A Marvellous Medieval Bash

On Friday, the vagaries of the Bavarian weather dealt me a lucky hand. My friend Martina called me in the morning, asking if I fancied going to the Kaltenberg Knights’ Tournament that evening.  She had two tickets, but her husband couldn’t go. He had to do the threshing before the rain showers, predicted for early next day, would turn the fields too soggy for fieldwork.

I said yes, of course 🙂

Kaltenberg is a small village not far from mine, with a magnificent castle dating from 1292, owned by the last Bavarian King’s great-grandson. Once a year, the grounds are home to a fantastic spectacle: The Knights’ Tournament, surrounded by a medieval market, workshops, food and, of course, tons of people in costume.

I think took hundreds of photos… and I don’t usually post that many in one go, but I do hope you enjoy the colourful splendidness of it all 🙂

Let’s start with some food:

A little snack we had… note the beer jug with the tournament’s emblem

A bunch of knights in shining armour

A Lanky King and his footman

Better not snap that one from the front! (See my scaredy shadow on the ground…?)

A Fair Maiden with her sword

And men with their lances

Axing that clown…?

Here come the witches!

Sometimes out-of-focus shots are a good thing…

And we’re back to food…

Punters enjoying medieval board games

The arena – site of the actual tournament

“La Ola”