The Monnet – Trenčín Mystery

- a story written by students of Jean Monnet Lycée in St. Etiénne and students of Business Academy in Trenčín

2013/2014

Chapter 1

It was April 16, the weather was wonderful, the sky was blue, and the trees were full of flowers. All the students of the 1°5 were very excited to go to the Bessat for an afternoon of orienteering. Everybody was to meet in front of Jean Monnet High school at 1.30. The P.E teacher and the English teacher were waiting for the students beside the bus.Jeanne, Djamila and Asmae arrived first; they were wearing their track suit, their hiking shoes and they were carrying their rucksacks. Then Salam, Hugues, Rosalie and Romain, joined them, they were impatient to start. Marie, Camille, Youness, Mehdi, Jeremy, Ibra and Naomie arrived by bus, it was number 18, the one that had a bus stop in front of the school. The teachers asked the students to get on the bus although some were missing. Once everybody was on the bus, they saw the other students Anthony, Abde, Jamel, Camelia, Mohamed , Tony, Alexandre, Rémi, Ibrahima, Saber, Sheryane and Anissa arrive running to the bus, they were late. During the trip up to the Bessat, there was a good atmosphere, the pupils were cheerful. They were happy because they enjoyed outdoor activities. The students were singing, shouting and laughing. Youness, Alexandre,Romain,Mohamed and Hugues were listening to the latest hits of the moment on their MP3’s. Ibrahima was making Rosalie Naomi Asmae and Camélia laugh with his jokes. The teachers were listening too, they enjoyed Ibrahima’s jokes.When the bus stopped on the car park, the pupils admired the landscape. The P.E teacher divided the class into nine groups of three pupils. Then he gave a map and a compass to each group.

“Stay together, be careful, and enjoy yourselves!” the P.E. teacher recommended.

“Don’t forget your packed lunch!” said the English teacher showing the students their rucksacks.

“Don’t worry!” the students said.

Then they all left, some peacefully into the wood, others wanted to win, so they ran and soon disappeared behind the trees.The teachers stayed, they were going to wait for an hour for the return of the groups.When out of sight, every group studied their map, they exchanged their ideas on the direction to take, sometimes, some people disagreed but finally they managed to choose the best way to win. Rémi, Camille and Rosalie decided to look for the farthest mark because their strategy was to save time. They thought they would be less tired for the other marks which were nearer to the teachers if they started with the farthest mark.Each group had to stamp on their cards to prove their passage at each mark, there were ten marks. On their way, the three students were chatting to one another.Suddenly, Camille fell in a hole. She screamed. The hole was deep and Rémi and Rosalie couldn’t see her immediately. They were panic-stricken.

They began to call here “Camille! Camille! Where are you?”

Everything was silent.

“Can you hear me?” Rosalie was afraid.

“Please, answer!” Rémi was worried. “Say something!” Finally they could hear her voice “Oh my God, I’m hurt, my leg aches”.

Rémi and Rosalie were relieved.

“Try to climb up!” Rémi said.

Camille tried to grasp the roots around her. Suddenly Camille fell back holding something in her hands. “Are you all right Camille?” Rosalie asked.

“Is everything ok?” Rémi added. “We are going to help you.”

“I found a wooden box!” Camille exclaimed.

“A wooden what?” Rémi asked.

“Box!” Camille repeated.

Rémi looked for a branch which would be long enough to pull Camille out.

“I found a branch! Don’t panic! I’m coming!” Rémi shouted.

“Try to catch the branch and Rosalie and I will pull you out!”

“What about the box?” Camille asked.

“Throw the box we’ll catch it” Rosalie answered.

“Are you ready? I’m throwing it! “Camille said.

Rosalie and Rémi saw the wooden box fly in the air and then burst into pieces on the ground. After, Rémi and Rosalie pulled Camille out of the hole thanks to the branch that Rémi had found.

“Are you feeling all right?” Rémi asked Camille.

“Do you think I look all right? My leg is hurting!” She said angrily.

“Don’t panic, we are with you, we are going to help you” Rosalie said to comfort Camille and to calm down the atmosphere.

