During the Whitsun holidays a medieval market is arranged on the drying ground in Karrebæksminde. The market was held for the first time six years ago and has been a welcome, recurring event ever since. In 2007 the market days will be 26 and 27 May.
Here you put back the clock 900 years and you meet fair maidens and proud knights, a total of about 160, all dressed in clothing from the early Middle Ages.
The market offers riding at the ring, weapon combats and medieval booths selling wooden weapons for the children, woven fabrics and jewellery. The programme also includes a falconer show and medieval food for those who like it.
Many consider the impressing knights’ tournament on the 40 m long tournament area one of the highlights of the market. A public official of the city welcomes the audience and tells a little about the époque. With the words ”Let the tournament begin” he leaves the rest to the seneschal of the camp, who is the supreme authority of the tournament.
The seneschal calls the knights to the tournament area, one by one, where they are introduced to the audience. When the knights have been assembled, they greet the audience, after which they start the various combats with swords and lances.
During the tournament the seneschal will allow the ladies of the audience to grant their favours, which means that the lady gives a coloured strip of cloth to the knight, who is to wear her colours.
A couple of slave women have to offer the knights water during the tournament. When the tournament is over, they are in danger of being put up for sale. Perhaps you may make a good bargain!
And to the strains of medieval harp-playing you watch the potter and the blacksmith at work. You may also see plant dying and tablet weaving, shoot with bow and arrows and admire historical ceramics.
The team behind the market is the local medieval association Non Nomen, Næstved/Karrebæksminde Business Development Association, Næstved-Egnens Tourist Association and Næstved Museum.
Everybody above sword height must pay an admission fee!
Read more on the homepage of the market, which will be currently updated with programme etc.