What was life like in medieval times – what did people do, what games did they play, what did they wear, and how did knights fight? People from Zenica, along with guests from other cities, found answers to these questions at Vranduk Fortress, where, for one day, they traveled back in time and experienced the past.
The Vranduk Fortress near Zenica was transformed into an authentic medieval stage. Visitors had the chance to journey back centuries to an era of swords, shields, and distinctive medieval clothing.
“The medieval traditional wear, which is almost the same everywhere, came from Europe. The boots are traditional and similar everywhere; tights, shirt, tunic, cape, and a bag for knights are the basic elements of medieval clothing. Wealthier knights wore metal armor,” said Anđelko Bajić from the Association of “Jajački vitezovi” (Knights from Jajce).
The authentic atmosphere inspired many people to experience aspects of everyday life – from old games such as tug of war to archery.
“I came here because there are rarely opportunities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to wear something from fantasy works, especially cosplay. It was great to come somewhere where others dress like that, so I came for fun to experience different things, mostly because of the atmosphere,” said Lara CatrinLašić Thomas, a visitor.
The sounds from ancient times helped visitors experience Bosnia as it was centuries ago.
“Fugato Ensemble has been nurturing and performing medieval music for years, and since we are the only ensemble of this kind in our area, we are particularly important in this field, as performing medieval music contributes to the cultural life of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
“The goal is to socialize and nurture traditions, which is why it is important not to neglect the flute,” said Ivica Čerkez, a participant from Vitez.
In medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Vranduk fortress was first Bosnian, then a royal city. Here, Bosnian rulers received delegations, signed important documents, and made key decisions, which is why this site holds special historical significance.
Although it is ancient history, entering the magical world of knights, flutes, and games of medieval Bosnia, even for one day, was very interesting.
