonies, summon demons and above all to involve a lot of blood. Some blood. This is the terrible secret of Gilles de Rais and Prelati. Apprentice alchemists would give an alchemy tinged with Satanism. In this tower, they will commit the worst abominations. They will both begin these famous
experiments. The problem is that they are going to use certain works that deal with the blood of small children. And in this recipe book, it says that to get to the philosopher's stone, you would have to use the blood of small children. Of course, it's an allegory. Prelati interprets the writings literally. The walls of this tower still resonate with the cries of the sacrificed children. Because for their alchemical work, They will need pure blood, children's blood in large quantities. Prelati and Blanchet, the two friends of Gilles de Rais, acted as touts in the surrounding countryside.
They were a little loaded, assigned to go find children in the area. Often, of course, they were peasant children and it was very easy to then bring them back to the castle by making them believe that Gilles de Rais had a message. So of course, the children went into the castle, but they didn't come out. In total, several hundred children were victims of Gilles de Rais' appalling experiences. They summon the spirits. To summon the spirits he needs blood. So they kill the children, they slit their throats, they cut off their hands and they collect the
blood. And it is this blood, in fact, which will serve as a bit of raw material for invoking the spirits. And then we have some descriptions of rituals. All we know is that Gilles de Rais had the habit, always with his friend Prelati, of drawing circles with cutlasses which were soaked in the blood of sacrificed children, and that through this circle they invoked spirits, demons, to be able to obtain money. Prelati will show Gilles de Rais Wonders, but will never obtain any results. But what is even more astonishing is that Gilles de Rais will still
discover a real passion for suffering. So we consider in any case most of the psychologists who have analyzed this ambivalent figure of Gilles de Rais consider that deep within himself, he has death drives, perversity which will resurface through the sight of blood. Gilles de Rais said it during his trial. The sight of blood excited him, independently of the alchemical research which was really his first objective, the second state of mind in which he found himself always under the influence of Prelati, it It's this kind of thirst for blood, blood for blood's sake and for the
pleasure of killing. Gilles de Rais is considered the first serial killer in history, since we consider. It is estimated that between 800 and 1000 children were kidnapped from the surrounding countryside and killed by Gilles de Rais. On September 15, 1440, Gilles de Rais was arrested and tried in Nantes. The trial sheds light on this man’s abominable crimes. The one who inspired the legendary character of Bluebeard. On October 26 of that same year, he ended up hanged and burned for his crimes. Black magic. Wealth, eternal life. Alchemy has aroused so much passion, So much desire that
it has shaped and marked the history of our country. So the next time you pass a monument, look twice. Perhaps he still reveals alchemical secrets. Perhaps it gives clues that will guide you to the Philosopher's Stone. All these secrets which have spanned the centuries still await you engraved in these places which have made alchemy in France for centuries and which will surely do so for a long time to come.