“Next time I’ll leave you there!” Rémi shouted furiously.

Rémi left without adding a word, he went to call the teachers who were waiting at the starting point.The teachers were discussing when suddenly they saw Rémi arrive. He was breathless. He was so exhausted that he could hardly speak. The teachers were worried, something must have happened.Finally, Rémi told them what had happened; immediately the P.E teacher took the first-aid kit and followed him.

While the girls were waiting they saw the pieces of the wooden box, here and there, then a letter with a ring, Rosalie went to fetch them. Camille examined the ring carefully, it was

made of gold, something was shining like a diamond and she could read C and T. Rosalie tried to read the letter but she could not understand a word. The two girls exchanged the letter and the ring, Camille could not understand anything either. Rosalie admired the ring, it was beautiful.

The P.E teacher and Remi arrived; the teacher noticed that the leg of Camille was bleeding. He cleaned her wound, fortunately, it was not too serious. She had only some cuts on her knees. The teacher helped her walk to the car park. There was no one there except the English teacher. She rushed to Camille.

“Don’t worry, it’s not too serious, nothing is broken, she has only little cuts,” the P.E teacher said.

They led her to the bus. Once inside the English teacher asked Camille and Rosalie about what had happened. They told her the whole story and Rosalie showed her the ring and the letter. The teacher read the letter and she said it looked like an eastern language, she could read the word Trencin. She told the two girls that there was an exchange between Jean Monnet and Trencin. It had been on for more than twenty years. Suddenly they could hear the groups arrive, they were shouting and screaming. They were happy, they had finished orienteering. They were impatient to be back to school, they got on the bus quickly. Although they were tired, they were noisy. The English teacher asked them to be quiet; she had something to tell them. The pupils stopped talking.

“A group has found a box with a letter and a jewel. Unfortunately, the box is broken; the message is probably in Slovak. Our school has an exchange with Trencin in Slovakia. We can send this letter to Slovakia maybe they can translate it for us. “

“Yes, of course, good idea!” Alls the pupils exclaimed.

Camélia added “After we’ll have the translation in class”

“Of course, absolutely” the English teacher said.

In the evening, the English teacher went back home with the jewel and the letter. She sent an e-mail to her colleague in Trencin.

Chapter 2

After a few days the Slovak students sent the message to St. Etienne:

Good afternoon to everybody in St. Etienne,

We are the students of III. D class at Business Academy in Trenčín. This morning during the break our English teacher entered our classroom with a sheet of paper in her hand. As she is also our class teacher we thought she was going to give us some instructions or read some boring rules, orders or school news. But today it was different.

She was holding an e-mail with a text of the letter written by Joseph Potornay from Trenčín many years ago. Our teacher described us the story how you found it. We couldn´t believe it. Then she asked us to try to translate the letter into English for you.

We were very curious about the content of this mysterious letter and impatient to look at it. Unfortunately mathematics was about to start, so we had to interrupt our discussion. We were really excited about it, so during the next break four girls of us – me – Romana, Karolína, Janka and Dominika met our English teacher again and we decided to stay at school after lessons and read that peculiar letter.

In the afternoon we met again, made copies of the letter for everybody and we immediately started to work. But when we look at the letter we were surprised. The letter is written in the old Slovak language, there are some strange letters and words, so it will be quite difficult to understand and translate it.

But what we have understood so far and what we know now is that the letter says something about the treasure hidden in three places in Trenčín. So it will be a very exciting and challenging task for us to manage it.As soon as we are ready with the translation, we will send you an e – mail.

Greetings, the Trenčín group

Romana, Karolína , Janka, Dominika

Chapter 3

A week later after that day the English teacher had some news for the class. The Students were excited and impatient. The teacher gave a copy of the e-mail which had been translated by her colleague’s pupils in Trencin to Romain. Everybody was listening to him silently.

“ Hi everyone,

We’ve been very excited by the translation of the mysterious letter you found in the Bessat by the most extraordinary coincidence, we’re not going to keep you waiting too long here is the translation:

Dear friends, 

I hope someone will find and read my letter and reveal the secret of my hidden treasure, find it and will use it for charitable purposes.  

