Status: 07.08.2023, 18:39 p.m.
By: Joshua Eibl
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Historical dances and self-sewn robes: The Middle Ages stopped at Waitzinger Park. © THOMAS PLETTENBERG
"Jubeeel!" – hardly a word resounded so often through the crowd in Waitzinger Park. For three days, the knights crossed swords again at the medieval festival.
Miesbach – "jubilation" – kindly repeated by the people – flared up on various occasions: whether for the magnificent and imaginative performances, costumes or fights.
From 4 to 6 August, numerous spectators experienced the Middle Ages. After the corona-related dry spell - the last time the festival took place in 2019 - the Waldeckers returned to Miesbach. And the desire for the break was palpable. "Despite the weather, we had a real pull effect," says Waldeck chairman "Brother" Bernt Horeth. The evening torchlight processions and fire shows could also take place as planned.
Knight's Tournament: Sword on Shield in Full Contact Combat
Especially the Buhurt tournament for the Miesbach Cup on Saturday was well received by the visitors. Around 100 onlookers spread out around the arena during the high-class knight fights. Sword on shield, axe on plate – ten teams from Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and France competed for the trophy in their full-contact battles. This is already a really high priority among the teams. In the Buhurt, the fighters try to get themselves to the ground using a variety of techniques. From wrestling, to judo throws, to "I'll beat you until you sit down voluntarily", everything is allowed. If you touch the ground with three contact points, you're out. "This is real martial arts," says Horeth. The coveted trophy was won by a Czech team.
Didn't give each other anything: the knights in full-contact combat. © Joshua Eibl
Relocation proves its worth: "Like a village in the city"
The change of location from the monastery grounds to Waitzinger Park has also proven its worth. "The logistics were much easier." In addition, the atmosphere during the fights was much more authentic. "The different floors gave a better view of the fights and it felt more like a real arena."
But the permanent programs such as the mouse maze, carousel or the ship swing were also well received. The ship swing of the Angermeier family was a real hit with the children. The oldest swing is around 100 years old. The family travels to the region up to twelve times a year.
Fun for the children: the ship swings are up to 100 years old. © THOMAS PLETTENBERG
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The medieval festival is like "a village within a city," says Horeth. Together with the artists and showmen, the association revived the Waldeck nobility: the Middle Ages of the 14th century in the Bavarian Oberland. Thematically, the knights also fit in well with this. "They're already wearing plates in their armor, which fits together in time."
"There's always something going on despite the weather": from the beer garden to ice cream and mead to tarte flambée
About 17 hours after the last sword was wielded, there was no sign of the village. All in all, according to the Waldecker chairman, they received a lot of positive feedback: "There was always something going on despite the weather." 35 people ensured a smooth weekend: from the beer garden to ice cream and mead to tarte flambée and potato noodles, the Waldeckers took over most of the catering themselves. Only the Kolping Family took over the barbecue. And the participating camp groups, artists and dealers were also happy "that we were able to pull off the program like this".
The association put three quarters of a year of work into the planning, and from Wednesday to Friday the members set up the medieval festival. "The atmosphere among the dealers and artists has been great, we are always like a family." Many of them spent the nights in the tents or at the adjacent parking lot on Habererplatz. "At some point, your feet hurt," Horeth smiles, but the "enthusiastic" visitors quickly made them forget about it. Everyone would already be looking forward to 2024. They don't want to and won't change anything big, says Horeth. Why should it be – after all, the medieval festival was a complete success.