Tournament

Tournament

Competition and Game

To this day, chivalric tournaments shape our perception of life in the Middle Ages. Initially, tournaments were competitions giving knights an opportunity to practise their military skills for more serious conflicts; over time, however, the focus shifted to displaying their skill and ability as well as having fun. Large-scale competitions reached their peak in the early 16th century. Highly specialised weaponry, elaborate rules and, not least, the splendid attire of the participants attracted people from all social classes. Tournaments often took place in well-organised proceedings over several days. Beyond such elaborate spectacles, warriors also fought in individual sword combats.

The studio exhibition illustrates through arms and armour the various types of tournaments. Detailed paintings of historical jousts give an idea of the liveliness of these competitions. Tournament and fencing manuals provide a deeper insight into refined combat techniques which required hard training. Highlights of the exhibition are two unique, nearly completely preserved models of horse and rider with tournament armour from the 16th century.

The exhibition is kindly sponsored by "Kaltenberger Ritterturnier".