François Mitterrand visited Rennes-le-Château in March 1981 only because it happened to be on his Route during the French Election Campaign and the village had established itself as a famous Tourist Attraction. Mitterrand visited the village as a tourist. The French General Election of 1981 was held on 10 May.

10 mai. Dans le Languedoc-Roussillon, François Mitterrand fait un score supérieur à la moyenne nationale.

The only mysteries existing at Rennes-le-Château are those invented by charlatans and conspiracy theorists. The whole subject-matter is a scam and a rip-off.

Mitterrand’s visit to Rennes-le-Château kick-started all sorts of crazy conspiracy theories about his alleged interests in mysteries and occult derring-do.

The 2004 detective novel by Jean-Paul Bourre, L’Élu du Serpent Rouge, about an Egyptian Serpent Rouge moulded in the image of Jean Parvulesco was reviewed here.