Kaltenberg picture gallery

Knights, jousting, fire-breathers and jesters at Europe's biggest Middle Ages festival

I've put this gallery together to give you a taste of the Kaltenberg Knights' Tournament (Kaltenberger Ritterturnier), held every July over three weekends at Kaltenberg Castle, about 55km west of Munich. It's another great reason to come and explore Bavaria in the summer.

These photos span more than a decade of the festival, from the arena show with its jousting knights and stunt riders to the Middle Ages market, the parade and the fire shows of the Gauklernacht (Jesters' Night). They're the festival's own press pictures and are used with the permission of the Kaltenberger Ritterturnier media office. Many thanks to them for having me on their press list. The photographers are credited under each picture.

For the full lowdown on visiting, including how to get there from Munich, see my Kaltenberg Knights' Tournament guide.

The arena show

The highlight of the festival is the arena show, where a team of stunt performers takes you back to the Middle Ages with jousting, sword fights and chivalry, all wrapped up in a story worthy of the Arthurian legends. The Black Knight (Schwarzer Ritter) is always the crowd favourite.

TETE-A-TETE: The Bavarian knight and the Black Knight meet in the jousting arena. Pic: Chris Gawron

FIRED UP: A fire-eater lets rip inside the arena. Pic: Chris Gawron

READY FOR BATTLE: Knights get ready to make combat. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

FIRST RIDE: A young Kaltenberg visitor takes the saddle. Pic: Chris Gawron

FULL METAL JACKET: The fighters at the Middle Ages festival are armed and ready. Pic: Chris Gawron

BARBARIAN GIRL: It's all part of the show at the knights' tournament. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

MAKING BLADES: A blacksmith forges a sword at the Kaltenberg Knights' Tournament (Kaltenberger Ritterspiele). Pic: Chris Gawron

BY THE SEAT OF HIS PANTS: The stunt riders are part of a French team called Cavalcade. Pic: Chris Gawron

THE DARK SIDE: The roguish villain, the Black Knight. Pic: Chris Gawron

YE OLDE GRANDSTAND: The crowd cheers from the "Lodge" at the Kaltenberg Arena.

RIDING HIGH: Mounted men-of-the-realm hone their skills in the Kaltenberg arena. Pic: Chris Gawron

CHARGE! A young knight-to-be in training at the medieval fest. Pic: Chris Gawron

KNIGHT BY NIGHT: An armoured knight prepares to fight. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

AND THIS ONE'S FOR MY SISTER!: The Black Knight (Schwarzer Ritter) decks the Bavarian Knight in the arena. Pic: Chris Gawron

HAIL TO THE CHIEF: The Black Knight's troops celebrate an early victory. Pic: Chris Gawron

FIRST KNIGHT: A young boy being knighted at the festival. Pic: Chris Gawron

LET'S ROLL!: Knights storm out onto the arena ready to cause trouble at Kaltenberg. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

CENTRE STAGE: The arena at the Kaltenberg Knights' Festival near Munich in Germany. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

WHAT A DRAG: A rider gets yanked along the ground after a hit in the jousting at the Ritterspiele. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

OFF WITH THEIR HEADS: The "executioner" at the Kaltenberg Knights' Festival. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

RIDE AROUND: Horsemen perform daring stunts in the arena at the Kaltenberg Knights' Tournament. Pic: Chris Gawron © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

BACK IN BLACK: The "Schwarzer Ritter" - Black Knight - aims up in the jousting arena at Kaltenberg. Pic: Roch © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

A HORSE OF COURSE: One of the magnificent steeds which grace the arena at the Kaltenberger Ritterspiele. Pic: Chris Gawron © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

TRAINED: The stunt master with one of the horses at the Kaltenberg Knights Festival. Pic: Chris Gawron © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

BAD BOY: The Black Knight is always a crowd favourite.

JOUST: The roar inside the arena is fantastic when the knights clash.

THE WRATH OF KHAN: the Mongol leader bequeaths his army to the Black Knight.

KNIGHT: Lancelot prepares to take on the Black Knight.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: The Schwarzer Ritter (Black Knight) is very much the star of the 2011 arena show.

BERSERKER BOYS: A line of Vikings show their shields in the parade at Kaltenberg.

THE HORDE: The Mongols threaten Camelot in "Die Reise ins Morgenland" (The Journey to the East).

