Every four years the small hilltop village of Saillon in Valais, Switzerland travels back in time to its medieval roots. The next show runs for five days from 9 September 2015 until Sunday 13 September 2015.
The entire town transforms into its medieval past. There are town’s folk dressed up as monks, maidens, knights, bishops and beggars. There is even a village idiot. And the acting is as amazing as the costumes – the drunken monks were especially convincing at the last performance in 2011.
Mock battles, often on horse back, archery competitions and medieval food sampling all form part of the action.
Running since 1987, this festival includes 500 street artists who stage mock fights with heavy medieval weaponry, fire arrows and chase each other around on horses.
The official website has a video showing some of the action. A town map along with the programme can be found here.
And once you have had your fill of the medieval era you can descend from the hilltop and soak in thermal hot pools at Les Bains de Saillon.
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