The walls of the Genoese fortress annually host the international festival "Genoese helmet", in which lovers of historical reconstruction and fencing take part.
The festival was first held in 2001, and became very popular. For many Crimeans and guests of the Peninsula, Sudak is associated with the festival and attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually. More than 300 clubs and about 850 knights from various countries gather here for a grand holiday in scale. For 17 years, the "Genoese helmet " was among the five best festivals in Eastern Europe and the CIS. The festival takes place from late July to mid-August.
Festival participants
As already mentioned, clubs engaged in fencing and historical reconstruction and independent knights take part in the Genoese Helmet knight festival. Each of them thoroughly studies weapons, armor, military art and the traditions of the Middle Ages. And every costume presented here is a historical evidence of an era.
By the way, the festival organizers have very strict requirements for costumes and armor: knights with torn, rusty or inappropriate historical period uniforms are not allowed at the festival and the fortress territory. Those participants who were lucky to pass the test are allowed to live in it, but provided that their tents correspond, in appearance, to the medieval period.
Description
Sudak was not chosen by chance for the chivalry festival “Genoese Helmet”. The fact is that this is one of the oldest cities in Crimea and Europe - the city turned 1800 years old in 2012. Sudak fortress adorning this city, as if created for the named event: picturesque nature, preserved fortifications, the sea, the history of the fortress itself.
For centuries, the walls of the fortress served their inhabitants faithfully. But in the modern era, for a long time, it became only a historical object, the peace of which was violated only by sightseeing groups and research expeditions.
But now, since 2001, the fortress has come to life every summer: the clang of swords and gunshots are heard here, flags of knightly orders fly over medieval walls, horses hooves clatter on the ancient pavements, measured blows of the blacksmith’s hammer are heard. At dawn, like many centuries ago, the fortress wakes up from the screams of merchants, the fortress gates swing open, and the guard lets everyone come to revive Sughdea - this is how the festival opens.
Festival participants take up arms, put on armor and a burgut begins (theatrical knightly battle). Two medieval troops converge in the walls of the fortification, crossbow bolts and arrows fly. Then artillery enters the battle, after which the squads converge in hand-to-hand combat.
Knightly tournaments, storming the fortress, moans of the vanquished and the cheers of the winners - everything here is for real.
Visitors to the fortress are plunged into a unique atmosphere - they can try on costumes, take part in knightly fun, learn blacksmithing or pottery, in general, become part of the action that takes place here.
Festival program
The festival program is always full of various events and colorful spectacles. The festival opens with a parade in which all residents of the medieval town take part. Every day they are waiting for burguts, knightly tournaments, performances of troubadours and dancers, medieval entertainment, a competition of armor and costumes.
Acrobats and puppet theaters arrange performances for kids.
The territory of the medieval fortress becomes an area combining the present and the past.
Fair
On the territory of ancient streets, during the festival "Genoese Helmet", an exhibition-fair of folk crafts is organized. Masters from various countries come here to present their creations to the audience.
Here are presented such types of arts as weaving, weaving, pottery, embroidery, blacksmithing, soap making, spinning, chasing, knitting and leather manufacturing. Masters organize workshops right on the street for everyone, can talk about how their products were created. Here you can buy ready-made, hand-made dishes, unique decorations, musical instruments, toys and other souvenirs.
At the fair you can try porridge cooked at the stake, mead and bread prepared according to old recipes, candies and gingerbread cookies.
How to get there
The festival "Genoese Helmet" takes place in Sudak (Crimea) on the territory of the Genoese fortress. Sudak is located about 110 km from the city of Simferopol.
From Simferopol airport you need to get to the Central bus station of Simferopol, bus number 98, 115, trolley bus number 9. To do this, purchase a ticket to the city of Sudak at the ticket office's ticket office.
From the port “Crimea” of the Kerch crossing you can get to Sudak by bus Kerch-Sudak.
From Sudak bus station you need to take the route Dachnoe - Cozy.