Finding the journals from previous expeditions in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is how you uncover the stories of those who came before. These journals are scattered across the continent and, while some will inevitably be waiting in corridors or caves you visit during the campaign, others require a bit of exploration or facing challenging foes.
However, with guidance, you can ensure that you collect all journals, learn the tales of other expeditioners, and receive great rewards for your effort in tracking them all. It’s a long journey, but we can help by showing all the journal locations in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
All journal locations in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Journals are collectibles in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the only way to learn more about the previous expeditions. In addition to providing more context to the game’s magically mysterious world, journals also function as a currency.
You can exchange them for Colours of Lumina in the Gestral Village. Simply talk to Berrami, a Gestral in the bazaar to the left of the Chief’s House and give them the journals you have.
There are a total of 49 journals and many become available only later in the game, requiring you to unlock some of Esquie’s abilities as well as develop your relationships with two characters.
Below, you’ll find a list of all journals, a brief explanation of how to find them, along with their areas and the nearest flags to teleport to in parentheses. To better follow the directions indicated to find some journals, use the compass that appears when you open the Expedition Status menu (Triangle or Y on controllers, or Y on the keyboard).
Journal 81 (Spring Meadows – Abandoned Expeditioner Camp Flag)
After climbing a wall with some climbers left by previous expeditions, you will enter a cavern. Inside, you’ll find Journal 81 on the ground along with Jar, a White Nevron.
Journal 68 (Flying Waters – Coral Cave)
You’ll reach this flag after passing through a cave. From there, take the path to the right of the central lanterns and follow it to enter a corridor where you find the journal.
Journal 63 (Ancient Sanctuary – Giant Bell Alley)
From the flag, go southwest and turn left, where a Robust Sakapatate, a shield-wielding Nevron is patrolling. Continue northwest to find the journal in front of a pile of stones.
Journal 52 (Gestral Village – Entrance)
Head north from the flag and follow the path to the left of the Chief’s House. Next, continue north following the Arena signs. When you reach the third sign, instead of turning right, take the left route, heading in the opposite direction indicated by the sign and you will find Journal 52.
Journal 66 (Esquie’s Nest – Entrance)
Go down the stairs from the pool of water where you meet Esquie and turn right. You will see a pillar and, on the other side of a gap, a grappling point. You must progress in the quest so that the pillar falls, allowing you to reach the grappling point. Traverse the gap and you will eventually find a small camp on the right side. Journal 66 will be in the middle of it.
Journal 53 (The Small Burgeon – Southwest of the Ancient Sanctuary)
This journal is located in an optional area southwest of the Ancient Sanctuary. From the entrance of the Small Burgeon, go south, then southeast. You will encounter a burgeon and, behind them, you’ll find a corridor. Follow it to find Journal 53.
Journal 78 (Stone Wave Cliffs – Entrance)
Head northeast from the Entrance Flag and, before reaching the corridor, turn south and you will find a rope. Use it to reach the upper level, where you will find Journal 78.
Journal 56 (Stone Wave Cliffs – Entrance)
From the Entrance Flag, turn left and cross the tunnel behind the Hexga, stone-made with a large crystal Nevron. Move forward and use the grappling hook to cross the gap in the next area. Head northwest and stick to your left, following the wall until you reach a statue beside a bridge, with Journal 56 located in front of it.
Journal 50 (Stone Wave Cliffs – Paintress Shrine)
By progressing through the main story, you will reach the Paintress Shrine Flag in the Paintress Shrine area. From there, keep going northeast (the only available path) to reach an open area where a Rocher will jump in front of you. Kill them, then follow the path to the left until you find Journal 50 in front of the two statues.
Journal 62 (Continent – North of Gestral Village)
Go northwest of Esquie’s Nest, surrounding the Gestral Village. Eventually, you will find two old buildings with the journal in between them. You can’t reach it on foot though. You must mount Esquie, who can walk through the rocks and destroy them, to grab this journal.
Journal 54 (Stone Wave Cliffs Cave – East of Stone Wave Cliffs)
After completing Act 1, you can finally use Esquie to swim across the ocean. From the Stone Wave Cliffs, go east to a small beach to find Stone Wave Cliffs Cave. Inside the cave, there’s only one path that will lead you to an enemy. You don’t need to fight it. Just grab Journal 54 on their left side and leave.
Journal 36 (White Tree – Island west of the Stone Wave Cliffs)
Use Esquie to swim to a small island with a tall white tree on the west side of the Stone Wave Cliffs. Use the portal to enter and find Journal 36 right at the entrance.
