Fête médiévale

This weekend the commanderie d’Avalleur was hosting a medieval fete. It is such a stunning setting to be able to use, and a great opportunity to get to discover more around the knights Templar.

They have been renovating the site for a few years, and have almost completed the work to the main building, which was used as a stables and boarding house, and was equipped with a hospital room. The stonework and carpentry work are excellent, and the care they are taking on the renovation really shines through.

We also got to have a look in the chapel, where some of the role-players were chatting. It was great to see so many of the supporters dressed up in the clothing typical of the order.

The chapel is built in a recognised style for the Templars at the time, and the work there has protected some original paintwork from the 12th century, that clearly marks these out as Templar buildings – if you know what you are looking for.

For the fete they had erected a tented area outside, that reflected a typical encampment for the Templars when they were on the move.

Here they displayed various weapons and armour. They had also taken time to dress the insides of the tents so you could see, and get the feel of, what it would have been like for the Templars during their crusades.

There were also some people dressed as peasants tending to a flock of geese that waddled through the encampment, and a couple of hairy cattle that were loving all the attention they were getting.