The Forgotten Codex of the Queens of Loire
Track a secret manuscript that linked the destinies of Catherine de Médicis and Claude de France.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
From Blois to Cheverny castles, reconstruct a royal plot and uncover the female secrets of the Renaissance.
Following in the footsteps of the Queens of France and a forgotten legacy.
The Loire Valley, cradle of the French Renaissance, was the stage for the intertwined destinies of powerful and influential queens. Embark on a roadtrip that will take you from Catherine de Médicis' secret apartments at Blois Castle to the residences of Claude de France. Your mission: find the fragments of a forgotten codex, a manuscript containing the most intimate thoughts and secret strategies of these sovereigns. Each step will immerse you in the arcana of the court, revealing little-known anecdotes and authentic places. Open your phone: historical figures appear on the facades, revealing the necessary clues. More than an outdoor escape game: an interactive visit immersed in 500 years of history, with anecdotes revealed at each stop and confidential sites that classic guides forget.
Les lieux que vous découvrirez
Les vrais lieux que vous explorerez au fil de l'aventure. Énigmes en réalité augmentée à chaque étape.
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
« Il n'y a pas de femme sans secret. »— Catherine de Médicis, correspondances privées, 1572
The discreet influence of the Queens of France
In the 16th century, France was the scene of the Wars of Religion, but also the golden age of the Renaissance. In this whirlwind, women like Claude of France, first wife of Francis I, and especially Catherine de Médicis, regent and mother of three kings, played a crucial role. Their influence, often hidden behind courtly splendor and palace intrigues, shaped the history of the kingdom. Their lives, marked by alliances, mourning, and power struggles, are inseparable from the Loire castles that served as settings for their existences.
From the elegance of the Francis I wing at Blois Castle, built for Claude of France, to Catherine de Médicis' famous secret cabinet, these places were centers of decision-making and silent witnesses to their political and personal maneuvers. The concept of a forgotten codex, passed down from queen to queen, offers a narrative pretext to explore their heritage, their visions, and the legends surrounding them, far from the usual clichés.
The Route
5-10 curated sites across the territory
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 · 14,90€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Royal Intrigues
Dive into the plots and alliances that marked the reigns of the Queens of France across the Loire Valley.
Historical Roadtrip
Discover iconic and lesser-known places, spread over a 75 km route, in your vehicle.
Renaissance Treasures
Admire the sumptuous architecture and hidden details of the castles that defined France's golden age.
The walls whisper the secrets of queens.
Listen to them to pierce the past.
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, WhatsApp, 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
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Are you ready to decipher the hidden legacy of the Loire Valley's sovereigns and reveal the truths buried beneath the splendor of the castles?
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
🪙+18 TripCoins granted with your booking
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