Once dubbed a key tourist attraction in France, the ‘magical’ sword, also known as Durandal, has gone missing from its rocky perch in the Rocamadour village. The famed weapon, which was even termed as the French Excalibur, was stuck in the stone for more than 1,300 years. According to reports, the ancient and supposedly immovable sword was connected with the legendary knight Roland, an officer of a former Roman emperor. The French Police are currently investigating the loss of the weapon, which is said to have gone missing sometime between June 21 and 22.
While the missing case is being treated as theft, the local police are left confused at how it could have been stolen, considering the odd location next to a sanctuary with limited access, states a Metro report. Earlier, the medieval sword, believed to be capable of cutting through giant boulders, was lodged deep into the stone and secured with a metal chain.
Durandal, the legendary sword of the knight Roland, has been stolen.The sword, sunk more than ten metres into the rock, was stolen from the French town of Rocamadour on the night of 21-22 June. An investigation is underway. It's a priceless treasure that has gone missing.… pic.twitter.com/0YFZ6F8mM7
— Sey @ FGO (@exceddius) July 3, 2024
According to local folklore, Roland threw the sword into the air, which magically travelled kilometres before landing on the cliff wall in the French village. Since then, the place has become a prominent tourist site, drawing visitors from across the globe. These magical qualities of Durandal are also mentioned in the poems of the Song of Roland, the oldest existing French literary work. The sole copy is kept at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.
In the meantime, the town’s sudden loss of their age-old treasure has left locals distressed, with many expressing dismay. Many believed that the town’s destiny was intertwined with the magical sword.
“Rocamadour feels stripped of a part of itself. Even if it is a legend, the destinies of our village and this sword are linked. We will miss Durandal. It has been part of Rocamadour for centuries; there is not a single guide who does not show it during their visit. Such is the precious nature of the sword. Durandal is a public property that belongs to the state. This sword was embedded in the rock face at a shallow depth, very close to the chapel of the Black Virgin. It measures 80 cm, so it is a small medieval sword that was forged to stun people or horses, not to kill them,” Rocamadour Mayor Dominique Lenfant told La Dépêche.
The mayor also shared that the sword was once exhibited at the Cluny Museum in Paris and was escorted by a local councillor and security guard.
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