My life story is not very common, but I do not regret anything.

My real name is Joseph Potornay and I was born on 29 September 1765 in Trenčín in a noble family. I had a very nice childhood in a very beautiful town. As my father was quite wealthy and he had a high position in municipality I could study at Piaristic school in Trenčín and later at Vienna university.

After my studies in Vienna I came back home to Trenčín and I spent a lot of time with my father discussing about political situation in neighbouring countries and France as well. Unfortunately my father became ill and soon he died. Before his death he gave me a valuable inheritance. In a very short time I replaced my father in his work in Trenčín town coucil. After a few months I was asked as a representative of nobility to go to the mission to Versailles.  

I was leaving Trenčín in a very bad time after a great fire in 1790, which destroyed the castle and a lot of houses in the town.  

I wanted to hide the treasure a in the castle to be safe until I am back, but after the fire I had to find another place. I decided to hide it in three different places in Trenčín. Then I started my long and tiring way to Versailles. 

 When I arrived in region called Bouthéon I had to stop in an inn because my horse was tired. There were a lot of people there, they were drinking wine and they were talking about the revolution that was taking place in France. King Louis XVI. had been arrested. He was in a prison called La Bastille.  

I couldn't fulfil my mission which was to go to Versailles. I decided to go back to Trenčín.

The day after, on my way back, I was in the street a young lady riding a horse, the weather was grey and cloudy. Suddenly, there was a lightening and a thunder made her horse nervous and scared. It started running wildly, she screamed and I went after her to help her.

After saving her life, I was invited to the castle and I accepted the invitation. I went to visit the young lady, she was happy to see me. Elizabeth was beautiful, during the dinner i couldn't help looking at her.  

For her, I decided to stay in St. Etienne, nobody could make me change my mind. My love for her was so strong that i couldn't live without her. I asked her to marry me, I couldn't imagine my life without her. We had a great wedding. I knew she was the woman of my life, and for her I changed my name and I left Trenčín forever.

After the decision to stay my llife changed completely, I changed my name into Charles, Elizabeth and I decided to help the inhabitants of village. We agreed with the ideals of the revolution equality, brotherhood and liberty.  

Today I am old and very weak to go back to my beloved Trenčín so I would like to reveal 3 places in Trenčín where my treasure is hidden by 3 enigmas. 

The first riddle is for the first place in Trenčín.

 

Where you learn every day

My treasure I hid there forever

Teaching humility and faith at the same time

Reasing the moral level

Place of obligations, duties and prayers

Treasure is waiting here

 

These two are for 2 places in the region of St. Etienne where you can find messages which help you to find the other 2 places.           

If you solve my enigmas, find the treasure and use it for good things, I will be very happy and can die in peace.” 

Good luck! 

Charles

We’re sending you the translation of the first riddle, we’ll send you the other as soon as possible. You must be as impatient as we are to start investigating on the mystery of the jewel!

Till then, good luck for the treasure hunt!

The Trenčín group”

Jeanne asked Romain to write the enigma on the board. As Romain was writing, the students began to think about the enigma.

I am sleeping in the darkDarkness is my homeMy walls are precious

They are a treasureMy windows are closedThe curtains are shutWhen it is cold outsideI stay warm insideFor my home is full of precious stonesSo dark so redThey shine like a fire

At the end, Jamel said “I don’t understand anything.”

Mehdi added “It’s too hard.”

Ibra said “it can be a cave.”

Some pupils agreed and said “That could be the place he is talking about”

Someone said “What about the mine?”

The students read again the enigma and a majority thought that it was a mine; the others thought that it was a cave that was described in the enigma.

The teacher said to the class “there is a cave near Le Chambon Feugerolles you can go there and try to find something. You can go to the mine museum maybe you’ll find some thing there.”

The pupils decided to meet at the mine museum on Thursday at 3 p.m.The other group decided to meet at Le Chambon Feugerolles in front of the town hall on Saturday at 2 p.m.The following week, the group of the mine was happy and excited to be back, they had found another jewel with an enigma in Slovak. The English teacher asked them to tell the class how they had found them.

