Gotland Medieval Week, Sweden

Horseback charges with gleaming lances, traditional dances and history combine every August as the Scandinavians go back to Visby in the 14th century.

Jousting at the Gotland Medieval Week in Gotland, Sweden

Modern sport can throw of some epic contests of spectacular brutality and confrontation. Rugby Union is a classic example, with two sides going head to head in gruesome rucks and mauls in a battle for superiority. Then there’s cricket, with a lethal fast bowler firing down bouncers at over 90 miles an hour as the batsman stoically waits to fend off the missiles and dispatch them to the boundary.

Similar confrontations take place in football, American football, rugby league and even pelota, but they all go back to one thing – jousting. And no matter how many times you see two actors charging at each other on horseback in the name of olde worlde entertainment, there’s still something rather impressive about when those lances clang against the shields.

Well, if you want to see some good, old-fashioned jousting, then one of the best places in the world to do it is Gotland in Sweden, which hosts Gotland Medieval Week every August.

Gotland Medieval Week is basically an excuse to go back in time, dress in ridiculous period costume listen to 14th century music and perform traditional dances.

The event commemorates the battle against Danish invaders in Visby, way back in the 14th century, but once you’ve had your history fix it’s time for the knights in shining armour charging away on their trusty steeds.

The competition between the ‘knights’ is actually quite fierce, and the fire-eating jugglers will usually put down their clubs and firesticks while the real entertainment is going on.