According to a report from The Telegraph, a French “magic” sword called “Durandal” has mysteriously disappeared from the town of Rocamadour after being lodged in a rock for over 1,300 years. The sword was one of the main tourist attractions in the French town of Rocamadour.
What is Durandal?
According to French epic literature, this ancient sword was that of Roland, a legendary knight and officer of a former Roman Emperor called Charlemagne.
According to legend, Charlemagne gifted the magical sword “Excalibur” to his best soldier Roland, who later died in battle. The elite knight tried to break the sword before his death to prevent it from being taken by his enemies, but failed due to its immortal powers.
The indestructible sword that was the talk of the town is believed to be the sharpest sword capable of cutting through huge stones with one blow. Excalibur remained stuck 10 meters into the rock for over 1300 years with no way to remove it.
Famous sights of Rocamadour
According to the legendary folklore, when Laurent was unable to destroy the magical sword, he threw it into the air, where it magically traveled hundreds of kilometres before landing on the cliff wall of Rocamadour.
The cliff walls into which Durandal is embedded have become a famous tourist attraction for towns along the Upper Dordogne and have attracted pilgrims from all over the world for centuries.
French Literature References
The magical powers of the lost sword are described in the 11th-century epic poem The Song of Roland, one of the oldest surviving poems in French literature, the only copy of which is now kept at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.
Lost legend or stolen treasure?
His sudden disappearance saddened local residents, who believed that they had taken part of their town, and they believe that the fates of their town and the magical sword are intertwined.
According to a report by The Telegraph, the Cluny Museum had hoped to put the sword on display in 2011. The precious sword was accompanied by city council members and security guards on its return journey from Paris to ensure its safety.
The whereabouts of the weapon are unknown, but locals believe it must have been plucked from the rock by a thief and stolen. An investigation is underway to trace the ancient relic.