Asmae started with these words “We took the lift of the mine and we stopped at a level forbidden to people. The gallery was dark and hot. Fortunately we had our electric torch, we were walking slowly when suddenly we saw something bright twinkling in the dark it was blue, green and white we were attracted by this strange light, one of us went to see what it was”…

Camélia cut her and said “I found it! That was what I shouted, I was so excited”.

Every body in the class was surprised and Camelia showed the jewel, it was a necklace. Everybody wanted to grab it.

Camelia immediately stopped them “Don’t!”

Then she showed a message written in Slovak.

Jeanne said “we should send the message to Trencin so that they can find the other part of the noble man’s treasure”.

And the teacher did it in the evening; the jewel was put with the ring and the letter in the cupboard of the classroom number 229.

Chapter 4

The French students had to wait for a few weeks for the news from Trenčín :

“Hello everybody, Cogratulations! It is amazing how you were so successful in the treasure hunting and thank you for the enigma you have found. It says …

“Hunched up in the corner

in peace and tranquillity

in twilight I whisper my prayers.

There is no place for pride,

Humbleness and humility

Are my best friends.

When I totter out

I feast my eyes on the sky,

Wonderful mountains, the river

and amazing castle.

So nice, my soul is happy.“

At first we didn´t understand the first part of the enigma at all. The text seemed to be a little bit confusing, but we were trying to find some key words which would lead us to the describing place. The word “castle“ was the key word No. 1, but our beautiful Trenčín castle is visible from all directions, so the treasure could be hidden in several places.

During our discussion we gradually eliminated some suggested places and finally we came into a decision – it must be Skalka ( we are sending a photo). Skalka near Trenčín is a monastery and the oldest pilgrims´place in Slovakia and it is situated on the hill on the opposite side of the river Váh.

Last Friday afternoon we set off there by bus, it took us about 20 minutes, but when we climbed up the small hill to the gate, the Pilgrim churchyard was closed. So we called the man who works as a tourist guide there and he promised to open it for us on Saturday - so we had a private guided tour.

Through the dark and narrow corridors he took us to the old, small and simply decorated chappel and started to tell us about a long and interesting history of this monastery. We probably seemed to be a little bit suspicious, because we were walking in the chapel, touching the walls and looking for something which could be connected with the treasure. Unfortunately, we couldn´t find anything. We were really disappointed.

When we were leaving, the man showed us a little cave in the wood nearby and asked us to follow him inside. We were rather afraid and worried, but after a short hesitation we went in. The cave wasn´t very big, but it could be a suitable place for hiding the treasure.We did the same as in the chapel, so the man asked us: “Are you looking for anything?“And Karolína replied : “Yes, sure. Has anybody found a treasure here?“

The man nodded in agreement and told us that about 25 years ago two archeologisst found here a wooden box with several pieces of very valuable golden and silver things – plates, cups, trays, cutlery, candelsticks and everything from the treasure can be seen in the Trenčín museum, but nobody knows who these all things belonged to.

We were happy we found at least the place where the second part od the treasure was hidden and we told the guide the story about Joseph Potornay. He was really surprised.On Tuesday this week we went to the museum to see the exhibits found in Skalka, they are really amazing and worth seeing. We hope you will have an opportunity to see them.

By the way, we haven´t let you know yet about the place of the first hidden part of the treasure which was described in the enigma in the letter.

After we translated the letter and sent it to you, we started to search and study on the Internet what was the life in Trenčín like at the time of the French revolution, because Slovakia didn´t exist yet and we had a little knowledge about this period. We found a lot of information about the history of Trenčín and the region. Also we learnt some surprising facts about activities of Piarist school in Trenčín, which was very prosperous and popular at that time.

As Joseph Potornay mentioned this school in his letter, we were sure of the place, where he had hidden the first part of his treasure, but at the same time we were persuaded we wouldn´t find it. But we really wanted to find out if somebody from school knows something about him.