Journal 64 (Continent – South of The Meadows)
Swim southeast of Esquie’s Nest. Pass through the portal to the Meadows and go further into the area to find a small camp containing Journal 64.
Journal 45 (Crushing Caverns – Entrance)
You can only access Crushing Caverns once you unlock Esquie’s swimming ability. Once inside, follow the only available path, which will lead you to an ambush. Defeat the Giant Sapling boss, then continue along the path that opened. Climb the rope and follow the path on the left to find Journal 45.
Journal 38 (Yellow Harvest – Harvester’s Hollow)
The Yellow Harvest is located northwest of the Gestral Village, but you will need to use Esquie’s swimming ability to get there. Once inside, head northeast from the Harvester’s Hollow Flag. A patrolling enemy stands in front of a ramp leading to an elevated area. Follow it to find Journal 38.
Journal 44 (Yellow Harvest – Harvester’s Hollow)
Starting from the flag, head northeast, passing to the left of the ramp you used to find the previous journal. You will arrive at a field with a patrolling Jar, a lance-wielding Nevron and Journal 44 can be found in front of a corpse near the enemy.
Journal 59 (Yellow Harvest – Yellow Spire Wrecks)
Going north from the Harvester’s Hollow Flag, you will come across a broken bridge covered in flowers. Climb it and grapple your way to the small cave where the Yellow Spire Wrecks Flag is located. Next, follow the path to the west of the flag to find a large red structure and Journal 59 nearby.
Journal 41 (Forgotten Battlefield – Battlefield)
Head northeast from the flag, and pass the Fading Woman, a floating humanoid figure, taking the path to her right. Enter the corridor, then turn left to find Journal 41.
Journal 57 (Forgotten Battlefield – Ancient Bridge)
Head south of the Ancient Bridge Flag to reach a grassy open area, where you will find the Journal 57 in front of a corpse.
Journal 48 (Stone Quarry – East of the Forgotten Battlefield North exit)
In the area between the Forgotten Battlefield and Monoco’s station, head east to find the portal to Stone Quarry. Once inside, go straight ahead to find Journal 48.
Journal 65 (Monoco’s Station – Monaco’s Station)
You can only obtain this journal after recruiting Monoco to your party, which triggers a change in the area. From Monoco’s Station Flag, head south and turn left, passing under the train using the train tracks. Near the exit, you will find Journal 65.
Fracture Survivor Journal (Old Lumière – Left Street)
To obtain this journal, you need the Old Key, which you can acquire during the Expedition Festival at the beginning of the game or in Lumière during the final part of the campaign. With the key in your inventory, go to Old Lumière, go down from the Left Street Flag and follow the right-hand trail. Pass through the broken gate, then turn right, and you will see a large broken pipe with a hole on top. Drop inside of it and unlock the cell using the Old Key to get the Fracture Survivor Journal.
Renoir (Old Lumière – Manor Gardens)
While facing the manor, head northwest, and cross the wall through the hole. A short distance ahead, to your left, there’s a door which takes you to the Manor’s bathroom. In the next room, you will find the Renoir journal.
Journal 58 (Old Lumière)
You receive Journal 58 by defeating the final boss in the Old Lumière area.
Journal 42 (Old Lumière – Manor Gardens)
To find this journal, you must have already defeated Renoir. From the Manor Gardens Flag, go to the right, then turn right again and use the rope to access the lower area where an enemy and Journal 42 are found in front of a golden sword.
Journal 55 (Sirène – Dancing Classes)
Head west up the stairs, and stick to the right side. Eventually, you will reach an area with three enemies dancing in front of Journal 55.
Journal 67 (Sirène – Dancing Arena)
As you progress in the main quest in Sirène, you’ll find Journal 67 next to the Dancing Arena Flag.
Journal 69 (Visages – Joy Vale)
By taking the first path on the left side in Visages, you’ll get to Joy Vale. From the starting area, move forward until you reach Joy Vale Flag. Head west, keeping to the left side, until the path starts to ascend. On the left, there will be a couple of enemies surrounding Journal 69.
Journal 39 (Visages – Sadness Vale)
Starting at the Sadness Vale Flag, go down the hill, then turn right before a giant crying face, and follow the path uphill. Pass the group of enemies and keep going upward to find Journal 39.
Journal Unknown number one (Visages – Anger Vale)
From the Anger Vale Flag, head down the hill and turn right, staying to the right to find a cave beside the path that leads upward. Enter the cave, stick to the right side when the path forks to find a door to the Manor. It will take you to the piano room. Open the closed door in it to find the Journal Unknown.
Journal 40 (Continent – Island south of the Monolith)
On an island south of the Monolith, you will find a vendor and beside them, Journal 40.
