French ‘Excalibur’ Sword Vanishes Into Thin Air After 1,300 Years Lodged In Stone

By: Ben Campbell | Last updated: Jul 19, 2024

French authorities are outraged after the disappearance of a historical sword often referred to as the French version of King Arthur’s legendary sword, Excalibur.

This unique sword once belonged to a French knight and was embedded in a rock over 1,300 years ago. It has since gone missing, despite being chained to a cliff over 30 feet from the ground.

The Legend of King Arthur

The legend of King Arthur, the iconic British knight who rose up to defend his nation against invaders, has not only captivated the minds of people in Britain but also inspired stories, books, and even movies all around the world.

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Arthur pulling the sword Excalibur, from a rock

Source: Bio

The legend of King Arthur is intertwined with the tale of his sword, Excalibur. According to the tales, as long as Arthur carried this sword enhanced by magic, he was invincible in battle.

The French Version of Excalibur

Despite the various references to Arthur throughout medieval Welsh literature, including the 9th-century Historia Brittonum, no evidence of his great sword has ever been found. Legends suggest it lies in one of three lakes in Snowdonia National Park in Wales.

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A photograph of Rocamadour town in France

Source: Wikimedia

In France, a sword associated with their own version of the Welsh tale recently went missing. It belonged to a French knight, and unlike Arthur’s, it sat on display for centuries for anyone to see.

The Durandal Sword

According to records, Roland, a French knight and officer of the Frankish King, Charlemagne, wielded the sword named Durandal.

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A photograph of the Durandal sword wedged in the cliff

Source: Wikimedia

French epic literature details how the sword made Roland the great knight of the era. The weapon itself was said to be indestructible.

Roland Plunges the Sword Into a Rock

According to legends, over 1,300 years ago, just before his death, Roland plunged the sword into a rock.

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A photograph of the French town of Rocamadour

Source: Wikimedia

It lay embedded in the rock in the small town of Rocamadour in southern France for well over a millennium until it was recently stolen.

The Disappearance of the Sword

Despite being wedged into a rock on a cliff 32 feet from the ground and chained to the wall, the sword was somehow pulled from its resting place and stolen.

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A photograph of the Durandal sword

Source: Ancient European Swords/Facebook

The sword’s disappearance has sent shockwaves through the small community of Rocamadour, leaving its residents in disbelief and deeply saddened by the loss of the iconic relic.

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Town’s Mayor Speaks on the Theft of the Sword

Speaking with La Dépêche, the town’s mayor, Dominique Lenfant, expressed his profound disappointment and concern over the crime that has shaken the community.

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A photograph of several reporters on the street

Source: Freepik

“Rocamadour feels it’s been robbed of a part of itself, but even if it’s a legend, the destinies of our village and this sword are entwined,” he said.

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The Town Will Miss the Sword

Lefant explained that the sword was more than just a historical artifact. It was a significant tourist attraction that brought crowds to the region. The mayor went on to suggest that its absence could deeply affect the town’s tourism industry.

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A photograph of a building in Rocamadour

Source: Wikimedia

“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,” he said.

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Ongoing Investigation

An investigation is currently ongoing as officials from the town attempt to do all they can to find the thief who took the iconic sword for themselves.

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A woman is pictured during an investigation

Source: Wikimedia

Despite the efforts of law enforcement, there are currently no leads as to its whereabouts. Some theorize it may have been stolen to be sold on the black market.

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First Mention of the Sword

Durandal was first mentioned nearly 1,000 years ago in the poem, The Song of Roland.

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A man is pictured reading a book

Source: Wikimedia

The epic makes reference to the sword’s magical powers and suggests it contained a tooth taken from St. Peter’s, alongside the hair of St. Denis and the blood of St. Basil, per The Independent.

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An Angel Gifts Durandal to Charlemagne

Just before his death at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, Roland attempted to break the magical sword on a rock in an attempt to stop it from getting into the hands of his enemies.

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An artist's depiction of an angel

Source: Wikimedia

Durandal is said to have been given to Roland by Charlemagne, who himself received it from an angel.

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Magical Sword Travels Hundreds of Kilometers to Rocamadour

Unable to break the sword off the rocks in the moments before his death, Roland is said to have thrown it into the air.

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A photograph of the French town of Rocamadour from a distance

Source: Wikimedia

Following this, the magical sword traveled hundreds of kilometers before eventually embedding itself in the cliff at Rocamadour. Locals hope it will be returned to its iconic spot in the future.

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