Crack! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Sword fight! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

I hereby dub you Sir Fancy Pants. Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Take this! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Darth Neigh-der! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

On the hoof! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Side flying! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Shield Wall! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Kneel before me! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Victory! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Fire! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

It was this big! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Watch out! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

What happened? Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Drogon, fry them! Part of the arena show. Pic: Chris Roch

Dancing with fire. Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Hot! Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Come get some! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Joust! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

In the saddle. Part of the arena show. Pic: Chris Roch

Blood and fire. Part of the arena show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Hugs. Part of the arena show. Pic: Chris Roch

Ride! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Enter the arena! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Yay! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Flame rider. Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Shield Wall! Part of the arena show. Pic: Markus D

Everyone together now! Part of the arena show. Pic: Chris Roch

What a scene! Part of the arena show. Pic: Chris Roch

Around the festival

Outside the arena there's a whole medieval village to wander: market stalls, blacksmiths, musicians, jesters, belly dancers and snake charmers, plus the parade and the fireworks after dark.

FLYING: A performer at the "Gauklernacht" - Jesters' Night. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

HIS ROYAL LOWNESS: A joker leads his mini-king marionette through the grounds. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

CELTIC UNITED: A man made up as a Celtic warrior. Pic: Chris Gawron

TRADITIONALLY SCOTTISH?: Band Corvus Corax put a new slant on bagpipe music. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

BLUEBIRD: A bird-like performer pulls a curious face. Pic: Calogero Morello

PULL MY FINGER: Middle Ages men taunt each other over an arm wrestle. Pic: Chris Gawron

GOT SANDALS?: Medieval merchants at the Middle Ages market. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR: A fire-show at the Gauklernacht. Pic: Christian Roch

BEDAZZLING: A troupe of performers at the Kaltenberg Middle Ages festival near Munich. Pic: Chris Gawron

A LITTLE RAIN NEVER HURT ANYBODY: The show goes on despite the occasional downpour. Pic: Chris Gawron

THE PRINCE: The real Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, host of the festival, greets the crowd. Pic: Chris Gawron

WHAT'S SHAKIN'?: A belly-dancer at the Kaltenberg festival. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

HEAT IT UP: A Middle Ages worker at the marketplace. Pic: Marcus Hoffmann

MAKE 'EM LAUGH: A pair of jesters at the Middle Ages festival. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

SKYFIRE: The fireworks display at the Kaltenberg festival. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

SNAKES ALIVE: A snake dancer at the Kaltenberg festival. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

FAIR MAIDEN: A Middle Ages damsel at the Kaltenberg fest. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

LIGHT MY FIRE: A fire breather heats things up during the parade at Kaltenberg. Pic: Calogero Morello © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

ME AND MY DRUM: A medieval musician at the Kaltenberg festival. Pic: Chris Gawron © Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

RIDING HIGH: A camel girl takes part in the the Kaltenberg parade.

TREE ME: A tree-lady creature at the Middle Ages festival.

LEAD ON: A jester leads the Kaltenberg parade.

ONE HUMP OR TWO? That's me at Kaltenberg, admiring the camels. Or are they dromedaries?

More flames. A musician. Pic: Markus D

Twirl! Dancers. Pic: Chris Roch

Sing it! Part of the show. Pic: Chris Roch

Concert. Part of the fun. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

Snakes alive! Part of the show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

We love fire! Part of the show. Pic: Markus D

Look at me! Part of the show. Pic: Markus D

Juggle. Part of the show. Pic: Chris Roch

We sing for you. Part of the show. Pic: Bernd Reinthaler

My own snaps

And finally a few of my own, taken on the opening weekend of the festival a few years back. Another great day out.

MEINE DAMEN UND HERREN: Noble lords and ladies at the Kaltenberger Ritterspiele. Pic: Stuart Anderson

ON A ROLL: A troupe of drummers march their way through the Kaltenberg grounds. Pic: Stuart Anderson

PROTECTED: These men-at-arms wear full suits of armour in the parade at the Kaltenberg Knights' Tournament. Pic: Stuart Anderson

DIFFERENT: The performers from bagpipe band Corvus Corax put a new spin on the traditional instruments. Pic: Stuart Anderson

HO-HUM: This performer looks like he's equipped with one of the first pairs of plastic spectacles. Pic: Stuart Anderson

KING AT HIS FEET: A performer with his regal puppet. Pic: Stuart Anderson

TAKE HER AWAY!: A couple of Morris dancers escorting a fair maiden in the parade at Kaltenberg. Pic: Stuart Anderson

GIVES A HOOT: An owl at the Middle Ages market at the Kaltenberg knights' festival. Pic: Stuart Anderson

DAT BOY AIN'T RIGHT: A jester hams it up before the main show in the Kaltenberg Arena. Pic: Stuart Anderson

MARRY ME!: This guy seemed to be making love declarations to particular women in the arena audience. Pic: Stuart Anderson

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