Jousting Tournament in Kaltenberg

On July weekends, Prince Luitpold of Bavaria hosts the world’s largest jousting tournament at Kaltenberg, not far from Munich (München), Augsburg, or Landsberg am Lech in Bavaria, Southern Germany. The popular jousting tournament involves knights in medieval armor, trick riders, medieval-themed shows and performers, as well as a medieval parade and market.

The Kaltenberger Ritterturnier Knights’ Tournament in Germany

Although promoted as the largest jousting tournament of modern times, the Kaltenberg Knights’ Tournament is more than just jousting – it is also a medieval market with extravagant shows. These oft spectacular shows are sometimes criticized for making the event more show than medieval jousting tournament but clearly contributes to the popularity of this “medieval” extravaganza.

The three elements of the Kaltenberg Knights’ Tournament are:

1. the Ritterturnier (Knights Tournament) with jousting (Tjoste) and trick riding in the lists,
2. the Mittelaltermarkt (Medieval Market) with around 100 stands selling medieval-look items and / or demonstrating crafts and arts, and
3. the Rahmenprogram (Side Shows) with around 1,000 artists performing medieval music and other entertainment in the streets and on eight dedicated stages.

The Rittertournier (Jousting Tournament) at Kaltenberg

The highlight of any visit to the Kaltenberger Ritterturnier is the jousting tournament staged daily in the lists – the evening shows are the more spectacular. Around 10 equestrian knights in armor participate in the jousting tournament in which according to modern rules a splintered lance determines the winner. Unseating an opponent gives no additional points and is generally avoided.

The show in the main arena takes about two hours. Although the jousting is the undisputed highlight, further entertainment is provided including trick riding and a parade by around a hundred knights in medieval armor.

The Mittelaltermarkt (Medieval Market) at the Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

The Mittelaltermarkt (Medieval Market) operates for up to eight hours per day. At around 100 stands, medieval-influenced items are sold. Numerous artists also demonstrate arts and crafts associated with the Middle Ages. Four restaurants are available on the premises with many more stands selling drinks and snacks.

• Only items approved by Prince Luitpold may be sold at the Medieval Market – no plastic items (or electronics for that matter) are permitted.

The Rahmenprogramm (Side Shows)

At the Kaltenberger Ritterturnier, the sideshows are spectacles in their own right. Around a thousand performers are active for up to seven hours per day on eight different stages with further performances in the streets and on street corners.

• A photogenic highlight is the Umzug (Big Parade) with a thousand participants in medieval clothes and costumes.

The Kaltenberg Ritterturnier is not a true representation of a medieval jousting tournament or life in the middle ages but it does come close to showing the romantic idealized notion many modern-day travelers have of what was in reality a fairly unpleasant couple of centuries – plague, wars, hunger, and feudal slavery are notably absent from Kaltenberg.

• See Kaltenberg Knights’ Tournament for practical information including dates, opening hours, transportation, and ticket reservations.

Knight at Kaltenberg Jousting Tournament

Jousting (Tjoste) at Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

Panorama of the Lists at Kaltenberg

Jousting at Kaltenberger Ritterturnier

Medieval Market Stand at Kaltenberg

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