Guided tours on demand from 1 person to full size groups, and from tour guide only (speaks English & Dutch) to fully organized excursion packages in Cathar Country, France, with transfers, tour bus and excursions departing from your accommodation, including lunches and entrance fees.
Executed by PanOccitania and Barinca Travel.
Being a history buff, I've always dreamed of traveling to those ancient lands I researched passionately for many years. When in the 1990's I started my career as a travel agent, I would finally be able to make my dream come true. I absolutely love ancient civilizations, cultures and historical places, especially those around the Mediterranean, like Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus. The Old World...
I can still smell the damp air coming from the nearby oasis while standing at the ruins of Jericho on an early morning, feel the bone dry hot wind on my face while standing atop the fort of Masada, and remember having goosebumps inside the tombs of the Valley of the Kings, although it was very hot and humid indeed. Those experiences shaped me, and it made the books I read and the civilizations I studied come to life. My travels inspired me to write my own books and to see the broader picture, so I could understand Occitania, France, the way I do.
I believe it was my father's passion for history that ignited mine. At a young age I would visit old castles and when I was 6 in 1972, my parents taught me how to use a photo camera, so already at a young age I began to develop a passion for photography as well. During my life I would take a lot of photos and even shoot video films at all the travel destinations I visited, but unfortunately, none have been digitalised, only the ones posted below.
Let me take you to the Old World... ♥
I started my career as a travel agent in 1992, got my certificate in 1993 and suddenly, the travel agency I worked for was awarded and made it to the newspapers! How cool is that! :) I can only say that I loved my job very much, and that these years were the most wonderful years of my life.
Epidaurus, Greece (Peloponnese).
At the Wadi Qelt in Israel.
Knossos, Crete (Greece).
At Delphi, Greece.
Canary Islands off the coast of Africa, Gran Canary Island.
Meteora, Greece.
Pompeii, Italy. I knew I'd end up in the gutter, lol... :)
Venice, Italy.
Cyprus, 4x4 road trips exploring the ancient history of the island.
Ephesus, Turkey.
Ephesus, Turkey
At the tomb of St. John the Evangelist, Turkey.
Studying the treasures of Tutanchamun at the Cairo Museum, Egypt.
The famous Merenptah Stele in Egypt. Apparently, this was the first time that the name 'Israel' (in this case "Isirir") would be mentioned on a site in Egypt.
With Argiris, the tour guide, in Athens, Greece.
Going into the Zeus cave, Crete, Greece.
Luxor, Egypt.
At Glastonbury Tor, looking at where Avalon might have been. It's a circular field just beneath the Tor, where the priestesses may have lived, 18 centuries ago. Glastonbury has always intrigued me, especially after reading Marion Zimmer-Bradley's books, and visiting the sites, the ancient cathedral ruins, the Tor... it all felt so familiar. This site meant as much to me as all the other ancient places mentioned above, so I felt I needed to mention it in my little list on this page.
Now that I have settled in Occitania, France, the traveling has become more local. This time I am not following a tour guide through other countries; now I am myself a tour guide, trying to make this ancient realm come to life for my own groups and individual travelers, who visit Occitania from around the world. In a way, Occitania has become my PowerPoint presentation in which I am able to reveal the many layers of history that shaped our modern day western civilization as we have come to know it.
Under the nom de plume of Jeanne D'Août, I have published 2 novels called "White Lie, the Quest for the Forbidden Relic" (aka "The Forbidden Relic") and "The Eye of Ra". A third one is planned, but I am not sure just yet when I get a chance to write it. The idea has always been to create a trilogy. My website: www.jeannedaout.com
My nom de plume D'Août comes from my ancestors, and Jeanne is merely Anneke in French. I had always planned to write my novels under a nom de plume, and I wanted to honour my ancestors this way. In my family the story goes that seven centuries ago, several surviving members of the D'Août family fled from southern France, from the terrors of the Inquisition, to settle down in Flanders, where they changed their names (referring to their profession) into the local dialect. When in the year 2000 my husband and I bought a house in Occitania, my father (photo on the left at the Montségur Monument) said: "You've come home". At that point I still did not know this story, and this is when I asked him to tell me. Our family crest (image from a seal ring) is a dove, sitting on a branch with an olive or laurel twig in its beak.
