Terra de Trobadors Festival 2011
Would you like to travel back in time? Do you know what life was like in the medieval times, to attend a knights joust or listen to the languid notes of a minstrel? Then, between the 9th and 11th of September you have to pay a visit to Castelló d’Empúries town.
Right in the heart of the Costa Brava, Castelló d’Empúries town is returning again this year to its medieval splendour, when it was the capital of the area. Today, the monumental heritage of the time still remains including the cathedral, the medieval prison, the curia, the convents, the walls, the Gallarda Gate and the synagogues, etc.
The Terra de Trobadors festival is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. Every year there is a different theme, with an Earl and a precise date when all the festival activities are celebrated. This time, it’s the Jews turn who lived with Christians and Muslims during medieval times, and formed a very important community within Castelló d’Empúries. The festival will be set in the time of Infante Pedro de Aragón, the Earl of Empúries from 1325 to 1341, great diplomat and lover of poetry and minstrels.
The party kicks off at nightfall with a parade. Later a meal will take place in honour of the Earls, where it is obligatory to dress up in medieval attire if you want to try dishes made from medieval recipes, washed down with a good wine and accompanied by various performances.
Also lined up in the festival programme are various outdoor shows with professional musicians and actors on the streets of the town: theatre, dance, minstrels and jugglers, craftwork demonstrations, old and medieval music concerts, falconry, street bands and giant figures, etc. There is of course a medieval market, knights tournaments and jousts, exhibitions and guided tours around the town.
In this edition of the festival you will also be able to attend the staging of a Jewish wedding and become one of the guests. In addition, you can carry out a dramatised visit around the Jewish district and discover some of the people that lived in the town during medieval times.
While we’re waiting for more information on this year’s programme, check out this video with highlights of previous year’s editions of the event. Make sure you don’t miss out!
Laura - Marketing Team