We didn´t know where to start. Finally we decided to ask the headmaster for help.He was very kind and introduced us to a lady who works in the shool archives. She was very helpful and let us read the old documents as long as we needed.

First it seemed to be hopeless, but finally Janka came across a record in historical documents written in 1860. She was very excited about it. The record says that a teacher of music at Piarist school found a locked wooden box under the floor in his room only several years after

Potornay had left Trenčín. When he and his colleagues opened it, there was another locked wooden box inside with the message on it: “My name is Joseph Potornay and I am leaving Trenčín, I have to go to France for a few months. As the situation in Trenčín and the area is now very difficult I want to hide a part of my family treasure in the safest place in the city. In the case I am not back, please use my treasure for any needs of school I love so much.“

The school authorities kept the box locked for several years and when it was evident he won´t be able to return home, they opened it. There were a lot of precious stones of all colours inside. There is an evidence in the archieves about this gift. It was used for an inner decoration of the school chapel and the interior of the Piarist church, which is the biggest church in Trenčín.

Well, as you can see, we weren´t as successful in the treasure hunt as you, but it doesn´t matter. We are pleased to have an opportunity to take part in it and we might be better at searching of the last part.We are sending you the translation of the second enigma from the letter for the second place in France. Good luck!

Greetings, Romana, Karolína, Janka and Dominika

Chapter 5

Some weeks later, the pupils asked the teacher if she had some news from Trenčín.

The teacher smiled and answered “Yes, I have!”And she gave the letter to Salam, and he started to read it while Naomie was writing on the board.

“I call people to worshipEveryday many people come to my houseThey bow and prayDown on their kneesHands joinedMy light is full of coloursThey shine high and brightIn a cradle a baby bornIn the hayI lieBy his side I stay.”

Everybody was noisy, the pupils were chatting and nobody was listening. They were trying to find out what the enigma meant.

“Be quiet, please!” The teacher said.

Everybody stopped talking. Then, the teacher asked them to raise their hands so that everybody could listen.

“Djamila, what do you suggest?”

“I think about the church on the street Beaubrun in Saint Etienne”

“Camélia, what is your idea?”

“In my opinion the church is the one on the Place Gambetta.”

“What about you, Camille?”

“Maybe it is the church on Place Chavanelle”

“Youness, I can see that you disagree so what is your opinion?”

“I disagree with them; I think it is the church on the place Boivin.”

Suddenly someone said “what about the cathedral Saint Charles place Jean Jaures?”

The pupils suggested searching on the internet to check the dates when the church was built. The teacher asked Djamila to sit at her desk and use her computer; the pupils could follow the search thanks to the video projector.After a few minutes the pupils finally found the date when the cathedral was built. They were disappointed it was built at the beginning of the twentieth century.

“What about dividing the class into four groups?” Jeanne proposed.

“It’s a good idea!” Camélia exclaimed.

All the pupils agreed. They formed three groups of six and one of seven. The first group chose the church at the top of the street Beaubrun, the second took the one place Gambetta, the third the church place Chavanelle and the fourth the church place Boivin. The pupils decided to search during the week end.The group “Beaubrun” arrived at the church it was around 3 p.m. When the pupils went into, they were stupefied, impressed by the beauty and the size of the church. They started to walk around.Two of them went to the left and started to look around for some clues. Two others did the same on the right. The last two decided to pray. After searching for a long time the pupils found nothing and they left a bit sad but happy because they enjoyed their experience in the church.

The group Gambetta was to meet in the morning at 9 a.m.

The group “place Boivin” decided to go to church on Sunday at 10a.m. The mass was being celebrated so they waited till the end. When the people there left, each one started to search around the columns, the altar and the spout. Suddenly someone noticed a sentence with the word Trenčín, it was a clue. One of the students pushed the stone, the pillar next to it opened itself, and another student tried to feel around with his hand if there was something hidden inside.Suddenly he touched a box, he took it and showed it proudly to the group, everybody was stupefied and excited they had found the last enigma! “Quick! Someone is coming, hurry!” Asmae said.

“Can’t we open it now?” someone asked.

