Theft at Chantilly Castle

In 1926, Léon-Émile Kauffer and Émile-Auguste Souter stole sixty-nine valuable pieces from the Chantilly Castle in Oise during a dark and rainy night using two ladders and daring. The heist was notable for its audacity and the relative simplicity of the tools used.

Stolen items still missing

Although not all of the stolen items have been recovered, the theft remains a significant event in French criminal history. Many of the stolen artworks and artifacts are still considered missing, with some believed to be in private collections or hidden away.

The diamond’s unusual journey

A diamond of significant value from the stolen collection ended up in the hands of a hotel employee after she took a bite of an apple. This unusual turn of events led to the diamond being traced and eventually recovered after decades of being lost in plain sight.

Public display of the diamond

The general public will be able to see the diamond starting from Saturday, October 17. It will be displayed as part of an exhibition at a museum, offering visitors a rare opportunity to view a piece of history that had been hidden for many years.