We
have seen a lot of Vikings on the trip, so we decided that it was time to jump
forward a few hundred years to the Middle Ages. Middeladercentret consists of a
replica Middle Ages village with many people living in the period. They take
great care that everything is as authentic as possible including the buildings,
boats, trades and the villagers. We chatted with many of the occupants and they
were always in their role talking about their life and the work that they did.
I talked to one of the men in a building that turned out to be the kitchen of
the rich merchant’s house (he was also the mayor). He said that the merchant
had the kitchen built as a separate building because of the fire risk. He told
me that a few years ago they had a small hole in the chimney and the thatch had
caught fire. They managed to put out the fire and the thatch had to be replace
but the merchant’s house was unaffected.
Highlights
of the day included the firing of two trebuchets, very impressive siege weapons,
the largest of which had a potential range of over half a kilometre, well out
of bow range of the sieged town. We watched the trebuchets being loaded and
then the large boulders being thrown well out into the lake. Quite a sight!
If
it is the Middle Ages, you must have knights, and they did. A tournament was
staged with the knights showing their skills first before a jousting
competition. It was all impressive and great fun – the audience loved it.
In
the forest there was a display of technological developments made in the Middle
Ages with lots of opportunities for children (of all ages) to get involved. The
archery was also great fun and, fortunately, not restricted to children.
Photos:
We were welcomed with bagpipes; I had to have a go at the archery; The large
trebuchet uses man-power in the wheels to wind up the weight and bring down the
boom; The yellow knight puts on his helmet and shield; Facing up for the joust;
The noble loser leaves the arena with his pride intact – we thought that he
looked more like a Viking!; The merchant’s house and harbour with three of
their four boats; The expert weaver with two learners looking on.
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