Knights and daggers return to Serbia for celebration of all things medieval

Record ID: 1353984

  • Title: Knights and daggers return to Serbia for celebration of all things medieval
  • Date: 26th August 2018
  • Summary: MANASIJA, SERBIA (AUGUST 25, 2018) (REUTERS) VISITORS AT "JUST OUT" FESTIVAL, FORTIFIED MANASIJA MONASTERY IN BACKGROUND CROWD OF FESTIVAL VISITORS MILLING BETWEEN STALLS ARCHERS DRESSED IN MEDIEVAL OUTFITS TEACHING ARCHERY TO VISITORS ARROWS HITTING TARGETS WOODCARVER USING MEDIEVAL TOOL WOODCARVER'S HANDS SHAPING PIECE OF WOOD ON MEDIEVAL TOOL BLACKSMITH IN MEDIEVAL OUTF
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2018 12:31
  • Keywords: Manasija monastery Orthodox monastery Despotovac World Heritage Site medieval Serbia
  • Location: MANASIJA, SERBIA
  • City: MANASIJA, SERBIA
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Editors' Choice
  • Reuters ID: LVA0018UTPHZT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Men from across Europe - and one woman - donned armour and battled with swords outside a Serbian medieval monastery as part of a festival sampling life from hundreds of years ago on Saturday (August 25).
    The combatants were grouped depending on their skill and fitness, with those in the strongest category often knocking rivals to the ground, their helmets dented.
    Croatian Neda, who did not give her family name, was the only woman allowed to take part in the battle.
    "It's great for me. It's anti-stress therapy," she told Reuters, wearing the red and white colours of her country.
    The "Just Out" festival takes place every year outside the walls of the Manasija monastery, built in the early 15th century and listed by UNESCO since 2010.
    Visitors also tried out archery, wood carving and cooking the food of the time.
    "All of the food is prepared with ingredients that were available in medieval times, in the 14th century in Serbia," Slavoljub Ljubisavljevic from Serbia said.
    The festival lasted four days instead of the usual two this year to commemorate the 600th anniversary since the monastery was built.
    "We're motivated (to come here) to learn how to return to our roots and live simply, like they did before electricity," said Veronique Gianerrini from France who came for the festival.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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