Fete des Remparts, Dinan, France

We had the most fabulous day today at the Fete Des Remparts. It's a medieval festival/fayre held over two days in Dinan, with markets, sword fighting, jousting, and much more besides. Intimate and involving, fantastic.

Most of the center of Dinan was closed off and had straw thrown down on the streets, a huge medieval market and four different 'worlds' showing different viewpoints, with the big attraction of jousting.

The whole medieval pageant is set in and around the castle and the walled city of Dinan giving it a real authentic flavour. One of the most refreshing things was the lack of political correctness and nanny state health and safety regulations. If you slipped in donkey muck, or walked into a camp fire with a pot of boilng soup on it, tough luck. I think this alone made it such an involving festival, you really got the feel of 'The Olden Days'.

Dressage and falconery display. The horsemanship was superb and much of the falconery was performed from horseback with the birds flying over the crowds and onto the surrounding castle walls.

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Part of an medieval encampment, with various trades displayed, such as butchery, calligraphy, cooking, etc.

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Part of the 'weapons world' was a great sword and hatchet battle, displays of various weapons and the oppertunity to have a go.

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Jousting Tournament. The big spectacular. More of a staged show than the rest, but fantastic. Displays of skill with the lance and sword then a face to face jousting battle with lances breaking and finally the 'good guy (in blue)' facing off to the 'bad guy (in black)'.

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