Knight Fest in Mstislavl

How the festival goes

The main performances take place on the Castle Mountain. It is a high man-made mound. Before that, there was a castle on the hill, which was burned by enemies. Currently excavations are being conducted there, revealing various artifacts, but it is almost impossible to get close to them.

At the very top of the mountain there are a platform where the concert program takes place, a stage where medieval music is constantly played, a wooden castle that is burned at the end.

Preparation

Battles between archers, swordsmen and horsemen are planned in advance. Participants usually do everything by themselves: sew a tent, cook their own food, make their own costumes, and train throughout the year. There are also people from certain professions, such as salesmen. However, they have to be dressed in the style of the Middle Ages, of course.

What is included in the festival?

The festival combines a display of traditional costumes, cooking and tasting of authentic cuisine, performances of street and professional theaters, a concert program with medieval music and dancing, fire shows, performances and competitions among knights on horseback, archery tournaments. In short, it is a real holiday aimed at immersing people in the Middle Ages.

Tips for guests

• The earlier you plan a trip, the better.
• Try to find an overnight stay in Mstislavl.
• If possible, take a tent with you.
• Arrive at the festival early in the morning, so you have a chance to find a parking space.
• Think carefully what events you would like to attend, as they are scattered all over the city.
• It is better to come to the Castle Mountain with food and drinks.
• There are no storage lockers, so it is better to take only the essentials.

When you come to Mstislavl for the festival, do not forget to plunge into the culture of the city itself:

Traditions and customs of Mstislavl

Each city has its own features. For example, in Mstislavl they cook draniki, pancakes with machanka, rabbit in wine, cold beet soup, kvass, fruit liqueur, mead, bread vodka, herbal teas with particular soulfulness and care. These dishes are served not only in local restaurants and cafes, but also in rural farmsteads, where you can stay overnight. Besides, Mstislavl is famous for its bathing rituals. Here people prefer apitherapy procedures, during which they use honey cosmetics, and after the bath they like to sit outside and sing songs to the accordion.

What to see in Mstislavl?

Since it is a city of cultural and archaeological discoveries, the main attractions are closely related to them. We recommend to find two unusual monuments dedicated to the famous book printer of our country, Peter Mstislavets. Next, you can drink water from the Kahal (“community”) well, which is located in the iconic place — the Castle Mountain. Then you can visit the Treasury building and a shopping gallery. Do not forget about the pride of Mstislavl — the Mstislavl Historical and Archaeological Museum and the Literary Museum of Maxim Goretsky, known as the Belarusian Remarque.

Religion and Mstislavl

 The city has a large number of shrines and churches, and since many of them are monuments of architecture and art, everyone should visit them. The most famous are the Holy Trinity Church, the Holy Transfiguration Church, the Church of the Tupichev Icon of the Mother of God, the Carmelite Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God, the Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral, the Desert Assumption Monastery, the preserved fragments of the Tupichev Monastery. 

You will definitely enjoy and remember a lot at the festival, so be sure to come! And even if you do not particularly like the medieval theme, Mstislavl will surely please you with the contrast and picturesque views!