Krakow Medieval festival

Behind my house every year on the Tuesday following Easter is living history, a Krakow Medieval festival. It is the Rekwaka tournament and reenactment of the Middle Ages that is connected to the founder of Krakow – Prince Krak.  Rękawka means sleeve in Polish. It was said that people moved the earth from to build the burial mound of Krak. It again is a stone’s throw away from where I live.

Krakow Knights ready to do battle

I was lucky to take some photos, although next year I will try to bring my better Camera.  It is really amazing running for about 10 hours with something different every hour. I would love to be a reenactor and it would be good for my Polish.

Camp in Krakow reenacting the Middle Ages

During this festival there is a small church behind my house that is open only once a year. There is a great legend and mystical history around this chapel that I think I will save for another post.

Krakow Middle Ages fair

The festival starts at 8 am has of course dancing, Medieval music and a battle at 3 pm.   The festival has a lot more of course including a unusual ending at 5:30 that I will not tell you about incase you ever go. It looks like some of the renactors actually might sleep there overnight.

In the real Middle Ages fair were a very important part of economic life. This is when people came from all over to trade and do business. It was a precursor of the Market. It was a place where goods were exchanged by tradesmen.  Remember there was no China, everything from candles to rope had to be produced locally so every town had its specialties. Fairs from the Dark ages to the High Middle ages were economic based as well as for other reasons.

I have often though of Krakow and Poland in general as a Medieval city and place. The city is filled with living history. There are monks walking the streets, real ones and 800 year old churches everywhere. There are many people with Medieval costumes walking around the city even on none fair days.

More Polish knights

I think these times are more in the collective unconscious of the people here in Poland more than most places. I think the US and UK are too busied with iPads and CNN talk of crisis to appreciate history like people do in Poland. From the Dark ages to the 18th Century it was a great time in Poland. And of course it is a great time to live today in Poland.

Polish Medieval camp

The last picture I hope you will enjoy are a couple of beautiful Polish princesses. I think Poles have very good values and ideas and the women truly are like ladies from the Middle Ages.

Krakow ladies from the Middle Ages

No need for a time machine to see princess from the Polish centuries past, in Poland there are many Cinderellas and peasant girls who have the heart of a princess.

Let me know what you think of these and pictures of Krakow’s Medieval festival. I know I need to improve the quality, however, the theme is interesting. Many people ask me why I am in Poland. I think the answer is obvious. It is such an interesting place, almost everyday I step outside my door and discover something new. Poland is a country that has many layers of history. Krakow itself has had inhabitants up to over 50,000 years ago and settlements and ancient things as fantastic as anything your real in Lord of the Rings.

Tags: Medieval Poland, Polish history