9th Edition of Medieval Tarnovgrad International Festival of Historical Reenactments Takes Place in Veliko Tarnovo

Jerusalem, 10 June, 2024 (TPS) -- VELIKO TARNOVO, CENTRAL BULGARIA, (BTA)
Nearly 200 reenactors from 9 countries participated in the 9th edition of the Medieval Tarnovgrad International Festival of Historical Reenactments at Tsarevets Fortress in Veliko Tarnovo on June 7 to June 9.

Participants reenacted war games and presented everyday life, cuisine, crafts, arts and fashion during the Middle Ages in Bulgaria, Byzantium and Europe. Visitors could see old crafts such as calligraphy, icon painting, candle making, coin minting, paper making, leather processing, pottery, blacksmithing practices, jewelry and weapon making, as well as extraction of aromatic oils.

The festival was opened by Deputy Mayor Neiko Genchev, who emphasized that this event shows what cultural tourism is and what potential it has, especially in a place like Tsarevets, where every stone tells a story. “Through this festival, the fortress comes alive and visitors relive the past and become part of it”, said Genchev. The event was created on the initiative of Mayor Daniel Panov.

The festival was also attended by entire families of reenactors. Marieta Todorova and her husband Todor showed a set of Viking clothing that they themselves had made, as Vikings resided Bulgarian lands in the 9th-10th centuries. Iliyan and Tomislava Laskovi recreated the atmosphere from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and showed how different leather products were made and decorated in Tsarevets.

Nadezhda Nikolova from Shumen presented mosaics in the Hellenistic style, which she has been making for over 20 years. According to her such mosaics were made in ancient times, but because their production was very difficult and slow, and their price was high, they were replaced by Roman ones, which were much cheaper. Making the mosaics takes Nadezhda 6 to 8 months, she said. Anna Spasova, who is engaged in making ceramics, showed its development during different historical periods, making a presentation of the craft, the centuries-old technology which has not changed over the years. The crafting technique is difficult and is not only a craft, but also requires artistic skills, she said.