GNIEW CASTLE, JUNE 28 A.D. 2025, 7:30 PM
"Knights of Gniew" are once again preparing for battles at the Tournament Arena of Gniew Castle. They have repeatedly won tournament champion titles in Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the USA, and Canada. The best knights from three continents clashed lances at the Tournament Arena of Gniew Castle.
King John III's Knight Tournament refers to the best patterns of knightly games set in the realities of the second half of the 15th century, when they accompanied and honored the most important events at European royal and princely courts: baptisms of descendants, weddings, or monarch meetings. They were an expression of court culture, popularized the chivalric ethos, and allowed participants to achieve fame, prestige, and wealth. They were also attractive recreational and sports events, stirring emotions among the nobility, townspeople, and common folk alike. Over time, they became real open-air spectacles enriched with musical and theatrical settings.
King John III's Knight Tournament will be played at the Tournament Arena located in the southern bailey of Gniew Castle, dominated by the southern wing of Gniew Castle, the largest 13th-century Teutonic fortress built on the left bank of the Vistula River.
The warming up of horses, knights, and spectators will be provided by equestrian "skill races" using lance, sword, and spear. Here, knights demonstrate their horsemanship and weapon handling skills to the tournament guests.
Another competition in which the "Knights of Gniew" participate is a team tournament chase called "meleé", involving mounted combat in full armor using wooden tournament maces.
The main competition of the Tournament is the "lance chase" (English: joust), which consists of hitting the opponent with a lance to break it or unseat the mounted opponent protected by full plate armor, approaching from the opposite side of the barrier.
OPENING CEREMONY AND PRESENTATION OF THE KNIGHTS OF GNIEW
SKILL RACES - equestrian skill races
with sword, spear, and lance
MELEĖ – knightly mounted tournament game with maces
TOURNAMENT CHASES OF THE KNIGHTS OF GNIEW- competition of mounted knights in armor aiming to break lances and unseat opponents
Ticketed event:
Regular ticket – 30 PLN
Reduced ticket – 20 PLN
