The Shadow of Charlemagne
The cathedral, the legend and the reconquest
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
Legend says Charlemagne himself liberated Girona from the Moors. The truth is more complex — and the cathedral overlooking the city keeps both versions.
When the emperor became legend
In 785, Girona was indeed retaken from the Moors — but the exact circumstances remain unclear. The Carolingian tradition attributed the victory to Charlemagne in person, creating a legend that shaped the city's identity for a millennium. The cathedral, built on a mosque, itself built on a Roman temple, is the perfect palimpsest of this multi-layered history.
« "The emperor, seeing the walls of Girona, told his barons: this city shall be the gate of my march south." »— — Carolingian chronicle, 9th century (attributed)
From mosque to cathedral
Girona fell to the Moors in 715. For seventy years, the city lived under Muslim rule — a mosque was built on the site of the former Roman temple. In 785, the city surrendered to the Franks, probably through negotiation rather than battle.
But legend is more beautiful than diplomacy. The Carolingian chronicles tell that Charlemagne himself besieged the city, that the walls crumbled miraculously, and that a miraculous fly (the "mosca de Sant Narcís") drove out the invaders. This legend would be carved into the stone of the cathedral.
Girona's cathedral, begun in the 11th century and completed in the 18th, has the widest Gothic nave in the world (22.98 metres). Its Tapís de la Creació, an 11th-century Romanesque embroidery, is one of the most precious works of art in Catalonia.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
4 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
The widest nave in the world
An architectural record six centuries old, still unbeaten.
Carolingian legend
Separate fact from fiction in the legend of Charlemagne in Girona.
Textile masterpiece
The Tapestry of Creation is one of the few preserved Romanesque embroideries in the world.
Photogenic
The cathedral stairway, cloister and nave offer spectacular views.
Every stone is a chapter. Every chapter is a civilisation.
Climb the steps. Decipher the centuries.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01What's the difference with a regular indoor escape room?
Outdoor escape game format: no physical locks, no actor, no fixed time slot. You start when you want, progress through Girona · Cathedral, Barri Vell & Plaça dels Apòstols with your phone, and the city itself is the set. More immersive on local history, more flexible in pace.
Q02What walking pace should we expect?
Easy stroll: between stops you walk 3 to 7 minutes. No tough climbs unless flagged on the product page. If you really want to push, you can jog between stops, but that's not the point.
Q03Is The Shadow of Charlemagne good for a hen / stag party?
Great fit: no costume required, the team really collaborates (it's not a linear path), and the final code earns you a souvenir photo. Pick a calm time slot — early afternoon usually.
Q04Best season to explore Girona · Cathedral, Barri Vell & Plaça dels Apòstols like this?
Spring and autumn are the best seasons: mild temperatures, fewer tourists, gorgeous light. Summer is also great but go for early morning before 11 or late afternoon. Winter is perfectly playable, especially in southern cities — Girona · Cathedral, Barri Vell & Plaça dels Apòstols often feels more authentic then.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
From mosque to cathedral, follow in the footsteps of Charlemagne through Girona's most spectacular building.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+12 TripCoins granted with your booking
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