IJA European Championship 2009
Facts Joust and skill Participants Results

(use the links above to navigate to results and more info)

The City of Horsens hosted its first Medieval Festival in 1995. The intention was to spread knowledge of an important period in the long history of the city. Today, the festival has turned into an international medieval festival with participants and artists coming from more than ten different European countries. The festival is officially hosted by the City of Horsens, but it could never be brought to life without the close collaboration with the local community. The European Medieval Festival seeks to represent all aspects of medieval society – arts, crafts, music and everyday customs. It is a dedicated medieval event encompassing the time period from AD 1350 to 1536 with cultural focus on northern Europe. Central Horsens is transformed as thousands of candles, oil lamps and bonfires light up the medieval town at nightfall. Lamp posts, bicycle stands and telephone booths are disguised in wood, and the market place is abuzz with activities both night and day. The illusion is perfected by 5000 performers dressed as noblemen and –ladies, beggars, virgins, knights, fortune tellers, monks, craftsmen and traders. At several public houses, tables are laid with culinary delights from the medieval cuisine and mead, juice, beer and wine to quench your thirst.

Facts about the festival:
¤ organized by the department of culture in Horsens Municipality
¤ reflects the life in Horsens 1350-1536
¤ finds place every year, the last Friday and Saturday in August
¤ a large medieval market with 280 stalls
¤ involves many local groups, societies and associations
¤ at least 5000 people are dressed in medieval clothes
¤ 1000 people come from abroad
¤ 10 countries are represented
¤ 100 000 visitors
¤ covers an area of 25.000 m2
¤ the level of historical correctness is very high - and the festival pays a lot of attention to that issue

Horsens:
¤ 48.000 inhabitants in Horsens city
¤ 88.000 people live in Horsens municipality
¤ old town, inhabited since the Viking Age
¤ situated at the eastcoast of Judland
¤ located 1½ hour of driving by car from the German boarder

Read more about the festival here

Now the City of Horsens took one step further and hosted the European Championship of Jousting.

This was the first real medieval tournament in Denmark since 1596.