On the 20th of April, the National Museum of Lithuania invites you to experience living history in the bastion of the Vilnius defensive wall, where the historical European martial arts tournament-festival “The Sword of Alber” will take place. You will be transported back to the Middle Ages when you visit Lithuania’s largest all-day event of Historical European Martial Arts. Here, in a unique part of the National Museum of Lithuania, a medieval town will come to life, where weapons will clang, songs will be sung, you will be able to taste the delicacies of the feast, watch duels, learn the subtleties of martial arts and learn ancient dances. All visitors are also invited to free guided tours of the Bastion. 

Interesting duels await as well as a cabbage chopping event 

During the day-long tournament, Lithuania’s most talented fencers will test their skills in duels and compete for the top prize. Modern armour will allow the fighters to score points using unarmoured fighting techniques that would result in injury or even death in a real duel. Visitors to the Vilnius Defence Wall Bastion will be able to watch fights in four categories – long sword, sword and buckler, sword and a separate women’s category. The long sword category will be an intriguing battle, where the men will be challenged Argentine-born Lithuanian, Daina Juana Gariboldi. 

The programme also includes a cabbage-chopping demonstration, which is usually the most popular spectacle. As well as witnessing the sharpness of real swords, there will be the opportunity to hear stories about the different types of weapons, their blades and evolution. 

Lots of entertainment at the day-long festival 

Visitors to the event will be welcomed by historical fencing clubs, who will introduce their activities, explain the rules and peculiarities of the fights, and allow you to see accurate reproductions of historical weapons up close. Festival guests will also be able to buy their first sword. Those who wish will be able to try out the sword and learn the basics of martial arts together with the volunteers of the club “Alber aus VU” of Vilnius University. 

There will also be lectures, free tours of the bastion, an opportunity to try your hand at soft weapons, intriguing ancient games, a fair and special snacks. And the wandering dancers “Saltare la lavanda” and the musicians of “Hansanova” will entertain visitors not only throughout the day, but will also organize a special performance in honor of the tournament winners. “Hansanova” is a family ensemble armed with authentic musical instruments, combining motifs of neo-medieval, fantasy, Celtic and Lithuanian folk music in its work. The founder of the group is the famous Lithuanian rock musician, producer, YouTuber Giedrius Balčiūnas Mr. Jumbo.

Hungry guests will be invited to taste medieval dishes prepared by the “Kunigaikščio svita” and listen to stories about the various intricacies of medieval cuisine. 

Organisers of the festival: HEMA club “Alber aus VU/Memel”, Historical Fencing Association “HEMA LT”, Lithuanian National Museum. Partners and sponsors of the event: Vilnius University, “Kunigaikščio svita”, “Vytis Historical Fencing”, “SPES Histfenc”, “Baltic Leather”, “Rimti žygiai”, “Ugniavijas” and others. 

Entrance price for spectators is the museum entrance ticket. Tickets can be purchased online: click here. 

For more information: click here.