When I was 7 years old, I discovered a contradiction in the New Testament during Bible class, so I raised my finger, asked the question, but instead of getting an answer, I was sent out of class. That evening, my father asked me why I was sent out of class that day and I said, 'Give me a Bible!' Together we found the contradiction and he was so proud of me. He said, 'Always question everything, and take nothing for granted'. And from that moment on I spent most of my free time studying the historical mysteries, the Gnosis and Hermetic Teachings. My hero was Professor Gilles Quispel, one of the people who had saved the Gospel of Thomas, and who has studied it all his life. His book about the gospel and the political and religious backgrounds of that period is one of the best books in my library. Regrettably it has only been published in Dutch, but being born in The Netherlands, I was able to study it to my heart's content.
In 2001 I joined the AMORC (Ancient Mystical Order Rosa Crucis), becoming a student of Hermetic Teachings, mysticism and higher natural science. Its Egyptian and Essene origins intrigued me, and I have learned so much from them. At a certain point in my life, I decided to share my findings with a larger audience and eventually, my first novel was born.
THE FORBIDDEN RELIC
(White Lie: the quest for the forbidden relic)
By Jeanne D'Août
Third edition, January 20th 2015
Format: paperback
Pages: 366
ISBN-978-2-9539396-5-1
SYNOPSIS
There are secret underground compounds where highly specialised scientists, physicists and professors develop secret technology for unknown employers. In 2011, Professor William Fairfax succeeded in creating a stable wormhole, through which people could travel back in time. Unable to predict the miraculous events that were about to transpire, Dr Danielle Parker and Dr Gabby Standford excitedly travel back to the first century, where they discover the amazing story of Oshu, the real Jesus.
This incredible adventure back in time results in the terrifying abduction of time-traveller Danielle. For Danielle's freedom, the kidnapper demands one of the most intriguing historical artefacts known to the world. To find it, the team has to follow the old trail of the Knights Templar that leads them to Cathar Country in southern France.
The team is accompanied by a mysterious German relic hunter, whom had already been brought from the 1930s to the present: SS-Obersturmführer Otto Rahn. Though Rahn is assigned to assist the team in southern France, he carries with him a heavy, dark secret. In constant fear of being forced to return to 1939, he decides to follow his own agenda.
"This story resonates with spirit and history, seamlessly blending myth with reality into a chilling and foreboding read."
Steve Berry - New York Times bestselling author (known from e.g. The Templar Legacy)
"The Forbidden Relic reveals more shocking truths than any book since The Da Vinci Code, including the identity of the real Indiana Jones. It would not surprise if it was adapted for the big screen soon."
Andrew Gough - Presenter of historical documentaries, Editor-in-Chief of The Heretic Magazine
"Congratulations on a fabulous read! I know Otto would have been proud."
Richard Stanley - Screenwriter, Filmmaker
Mysteries of Occitania By Patrick Bernauw - author
"The Forbidden Relic is a historical mystery novel, reminding us of Dan Brown and his The Da Vinci Code. But what makes the book special, is the original and fascinating mix of historical mystery, true treasure hunt and science-fiction themes, such as time travel. And a superbe blend of facts and (adventure) fiction.
Reading this novel, I had to think more at those lovely "amazing stories" of the Golden Age science-fiction novels, and how these writers succeeded in "suspending the disbelief", giving you "a sense of wonder" (yeah, and that's a Van Morrison record too). Jeanne D'Août gives the reader the same feeling.
The non-fiction parts of the book, nevertheless, were for me the most fascinating. What she tells us about Otto Rahn, or Oshu and Mariamne (based on the author's personal interpretation of Jesus and Mary Magdalene), for instance. The author proves us to be very familiar with the secrets of the Languedoc region and the hidden and/or "alternative" history of southern France. And this shouldn't surprise us, because Jeanne D'Août is living in "Occitania", and organising guided tours to the stunning prehistoric caves of the region, the ancient sites of the Cathars and Knights Templar, and of course the enigmatic Rennes-le-Chateau."
PATRICK BERNAUW is a full time Flemish writer of historical mysteries, faction and fiction, supernatural stories and fantasy novels. His work was translated in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish,... He is also a playwright, performer and producer of music theatre, murder mystery and city games. www. bernauw.com.
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Sometimes, writing a book comes from deep within. Emotions and experiences you go through inspire you to take your writings to a different level. As my first book had been my way of sharing forbidden history through a fast moving adventure story, writing my second book would be much more disciplined, going deep into the characters and their own emotional journeys. Although it reveals a big ancient mystery often overlooked by historians and archaeologists, this work is an adventure of a different kind.
