The Celestial Codex — Uncover Columbanus's Lost Manuscript
Decipher the hidden trail of Saint Columbanus's legendary manuscript—a sacred text that vanished during the Lombard invasions. Solve cryptic clues across medieval Bobbio to recover the lost wisdom that shaped European civilization.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 614 A
The Celestial Codex — Uncover Columbanus's Lost Manuscript
You are a young novice archivist at Bobbio Monastery, tasked by the abbot in the 7th century to recover Saint Columbanus's lost illuminated manuscript.
Your quest begins in Bobbio'
Immerse yourself in 7th-century Bobbio, following in the footsteps of Saint Columbanus and his mysterious codex, a treasure of monastic wisdom lost between the Alps and the Po plain.
The story that haunts this land
Your adventure begins in Bobbio, in front of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, a major religious edifice in Lombardy. Here, the first challenges of the outdoor escape game immerse you in the medieval atmosphere. Founded in the 11th century, the cathedral has been rebuilt several times, notably in the 15th century, and houses 17th-century frescoes that will help you decipher the first clues to the codex. You will learn about the importance of the bishops of Bobbio in preserving Christian culture after the fall of the Roman Empire, a period of great upheaval for Italy.
Continue towards the Arco di San Colombano, a medieval portico leading to the abbey. This arch, a remnant of an era when Bobbio was a flourishing intellectual center, marks the passage between the secular world and the monastic domain. It is here that the OddballTrip app reveals messages hidden in the stones, extracts from ancient chronicles that evoke the wanderings of Saint Columbanus, an Irish monk who founded the abbey in 614. This site is a key step to understanding the influence of the Columbanian order in Lombardy and beyond.
The Abbazia di San Colombano is the heart of your quest. Founded by the Irish saint, this Benedictine abbey was one of Europe's greatest cultural centers in the Middle Ages, famous for its library containing thousands of manuscripts. The Chiostro dell'Abbazia di San Colombano, with its columns and capitals, is where monks meditated and worked. Augmented reality clues will guide you through these sacred places, allowing you to reconstruct the path of Saint Columbanus's lost manuscript. The abbey's scriptorium played an essential role in transmitting ancient knowledge for centuries.
Your exploration of Bobbio's heritage will then lead you to the Museo dell'Abbazia di San Colombano, where fragments of the abbey's history are displayed. From repurposed Roman sarcophagi to medieval liturgical objects, each piece contains a clue to solving your puzzle. The museum also houses precious manuscripts, descendants of the original library, which will give you an idea of the intellectual richness of Bobbio in ancient times. You will discover details about the scribes and illuminators who worked to preserve knowledge, crucial elements for finding the codex.
Finally, the Ponte Gobbo, or 'Hunchback Bridge,' a Roman bridge restored in the 7th century, then several times over the centuries, is an architectural marvel that defies time. This bridge, spanning the Trebbia River, is the final point of your journey in Bobbio. By crossing this monument, you will consolidate your discoveries and understand the lasting legacy of Saint Columbanus and his abbey on this Lombardy region. This thematic circuit will have offered you an interactive visit to Bobbio, revealing the power of history and the persistence of knowledge through the ages.
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.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
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?
The Forgotten Scriptorium
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of medieval scribes and discover how the monks of Bobbio saved centuries of wisdom.
The Rule of Saint Columbanus
Explore the austere yet enlightened precepts of a monk who shaped the spiritual history of Europe.
The Irish Odyssey
Follow Columbanus's epic journey from green Ireland to the mountains of Italy, carrying an unwavering faith.
Keep the flame of knowledge
The testament of a visionary monk awaits you.
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
Q01Is this an outdoor escape game in Historic center of Bobbio or a classic scavenger hunt?
Both at once: it's an outdoor escape game — team puzzles, narration, clues, final code — but in the streets of Historic center of Bobbio, at your pace. The classic scavenger hunt mechanic plus augmented reality through the camera.
Q02Can we take a break mid-trail?
Of course. Stop at a café, have lunch, resume later: your progress is saved. Many players bake a meal break into the trail, especially with families.
Q03Is The Celestial Codex — Uncover Columbanus's Lost Manuscript 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 Historic center of Bobbio 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 — Historic center of Bobbio often feels more authentic then.
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Your turn to play
Immerse yourself in 7th-century Bobbio, following in the footsteps of Saint Columbanus and his mysterious codex, a treasure of monastic wisdom lost between the Alps and the Po plain.
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
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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