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Medieval Week
Fun facts
Medieval Week in Visby once had over 500 performers from 30 countries, creating a global celebration of medieval culture. šŸŒšŸ°
Attendence
100.000+ annually

Medieval Week in Visby, Gotland: A Leap Back in Time

It is the incomparable and charming Medieval Week in Visby, Gotland that gives its visitors a crash course in exactly what the Middle Ages were like. From 1984 each year in August, people are tantalized by this historical event known more accurately as Medieval Week. This week-long adventure dips deep into history with all activities and customs just as they were. Learn more about Visby

History of Medieval Week

Medieval Week was founded in 1984 to share Visby's fabulous history and the vicinity of the medieval period with people. The festival was at first organized by Gotland's museum, amongst others, educational association, and tourist association. Throughout the years, it has grown into the largest historical festival within Sweden, entertaining several thousand visitors from all over the world.

It is partly education, but also a way of preserving and celebrating the rich medieval heritage of Visby; it is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The scenery around the exquisitely well-preserved medieval houses and other buildings gives an even more realistic impression.

Medieval Week
Medieval Week Gotland

What People Usually Do

Visitors to Medieval Week will discover much varied entertainment to bring the Middle Ages alive. It offers:

  • Medieval Marketplace: This marketplace allows one to see artisans selling handcrafted items, such as jewelry and leatherwork, and sample traditional foods, showing the visitors what kind of food was eaten in medieval times.

  • Jousting Tournaments: Knights clad in armor competing in tournaments show their skills in jousting and melee fighting. This is the prime attraction of the event. Street Theater and Music: Various performers are seen entertaining crowds with medieval music, dancing, and drama, which makes the whole setting come alive in all its vibrancy.

  • Historical Re-enactments: Events of the past are re-enacted, for example, the Battle of Visby and the invasion of Gotland by Valdemar Atterdag in 1361. Read more about the Battle of Visby

  • Craft Workshops: Traditional craftsmanship, such as weaving, blacksmithing, and pottery, are demonstrated in workshops that the visitors may take part in. In this way, they learn about traditional craftsmanship and how it is actually done during their daily life.

  • Guided Tours: There are guided tours around the medieval ruins of Visby, churches, and museums that give insight into the town's rich history. Find guided tours

Tradition and Custom

There are numerous traditional customs in Medieval Week, reflecting highly in the lifestyle and culture that were in existence during the Middle Ages. Some of them include:

  • Medieval Dress: One of the most excellent features is in some cases, there are participants encouraged to wear medieval costume. Vikings, pirates, and 14th-century countryfolk run the streets.

  • Feasting: Traditional feasts really give one the feel of medieval times as it was. Medieval cuisine, including roasted meats, bread, and ale, was served out in a traditional manner. These feasts more often than not took place in great halls, decorated to appear like medieval banqueting halls, really giving a view of life as it would have been in medieval times.

  • Craftsmanship: It is also a place where arts of traditional craftsmanship were performed to include blacksmithing, weaving, and potteries among others. All these skills were quite useful in medieval times. Therefore, the demonstrations of the crafts allow insight into the techniques and equipment employed by medieval craftsmen.

  • Music and Dance: Performances in traditional medieval music and dances are one of the mainstays of this festival. With performances by musicians using instruments such as lutes, harps, and drums, dancers go through traditional medieval dances that add color to the festivities.

Visby Medieval Week
Gotland Medieval Week

Interesting Facts

Some of the interesting facts about Medieval Week are as under:

  • Theme: Each year, the festival is organized over some different specific theme. For example, in 2024 it will be "Horses," because horses played a major role in medieval society.

  • Number of Visitors: Medieval Week attracts over 100,000 visitors every year, ranking it as one of the largest historical festivals in Europe.

  • Sustainability: Medieval Week addresses issues like sustainability, particularly environmental protection, gender equality, and security. The organizers of the festival make great effort in ensuring that the environmental footprint of the event is minimized, and they also create awareness among participants and visitors on how to go about their sustainable practices.

Conclusion

Medieval Week in Visby, Gotland, is truly an event not to be missed, if history, culture, and being taken into a world of its own mean anything. From the history enthusiast to the craft lover, this is one festival with something for everyone.

Be among the thousands of visitors who journey to Visby every year as they step into the magic of the Middle Ages. Historic accuracy combined with fun activities amidst an incredibly impressive medieval setting makes Medieval Week unforgettable.