Medieval Day at the Bastion

On October 10, the National Museum of Lithuania’s Vilnius Defensive Wall Bastion will host “Medieval Day at the Bastion – Noble Vilnius”.

The celebration has already become a beloved autumn tradition, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in medieval Vilnius. The event will feature living history experiences, warriors’ performances, traditional crafts, medieval cuisine, music, games, jesters and historical discussions. Visitors will be invited not only to observe but also to try for themselves the activities that were part of life in old Vilnius.

PROGRAMME

TRADITIONAL CRAFTS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

See and try the crafts for which the city’s old masters were renowned:

• Drinking horns and jewellery (Evaldas Babenskas, “Pajauta”).
• Wicker weaving and “The Woven Vilnius Cup” (Valdas and Roma Šlipaičiai, “Pajauta”).
• Woodturning using a hand-operated lathe and making a wooden cup (Romas Bilinskas, “Pajauta”).
• The Old Vilnius ladle and ladle-making (Algirdas Juškevičius, “Pajauta”).
• Weaponsmithing in old Vilnius (Adomas Sviklas).
• Historical Vilnius ceramic vessels (Dovilė Narbutaitė, Vytautė Latožaitė, “Pajauta”).
• Threads Connecting Us to Medieval Vilnius (Erika Šimkūnaitė, “Varingis”).

HISTORICAL CUISINE

What did townspeople eat, and what dishes appeared on the tables of the dukes?

• Baking bread over an open fire (Judita Korsakienė).
• The kitchen of a Vilnius townsman (Edita Gilė, “Pajauta”).
• Dishes and etiquette at the Duke’s table (Edita Gilė, “Pajauta”).

ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES AND PERFORMANCES

Games, jesters and wandering musicians will keep visitors entertained in the town square:

• Jesters on stilts, the performance “Noble Vilnius” and skipping rope (“Street Theatre Vir”).
• Wandering musicians (Ensemble “Apvynys”).
• Traditional board games (Mindaugas Korsakas, “Vikingų kaimas”).
• “Don’t be a ladle, aim better!” – axe throwing.
• Noble Lady or Noble Groom – dress up in reconstructed historical clothing and take a photo in Medieval Vilnius at a special photo wall!

MEDIEVAL COMBAT AND HISTORICAL DISCUSSIONS

• Warriors’ performance and tournament (combat clubs: “Žvėris”, “Varingis”, “Mūša”, “Nalšėnai”, “Alber aus Hema”).
• Children’s combat tournament with soft weapons (combat club “Žvėris”).
• Discussion with Assoc. Prof. Dr A. Luchtan “Noble Vilnius”.
• Lecture by LNM Senior Curator Eglė Zaveckienė, “Cups, Beakers and Jugs: What Does Vilnius Urban Archaeology Tell Us About the Drinking Culture of the City’s Early Residents?”

You can follow the latest programme updates here.

It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance – ticket holders will be able to enter the celebration through a separate entrance from the Subačius Street side.

Tickets will also be available at the Bastion ticket office on the day of the event. Tickets cost €6 for adults and €3 with a discount. Admission is free for children under 7.