Remains of French folk hero, musketeer d’Artagnan, maybe found in Maastricht church

A skeleton has been discovered in a church in Maastricht that may belong to the famous French musketeer d’Artagnan. The whereabouts of the French folk hero’s remains have been a mystery for hundreds of years. DNA investigation must determine whether the discovered skeleton is really his, L1 reported.

The French musketeer Charles de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan was killed in battle in Maastricht on 25 June 1673. The proximity of the St. Peter and Paul Church in the Wolder district of Maastricht has always made it a likely resting place for his remains, but no official research had been done.

The skeleton was found in the nave of the church, right in front of the current altar. The modern church is the second, maybe even third, church structure on this site with roots going back as far as the 13th, possibly even the 11th century. Part of the church floor collapsed in February, and the remaining floor was broken open during the subsequent restoration. This revealed the remains.

Deacon Jos Valke was present at the first excavation. He immediately sensed that this was a remarkable historical discovery, he told the broadcaster. “A French coin lay by his body,” Valke said. “Moreover, the location of the grave indicates that it concerns an important person: the skeleton was found on the spot where the altar used to stand, and only royal or other important figures were buried under the altar at that time.”

A DNA sample was taken from the skeleton earlier this month, and a laboratory in Munich is now comparing the sample with that of a descendant of musketeer d’Artagnan.