France: The holy grail and many church artifacts in the town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie were stolen by three thieves at dawn on 4 November.

Officials from the town of Oloron-Sainte-Marie, in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France, said three thieves drove a car with a large log on the roof to break the door of the 800-year-old Christian church.

The thieves took away the holy grail and many other artifacts, mostly made of gold, of which some are still used in today's Mass. A picture of God and clergy was also taken.

Locals were awakened by the sound of doors and alarms ringing, but the police could not catch the thieves or recover the artifacts. According to witnesses, the group of thieves escaped on another vehicle. The police are investigating the incident.

Marc Aillet, bishops of Bayonne and Oloron, called the theft a crime. "Beyond material values, people now find themselves disconnected from their history and heritage," the town leader said.

Oloron-Sainte-Marie was recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1998. The Church suffered a fire in the 13th and 14th centuries, was pillaged in the late 16th century and was completely restored to the world position. 19th century.

The Sainte-Marie d’Oloron Catholic Church, located about 50 km from the Spanish border, is a popular stopover for pilgrims to the Catholic church of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.