International knight festival "Genoese helmet", uniting the present and the past

In the walls of the Genoese fortress the international festival "Genoese helmet" is held annually, in which amateurs of historical reconstruction and fencing take part.

The festival was first held in 2001, andbecame very popular. For many Crimeans and guests of the peninsula, Sudak is associated with the festival and attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually. More than 300 clubs and about 850 knights from different countries gather here for a grandiose holiday. «Genoese helmet" for 17 years entered the top five festivals in Eastern Europe and the CIS. The festival is held from the end of July to the middle of August.

Participants of the festival

As already mentioned, in the knight festival"Genoese helmet" is attended by clubs engaged in fencing and historical reconstruction and independent knights. Each of them thoroughly studies weapons, armor, military art and traditions of the Middle Ages. And every costume presented here is a historical testimony of a whole epoch.

By the way, the requirements for costumes and armororganizers of the festival are very strict: knights with a torn, rusty or out-of-date uniform are not allowed to the festival and to the territory of the fortress. The same participants who were fortunate enough to pass the test are allowed to live in it, but on condition that their tents correspond, in appearance, to the medieval period.

Description

To conduct the knight festival "Genoesehelmet "Sudak was not chosen by chance. The fact is that this is one of the oldest cities in Crimea and Europe - the city turned 1800 in 2012. Sudak fortress, decorating this city, as if created for the said event: picturesque nature, preserved fortifications, the sea, the history of the fortress itself.

The walls of the fortress for many centuries by faith and truthserved their inhabitants. But in the modern era it for a long time has become only a historical object, the rest of which was violated only by sightseeing groups and research expeditions.

But now, since 2001, every summer is a fortresscomes to life: here you can hear the sound of swords and gunshots, flags of knights 'orders develop over the medieval walls, horses' hoofs clatter on ancient pavements, and the smith hits the hammer. With dawn, as well as many centuries ago, the fortress wakes up from the cries of merchants, the fortress gates swing open, and the guard passes to everyone who lives in Sughdia - so the festival opens.

Participants of the festival take a weapon, put onarmor and the Burgut begins (theatrical knight battle). In the walls of the fortress two medieval troops converge, crossbow bolts and arrows fly. Then the artillery enters the battle, after which the squads meet in hand-to-hand combat.

Knight tournaments, assault of the fortress, groans of the vanquished and joyful exclamations of the winners - everything is real here.

Visitors to the fortress are immersed in a uniqueatmosphere - they can try on costumes, take part in knightly games, learn to blacksmith or pottery, in general, become part of the action that is happening here.

The program of the festival

The program of the festival is always saturated with variousevents and colorful spectacles. The festival opens a parade in which all residents of the medieval town take part. Every day they are waited for by the Burgutians, knight tournaments, performances of troubadours and dancers, medieval entertainments, competition of armor and suits.

For kids, performances are acrobats and puppet theaters.

The territory of the medieval fortress becomes an area that unites the present and the past.

Fair

On the territory of ancient streets, during thefestival "Genoese helmet", they organize an exhibition-fair of folk crafts. Masters from different countries come here to present their creations to the court of spectators.

Here are presented such kinds of arts asweaving, weaving, pottery, embroidery, blacksmith's craft, soap making, spinning, chasing, knitting and tanning. Masters arrange on the street master classes for all comers, can tell about how their products were created. Here you can buy ready-made, hand-made dishes, unique jewelry, musical instruments, toys and other souvenirs.

At the fair, you can try porridge cooked at the stake, mead and bread, cooked according to old recipes, candies and gingerbread.

How to get there

The festival "Genoese Helmet" takes place in Sudak (Crimea) on the territory of the Genoese fortress. Pike perch is located about 110 km from the city of Simferopol.

From the airport of Simferopol you need to get to the Central Bus Station of Simferopol, bus number 98, 115, trolleybus number 9. To do this, at the ticket office bus station to buy a ticket to the city of Sudak.

From the port "Crimea" Kerch crossing you can get to Sudak by bus Kerch-Sudak.

From the Sudak bus station you need to take the route Dachnoye - Cozy.