SYNOPSIS
It all starts with a ring, inlaid with a seemingly insignificant black stone. Discovered on its own by the famous archaeologist Flinders Petrie, the stone had not been recognised for what it was, for up until the fall of Jerusalem in the 6th century BCE it had always been one of a pair. As a pair, these stones had been used for divination in Biblical times. Together they are known as the Urim and Thummim. Determined to find the highly valued, lost stone and bring the separated pair together once again, a powerful secret order sends a team of intrepid researchers back in time to the era of the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten, only to discover a much greater enigma.
"The Eye of Ra is a brilliant new esoteric thriller that captivates the reader from the start. Intelligent, well-informed and absorbing, it propels you on a dangerous quest to Akhenaten's Egypt. If you are a fan of Dan Brown or Umberto Eco, then strap yourself in for a wild ride through ancient lands, intrigue and Egyptian magic. I highly recommend it."
Andrew Gough, presenter of historical documentaries and Editor-in-Chief of the Heretic Magazine
"In The Eye of Ra, Jeanne D'Août cleverly uses fiction to bring alive ancient Egypt and its magic. A most entertaining and fun book to read!"
Robert Bauval, author of The Orion Mystery
"A real page-turner, great plot, fast moving and a fun read!"
Tim Wallace-Murphy, Writer, TV Personality and Lecturer
My little 'Wall of Fame' :) With gratitude and love. ♥
It has been a privilege to meet and work with some amazing people who are known to a larger audience - some of whom I am unable to mention, because we appreciate discretion when asked - but below are the ones I can share. These were wonderful and exiting days and I am grateful for having been able to work with them. ♥
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Some of the Rennies who have been involved in the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau may know him: Torkain, who had one of the best forums ever on the topic and the topics beyond. Some of the friends I made through this forum are still around. I was at one point a webmaster for the Dutch forums. This is a photo from 2002 taken at Rennes-le-Chateau.
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Together with authors Henry Lincoln and Cathar expert Ankie Nolen in Rennes-le-Chateau.
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With Jeopardy show host Alex Trebek at the Fontaine des Amours near Rennes-les-Bains.
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With documentary presenter and author Andrew Gough in London.
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With Colum Hayward and Dave Patrick (White Eagle Lodge) at our house in France.
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With fellow Rennie, the late Filip Coppens in Rennes-le-Chateau, October 2012. He was known as an author and for his work on the world's biggest mysteries, and also from the TV show "Ancient Aliens". He is dearly missed. ♥
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With Finbarr Ross in Alet-les-Bains.
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With fashion guru Joe Corré, son of Malcolm McLaren (Sex Pistols) and the Lady Vivienne Westwood (fashion giantess), at Montségur. Photo credits: Stuart McLaren.
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With author and researcher, the late Jean-Luc Robin, expert on the Rennes-le-Chateau mystery who is also dearly missed. ♥
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With cinematographer Karim Hussein in Rennes-le-Chateau. What a gifted guy!
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With the beautiful Madame Couquet at her hotel in Montségur. She features in my book "White Lie, the Quest for the Forbidden Relic".
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With filmmaker Richard Stanley, a very gifted director and producer of documentaries and film, known within the Otto Rahn circles for his documentary "The Secret Glory".
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With film music composer Simon Boswell in Rennes-le-Chateau.
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With New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry, for whom I was a tour guide for a week in 2015. Fun days! Fantastic group! And what a great guy! ♥
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With Tim Wallace-Murphy, author and lecturer with an international reputation. He is the driving force behind the creation of the European Templar Heritage Research Network.
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With Corjan de Raaf (Stage Republic) at our home in France. Corjan is such a brilliant musician, I love his music. He is also a fellow Rennie and we have known each other for many years now.
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With authors Victor Smith (Channel of the Grail), Glen Craney (The Fire and the Light), the amazing Foster Perry and actor James Gill in LA, 2013.
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With Kristos Perry, musician and Hermetic Teacher.
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With the beautiful Cameron Broughton from Journeys with Soul, at the Ducs de Joyeuse castle hotel in Couiza, France, on my book signing night.
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With author and speaker William Henry, known from shows such as "Ancient Aliens".
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With Paul Saussez, creator of "The Tombs of the Lords" CD rom and expert on the mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau.
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I am very grateful for their friendship and their faith in me. I love my job! ♥ ♥ ♥
