Mézin: Tèrra Aventura: "The shell stroke"

Geocaching, do you know? It's a digital treasure hunt. Tèrra Aventura is a free application that allows this fun activity, throughout the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and which can be practiced with family, friends, or even alone, even if it is less fun. The goal is to answer the different enigmas set out by the Poï'z, these little beings full of humor. Each answer takes you to a new stage and a new GPS point. If all of your answers are correct, you will get the GPS coordinates of the hidden treasure.

It is an entertaining way to discover the history and heritage of a territory, while taking passages that only knowledgeable people know, and involving children.

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Become a great adventurer in a few clicks!

There is nothing simpler! Only 3 steps are necessary:  

• First, download the free app on your cell phone.
• Then create a personal account. You will then see that there are a multitude of routes in the Lot-et-Garonne department.  
• Then, select the quest titled " the shell stroke ", in Mézin

And There you go! You are ready!

On your smartphone, download, go!

Now, follow the dialogues and instructions of the Poï'z. To get your quest off to a good start, go to the church parking lot. This is where the adventure begins! Let yourself be guided by the humorous dialogues and progress from riddle to riddle, to the secret cache.

The church of Mézin: the starting point for your geocaching!

Save Zacquet

Your quest will take you to different corners of the town of Mezin, from the church to the ramparts through the main square. Thanks to the instructions you will learn to look up and learn about details to which you would not necessarily have paid attention during a more classic visit of the village.

Observe your environment and let yourself be told the story of Mézin thanks to the Poï'z

Sometimes you will even pass unexpected places, not necessarily mentioned during the treasure hunt, but which will lead you to question yourself, question you, or which will simply touch you, inspire you.

The chapel: a former place of worship that has become a cultural place

Your objective is to follow old Zacquet and his companions. Ce Poï'z is an inveterate pilgrim who leads you in the footsteps of the famous pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Suffering from a slight amnesia following the fall of a scallop on his head, his friends accompany him until he regains his memory, thanks to the fall of a new shell on his head!

Here is Zacquet, the famous pilgrim with amnesia

And sometimes you discover places that have no real connection with Compostela but which have an interest and / or a history in the heart of the Mézinais. This is particularly the case with the Musée du Bouchon and Liège. From the 18th century until the 1950s, economic life was linked to the transformation of cork into a stopper. The Mézinais and Mézinaises were numerous to be employed in this sector of activity. From now on, cork is no longer used to stopper bottles but it is found in more surprising sectors such as design, but also aerospace.

Read our article on the Lot-et-Garonne Museums, there is bound to be a museum near your vacation spot and this is the opportunity to learn more about the local culture and the delicious products of Lot-et-Garonne.

The Liège and Bouchon museum to discover ancestral methods and more contemporary uses

A magnificent cork oak tree, recognizable in particular by its very particular bark

When you have validated all your answers, follow the GPS coordinates indicating the location of the treasure you are looking for. All you have to do is find the secret cache (the exact place where it is) and flash the QR code. You will then discover the mystery word.

Orient yourself thanks to the GPS integrated into the application

Do not hesitate to grab a badge bearing the Poï'z effigy (here Zacquet) in the transparent box and leave a note in the notebook provided for this purpose.

Another quest completed, yay!

And above all, throughout the quest and, more precisely, when searching for the cache, remain discreet! You probably won't be the only Earth Adventurers, so give them a chance to find the answers, unless, of their own accord, they ask you for a little helping hand to move on and improve. Tèrra Aventura is a popular activity with families, some do not hesitate to travel several tens of kilometers or go on vacation especially to discover new routes.

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Mézin and Saint-Jacques de Compostelle

The Tèrra Aventura theme chosen to discover the charming village of Mézin is the pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, and it is not an insignificant choice, on the contrary. Mézin was once very busy because it was a real stopover on the road to the famous Jacquaire path. Even today, pilgrims cross the town which is an integral part of the trail. Moreover, within the church of Saint John the Baptist, throne a statue of Jacques from the 18th century. As you stroll through the alleys, you will come across signs announcing distances, scallops engraved in the walls, or hung on the storefronts. This shows the importance and the omnipresence of pilgrims in the history, culture and also the economic and social life of Mézin. Thanks to the Poï'z you will learn about multiple historical and architectural elements testifying to the link between the village and the pilgrimage.

Several places in the city recall the pilgrimage of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, fortunately the Poï'z will take you there

It is quite possible that during your stroll you will meet pilgrims. They are easily recognizable thanks, in particular, to the scallop attached to their backpack. There are also many hikers, novices or not, who like to take this legendary trail, even if it is only for a few kilometers. They are also very easily recognizable: they do not wear the shell !!!!

Do you like to walk? Read our article on the most beautiful hikes in Lot-et-Garonne, there are hundreds of kilometers of trails waiting for you.

If you liked this modern day treasure hunt and want to repeat the experience, take a look at the app. A few kilometers away, the towns of Moncrabeau, Barbaste and Nérac also offer quests.  

• Little tip : On the home page, you can view, on the one hand, the number of routes within a radius of 20km. On the other hand, when you click on the “search” magnifying glass, you will see all the available routes. And, at the bottom, on the right, there is a circle with a map. This allows you to easily visualize the possible routes in a precise geographical area.
  

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Article and photos prepared by Charline Prod'Homme for the Lot-et-Garonne Guide

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