The Spectaculum

For three days in July the Austrian medieval town of Friesach returns to the Middle Ages. Window shops are covered, electricity turned off. The town centre is closed for traffic. Knights, tradesmen, buffoons, chesters, medieval dances and music, fire breathers, even witches (I guess they’ve yet to fall from grace). Set against a backdrop of numerous castles on the hills above the town, Spectaculum in Friesach is one of the biggest medieval events in Europe and I kept hearing about it for two years as I was covering medieval events in Slovenia. So I finally found time to go and see it. What a sight. Especially in the evening, when fires and torches lit the town.

People of all sorts walked the streets of Friesach. From those you might soon see on the stakes to the ones probably burning them.

The weather nicely tuned in to the atmosphere...

The labyrinth mouse race. All fair and square, but two of them gave up and the third cheated by climbing over walls.

Best seats in town are made of hay.

When costumed visitors have a free entrance, all nations Centuries past rushed in. The Ottomans were there as well. The Scotts ...

If this was used today, women would probably have fewer weight issues.

Ab Inferis with their Medieval pipes and drums.

When it got dark, fires sprung up. Processions continued into the dark...

The awesome music from Ab Inferis lit up by an amazing fire breather.

Looks tasty.