Eggenburg medieval festival draws 30,000 visitors over two days

About 30,000 people attended Eggenburg’s medieval festival over the weekend, according to ORF, with music, mock battles and traditional crafts recreating life in the Middle Ages.

The event, held for the 32nd time in Eggenburg in the Horn district, brought together knights, castle maidens and entertainers on Saturday and Sunday. With around 30,000 guests over the two days, it is one of Austria’s largest medieval festivals.

More than 200 market stalls, knightly tournaments, mock battles, and music and dance performances offered visitors an immersive experience. “You really feel transported back to the Middle Ages, also because all the streets and alleyways are decorated,” visitor Susanne Domes from Eggenburg told ORF.

The event’s appeal extends to children as well as adults. Ten-year-old Caroline Dibowski-Lunger said the absence of cars and the temporary retreat from modern technology helped create the feeling of travelling back in time.

Organiser Regine Willenig said traffic signs were covered to remove reminders of the 21st century. “Everything that is a little reminiscent of modern times should move into the background,” she said.

Medieval clothing also contributed to the atmosphere. Josef Linhart from Klosterneuburg attended as a knight and said people were treated equally once they were dressed in period clothing, regardless of their profession.

For some visitors, the clothing was the main attraction; for others, it was the music or the crafts. Eggenburg’s old town served as the setting for the two-day journey into the past.