Medieval World is a theme park of the Middle Ages, build around the Holy Lands of Templar Arn, situated at Götene in Sweden. In full scale it takes you directly into the medieval adventures and Arn’s daily life. After the recordings of the Arn films (The Knight Templar), the Municipality bought the scenes for a park, where you travel back to a vivid historical setting with knights and jesters, jousting and archery, medieval food and crafts:
The Knight Templar (Crusades trilogy) is a series of books about the fictional character of Arn Magnusson, written by Jan Guillou, Sweden. Arn was born in 1150 and at the age of 5, he had an accident and was believed to be saved thanks to his mother’s prayers to Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and sent to a monastery where he spent the next twelve years of his life.
He met brother Guilbert, a former Knight Templar, who instructed him in the use of the sword and the art of medieval war in the Holy Lands. The Prior of the convent, Father Henri, told Arn to witness for himself the outside world, and only after that would he be able to take the eternal vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Arn did so, but fell into the terrible sin of having sexual intercourse with two sisters before marriage. One of these women, Katarina, gave this fact away, and he was doomed to spend 20 years in the Holy Lands, as a Knight Templar.
What I liked the most about this park was the involvement and participation; it felt like being in the Medieval World and taking part in the daily life. We where there a whole day and I had my Nokia N82 at hand, so I can invite you along:
Left: Make your sword & shield – Right: Eating at the open hearth
Left: Throw the axe – Right: bow & arrow
You may see all the pics at my Flickr account – here is a collection:
There were Medivial adventures all around – even music from that time. Mr. Detlev Briese and his fellow troubadours in Rommelpot let me record this with my mobile phone:
The entire family, plus one extra boy, was along for the trip and it was a great hit with everyone. We all really enjoyed the opportunity to try medieval weapons like shooting the bow and arrow and axe throwing! We could go in the houses and pick up and examine all the artefacts, we could also try on the clothes – everything was open to try out. We also practiced walking on stilts and we ate some old time candies. I think having an active adventure with the kids gives a special feeling to the day, and sharing history with them is the top of the cream! Hope you enjoy it too!
I like the picture of you on the throne! Fabulous!!!
This looks like a lot of fun for the whole family. Too bad you didn’t try your hand at jousting. That would have made a nice video clip.
Looks like fun :) even though I’m not good at it, I really like shooting a bow and arrow.
Very nice pictures Renny.
Hugs
Maria
What,
will I see you as Renny the Bold next time. LOL.
Excellent documentary from a Park I have not heard about. It’s fascinating.
You know, last weekend we went a bit longer, which will be posted in between during the weeks to come.
Many hugs to both of you from
Marjolein and Wim
Hope you are in good shape.
btw. I had to go back to the ABC this weekend – and posted V-W-X-Y-Z and Æ. Hm – Æ in English?
That looks like fun Renny. I think we have something like that here in Norway. I just forgot where. I always want to go on themed areas like that and experience the feeling of going back in time.
I haven’t heard of a medieval theme park before. We do have several quite enthusiastic groups who re-enact various happenings in the past – usually battles I suppose. The theme park would be more fun, being able to join in. And a great way for young people to absorb some history without noticing! :)
The Knights Templar have always fascinated me with their searches for the Holy Grail and the way they have almost become a secret society from the past.
Great post, Renny, and a fascinating subject. Thanks for the very interesting photos, too.
We have a couple festivals like this but I’ve never checked it out, though I keep meaning to.
Hey Renny,
So, Arn fell for two women, eh? *nodding*…poor guy.
Now, I do love this type of event for I like going back in time and picture how things were. At the same time these historical parks teach us how much we have evolved yet (at the same time) how much we have regressed as well…
Renny, tell us…how good were you at throwing the arrow? Did you hit the target? :)
Gorgeous medieval music (have I told you that I simply love this kind of music?)!!! Thanks for sharing, mate :D!
I did enjoy this virtual trip, thank you so much for the invitation, my friend :D!
Have a blessed week ahead!
Cheers
RennyBA
The arrow hit the target….. a couple of times – I must admit I was better when younger :lol:
What a nice middle age adventure you had! I would want to be there dressed with middle age clothes, hearing music and partipate to the daily life as you did!
It is kind of unique, I never heard of such a theme park! Certainly not in North America :lol:
That said, the Middle Ages is such a dark period, I’m not sure it would be my favorite place to go back in time.
I hope nobody got hurt! :-)
My eldest daughter is into medieval re-enactment and attended a festival outside Gothenburg at about the same time, but I think that was a different one.
How fun. Hubby and I would have enjoyed this too. I loved the music too.
Have a terrific day. Big hug to you and Diane. :)
looks like a very exciting adventure Renny..
thanks goodness you can still find chivalry and romance in our modern times…
wonderful photos :)
Wow that is a way cool theme park so unique. I’d love to go there if given a chance. Have great week my friend!
By the way, I have a new domain. I hope you can change my URL in you blogroll. Thanks in advance :)
Looks like fun… no picture of you as a Knight !??
RennyBA
If you look at the slide show from Flickr, there is a few Sidney ;-)
Reminds me of the jousting at the wedding I attended recently – what fun! You make a great knight, Sir Renny!
I have so enjoyed reading about your travels and the blog gathering. As usual you have taken great photographs to share.
Love that – I want to take the boys there! They’d have a blast…..
I like that it’s so interactive, how cool! Great photos and videos of it all… I can’t pin point where I have seen something like this before… I think it was in Switzerland actually..
By the way – Wishing you a wonderful week. I have finally posted a lot of photos from my parents trip! Yeah! We have finally moved, no time to open up everything.
I adore archery but I’ve never tried axe throwing, something tells me it’ll be awesome!
All three of my girls took this Medevil in middle school, it was fun designing the dresses and such, thanks for stopping by.
These Medieval Fairs seem to be a very popular thing throughout Europe and Scandinavia…..I can see how it would be fun and also a real learning tool for everyone–I mean, how many of us really know about this period in time?
Great pictures Renny….And that Video of the people playing was very interesting. I wondered what that one instrument was–the one the man was cranking…!
RennyBA
I do agree – we learned a lot!
Glad you liked the music too. Sorry I don’t know the name of the instrument; kind of a violin with keys.
I participated at this kind of event, and I’ve to admit that was very interesting.
I would love to try those medieval weapons too!! They look awesome!
wow! i like to experience that. and most of all i’d like to meet king arthur
Wow! This is just a no ordinary theme park. I can’t imagine myself to immersed in a real scenario of the medieval times. I’d like to be here someday…
Nice pictures. thanks for sharing it.
Yes, it’ a great place to experience some medieval life. So, have you seen the movie Arn, part 1 & 2? It’s a really great movie. We really liked it. The first one ended in a way making you wanna see the second one at once!
looks like amazing fun.
This reminds me of the Renaissance Fair we have here in Atlanta every year, Renny, as well as the Medieval Times experience that incorporates a show as well as medieval eating. I love stuff like this, especially when we can take g’son Nicholas!
The medieval theme and activities must be fun and interesting.
Hey, It is great to stumble upon a good blog like this one. Would you mind if I used some of your information, and I’ll leave a link back to you?