An ancient sword known as the French version of King Arthur’s famed weapon Excalibur disappeared from its resting place of nearly 1,300 years, embedded in a cliffside in southern France. The legendary blade, known as the Durandal sword, traces its origins back to the Frankish King Charlemagne and has served as one of the primary tourist attractions for the tiny town of Rocamadour—but with the sword now presumed stolen and police investigating the disappearance, the destinies of both the relic and the town are uncertain.
According to local legend, the Durandal sword once belonged to Roland, a knight in Charlemagne’s service in the early Eighth Century. The exploits of the knight and his fabled blade are recorded in the 11th-Century epic poem “The Song of Roland,” the oldest surviving major work of French literature. The sword, said to be the sharpest in the world, was able to cut through stone with ease, and the hilt was forged with a tooth from St. Peter, a drop of blood from St. Basil, and a hair from St. Denis, giving the weapon a divine blessing.
The myth states that Charlemagne received the sword from an angel, and then gifted it to Roland during a war with marauding Bretons in northern France. When the knight fell at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, he attempted to smash the blade on the rocks to keep the holy weapon out of enemy hands, but its infusion of divine strength prevented it from shattering. In his final moments, Roland threw the sword into the air, where it miraculously traveled hundreds of miles before burying itself into the cliff at Rocamadour.
Learn more about the 2024 Vault Conference and secure your ticket today!
In the millennium that followed, the blade has remained in place, attracting visitors who made the pilgrimage to the town’s nearby Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The image of “the sword in the stone” has drawn comparisons to England’s Arthurian legends, with its magical properties mirroring those of the fabled blade Excalibur. At various times throughout the centuries, the Durnadal sword has been removed for display in museums and study by historians, but it has always been returned to its cliffside dwelling.
Per local outlets, the sword seems to have disappeared early last week, confounding local authorities given that it was securely wedged into a stone crevasse 32 feet off the ground and held in place by a chain. However, as reported by French outlet Fdesouche.com, it seems as though the possible theft was not reported to the public until days later.
“Given the context of the elections, the decision has been taken not to communicate before this Monday,” Rocamadour Mayor Dominique Lenfant said. As Valuetainment previously reported, recent elections in France led to the dissolution of France’s National Parliament in the wake of a surprising right-wing victory.
“We’re going to miss Durandal. It’s been part of Rocamadour for centuries, and there’s not a guide who doesn’t point it out when he visits,” Mayor Lenfant told French newspaper La Dépêche. “Rocamadour feels it’s been stripped of a part of itself, but even if it’s a legend, the destinies of our village and this sword are entwined.”
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
Got a hot scoop or an idea for a story? Connect with the VT writers on Minnect!
Add comment