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Housed many works of Da Vinci, including the famous Mona Lisa. Jacques Saunière was a huge fan of Da Vinci’s work, not just because he was past Grand Master of the Priory of Sion, but also because he believes in the natural balance of feminine and masculine strength, just as Da Vinci did. The Louvre is the perfect place to start the story, as it houses Da Vinci’s most famous work - The Mona Lisa. This was a vital location because it was where the story started and ended. If it were, say, in a different museum, the story would not work out because the clues from the Louvre wouldn’t be there.

This was important because it was where Sophie Neveu met her grandma and brother – both of which were supposedly dead after a car crash. Moreover, the name, Rosslyn, referred to the Rose Line. This is a fictional name that combines the Paris Meridian and marked by a brass strip on the floor of the church running through the Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice. The Rose Line ultimately led Robert Langdon to the final resting place of the Grail – The Louvre.

This is an important location in the book, because it adds to the intensity and mystery. The whole concept of a Swiss bank is privacy. An account opener/holder doesn’t have to reveal anything. Even bankers cannot leak any information about their account holders to anyone unless ordered by the law. This adds to the air of mystery around Saunière’s orders, and makes the reader want to keep reading. It helps to set up the rest of the quest, providing vital clues. I wanted really badly to find out what was in the bank account, and I ended up finishing the entire book…

A person's savings would be put in a plastic bin, then into a secure storage system.

These are the artworks that were featured in the book. They are currently still in the Louvre.

Paris Meridian