Aline (Monolith – Tainted Battlefield)
At the end of Act 2, as you climb the Monolith, eventually you will reach the Tainted Battlefield Flag. Jump into the area in front of the flag and head northwest. Pass through an opened door and a broken gate, then turn left into a narrow corridor. Following it will lead you to a door to the Manor that takes you to a greenhouse where you obtain Aline’s journal.
Journal 70 (Monolith – Tower Peak)
South of the Tower Peak Flag there’s a large tree you passed while progressing in the main quest. Go to the square where the tree stands and enter the street on the east side of it. Cross the gaps, then fight a group of enemies. After defeating them, turn around the corner to find Journal 70.
Journal 37 (Gestral Beach – Southeast of the Monolith)
To reach the Gestral Beach, you must first unlock Esquie’s ability to fly. Once you get there, find Journal 37 on the right side near the entrance.
Journal 43 (Continent – Island northeast of the Forgotten Battlefield)
To find this island, go northeast of the Forgotten Battlefield. There’s a patrolling enemy on this island and near them, a camp where you find Journal 43.
Julie (Continent – Cliff northwest of Forgotten Battlefield)
With Esquie’s flying ability unlocked, fly to the cliff northwest of the Forgotten Battlefield. The journal is near the edge of the cliff, where three enemies are standing.
Verso (Continent – Cliff northwest of Forgotten Battlefield)
On the south side of the cliff where you can find Julie’s journal, behind an enemy, you will find Verso’s Journal. You don’t need to fight them, so just fly with Esquie behind them to grab the journal.
Journal 47 (Continent – West of Monoco’s Station)
On the world map, travel to the west of Monoco’s Station to find a Burgeon and near it Journal 47.
Journal 84 (The Fountain – Entrance)
To reach this area, fly to the west of the Small Burgeon. Once inside, follow the path near the flag. You will come across a square with a powerful enemy at its center. Stick to the right and go southeast to find Journal 84.
Journal 35 (Fallen Leaves – Resinveil Grove)
This journal is located on the northern side of the Fallen Leaves area. Starting from the Resinveil Grove Flag, head north, taking the path to the left of a gate. Eventually, you will reach the edge of the map where a patrolling enemy guards the journal.
Journal 49 (Fallen Leaves – Resinveil Grove)
Talk to the Young Boy Spirit in front of the gate to the right of the Resinveil Grove Flag. He will send you on a quest to find the Lady of Sap. Next, go back south but take the path to your left to find a rope that leads downward. Follow the only available path to find the cave where the Lady is located. Talk to her, then return to the boy. He will then open the gate. Follow the recently opened path and, after using a rope to access the upper part of the area, you will find Journal 49.
Journal 51 (Frozen Hearts – Icebound Train Station)
After reaching the Icebound Train Station Flag, head northeast. Follow the path toward the north and pass another enemy. A bit ahead you will find Journal 51 in a small alley.
Journal 34 (The Crows)
The Crows is a high-level area west of the Visages. Journal 34 is right at the entrance, beside the flag.
Journal 46 (Sirène Island – Sirène’s Dress)
Once you unlock relationship level five with Lune, travel to Sirène Island, where you will find the entrance to Sirène’s Dress on the northeast side of the area. Defeat the boss in the initial room to clear the path leading to Journal 46.
Journal Unknown number two (The Reacher – Ladder Area)
The Reacher is an area located to the west of the Visages. You can only access the area after unlocking rank five with Maelle and Esquie’s flying ability. As you climb the Reacher, you will reach the Ladder Area. From the flag there, head north and take the downward path, where you will find a door to the Manor. Enter it to obtain another Unknown journal.
Journal 61 (The Reacher – Foggy Area)
Near the Reacher’s peak, you will get to the Foggy Area Flag. From there, go east, pass two enemies, to find Journal 61 near the next balloon.
Journal 60 (Lumière – Opera House)
As you progress through Lumière in the final quest of the campaign, you will reach the Opera House. Instead of entering the building, turn right and head north. Go to the edge of a broken bridge to interact with Esquie, who will grab Journal 60 for you.
Journal Unknown number three (The Manor)
You obtain one of the three Unknown Journals by completing the Painting Workshop side quest. After obtaining the “Dessandre family portrait” and hanging it above the stairs on the right side of the Manor, the door at the far end of the Manor will open. Inside, you’ll find the journal.
Simon (Renoir’s Drafts – The Abyss)
Simon is a hidden boss in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and you can find him in Renoir’s Drafts, a location accessible only after unlocking Esquie’s underwater swimming ability. After defeating Simon, you can collect the journal.
