Sacre bleu! Someone has stolen France's historic sword in the stone which had supposedly been there for 1,300 years.

Over here in the UK, we've got the story of King Arthur and the sword in the stone, while in France, you could until recently go and visit an actual sword in the stone.

The missing blade's name is Durandal, and it belonged to a French knight from the days of Charlemagne known as Roland, who was a legendary figure in French history.

The real Roland ruled over France's then border with Brittany (the sticky-out bit of north-west France in modern day) and died in battle in 778, with his last stand becoming the stuff of legend.

According to legend, the sword was indestructible and capable of cutting through stone, and when Roland was near death, he tried to destroy it by hacking it against a rock.

Since the blade did not break, he either hid it beneath his body as he succumbed to his wounds, or he hurled it hundreds of miles away where it buried itself into a cliff face.

In real life, there was a sword buried in a cliff face in the French town of Rocamdour, the local tourist board says it's a replica of Durandal but the blade, which is buried and chained in stone more than 30ft off the ground, could have been the real thing.

If it is then it's been around for 1,300 years and the sudden disappearance is a shock to the system.

Sadly, the sword in the stone has indeed gone missing and it's feared that theft is the reason why it's no longer there.

The area's mayor Dominique Lenfant told local media: "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.

"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."

The sword was so precious to Rocamadour that when it was taken to be exhibited in a museum for a time, a councillor and security guard accompanied the blade back home.

An investigation into the whereabouts of the sword has begun, though if we hear in the next few days of some surprise victor in France's elections who is bearing an ancient sword, then we'll know who took it.