No, this is not a variation on Motus or Countdown, but actually a real treasure hunt! The Secret of the 5 Letters is a ludic game to be played as a family. The idea? For children (8-12s) and their parents to discover in an enjoyable fashion the history and heritage of the Aisne region. The task? To piece together Guillaume Apollinaire’s first calligramme. How? By following the tips from great-great-grandfather Anatole, who wrote them five letters from the trenches. Anatole met the poet Apollinaire in 1917, in the Chemin des Dames region. Together, they created poems (calligrammes) as a way of forgetting about life in the war, and it was with him that the poet pencilled his first poem. On several occasions, someone tried to steal the calligramme from Anatole. So the latter tore it into 42 pieces. To recreate it, clues have been left in 5 historic locations in the département where Anatole spent his life as a soldier: the Chemin des Dames, Soissons, Laon, the Fort de Condé and the Abbaye de Vauclair. In each of his letters, Anatole sent clues. By looking for these, children will also discover these areas steeped in history: the first capital of France and King Clovis, the occupied town of Laon and its majestic cathedral, the ancient Abbaye de Vauclair, located in the middle of a battlefield, the Fort de Condé, and not forgetting the Chemin des Dames and the Dragon’s Cave. Throughout the trip, Anatole’s 5 letters deliver some strong messages to children, so that they understand what the war was like in the Aisne. Highly educational, the travel log contains instructional historical perspectives for young and old alike. By discovering the Secret of the 5 Letters, the family can take part in a major competition to win a holiday every year for the whole family! The game is free and available from the sites taking part.