“No! Because if someone sees us they will take the box from us” Asmae said.

“Let’s get out!” someone added.

Everybody left the church, once outside they opened the box, they were relieved to see a jewel, it was a diadem, with an enigma.The following day they brought the box to school.They were happy and proud to show the box to their classmates. Like the others, the enigma was written in Slovak so the teacher sent it to her colleague so that they could finish the treasure hunt and find the last part. As for the diadem, it was put in the cupboard of the classroom.

Chapter 6

After a few weeks four Slovak investigative girls sent a mail to France again:

“Thank you and your English teacher for the news from St. Etienne.It is unbelievable! You have tree pieces of jewels, a really good work. Congratulation!We hope to have more good luck in the third step.

The last enigma you have send us seemed to describe a prison or a jail:

From the outside –

nice, peaceful, beautiful .

The witness of sobbing,

crying, screaming,

incredible cruelty, lots of tears and pain.

Souls of innocent victims

- still trapped inside.

First, we thought about jails in the Trečín castle and another two castles near Trenčín. But later Karolína had an idea: “I have heard about a cruel jail in the House of the Town Executioner inTrenčín.“

So we started to investigate. This house is really very nice from outside – a typical townhouse under the castle with a wooden porch which is preserved from the Middle – Ages with only a few reconstructions. A town executioner used to live upstairs and downstairs there used to be a jail for not a very long time in the past. It could be quite a good place to hide something valuable. Now it houses the exposition of the Trenčín museum.

So we went to the museum again and tried to get as much information as possible. The lady we asked for help assured us there were no records in the museum documents about the treasure we were looking for. But she told us about strange things what happened in the house 2 years ago when she was there as a tourist guide. When she came into the house with visitors, suddenly a huge hanging log of wood started to swing and frightening strange beats were heard from upstairs. It supports the claim that the souls of innocent people are still there.Unfortunately, we didn´t succeed again. Maybe the last part of the treasure is still hidden somewhere in the rock walls of the house. Who knows?

Anyway, the majority of the treasure can be seen in our museum and at Piarist school and your three excellent pieces could sometimes complete the collection of Mr. Potornay treasure.

It was a really great fun to hunt for it and at the same time to learn a lot of new things about Trenčín and have a chance to work and be in a contact with foreign students and write e – mails in English.

We hope you will soon have an opportunity to visit our nice country and especially Trenčín.We wish you good luck in your studies and everyday life.Greetings to all of you and thanks for nice time spent with you via the Internet.

Bye – bye,

Romana, Karolína, Janka and Dominika

We are sending you some photos of us from our school-leaving party:

This is our class:

Chapter 7

Two weeks later the English teacher had some good news to give to the class. It was an invitation card from Trenčín.

Everybody wondered what the invitation was about.The teacher read the card.

“Dear students,

you are invited to an exhibition in Trenčín.. It will take place in April from 14 to 29. You will discover the treasure of the noble man; bring the jewels and the letter with the enigmas to complete the exhibition. As we have an exchange with you, you will be received in host families as usual. We are eager to meet you!

The Trenčín group”

Everybody was enthusiastic first, then someone asked “how much will it cost?” The teacher answered that it would cost less than two hundred euros. Everybody was reassured because the cost was not expensive, everybody could go. The teacher went to see the headmaster, she told him about the discovery of the pupils while orienteering, the letter of the noble man and the investigations to solve the enigmas; then she put on his desk the ring, the necklace, the diadem, the letter of the nobleman and the two enigmas then she showed him the invitation card. The headmaster was impressed, he decided to speak to the class himself the following day. He congratulated them for their investigations and he announced the class could participate to the exchange that was to take place in April.

Some weeks later the Jean Monnet high school bus arrived in front of the Academia of Trenčín.

The group Trenčín was there to welcome the Monnet group, everybody was happy, Thanks to their investigations they solved a mystery and above all they found a part of the history of Trenčín together.

These are the places we were looking for the treasure:

The Piarist Church

The Piarist Secondary School

The interior of the Piarist Church

Skalka

The House of the Executioner

The Trenčín Castle