Medieval Market of Turku

The Medieval Market of Turku (Finnish: Turun keskiaikaiset markkinat, Swedish: Åbo medeltidsmarknad) is an annual historical reenactment event organised in the historic city centre of Turku, Finland.[3] Admission to the event is free.[4] In addition to living history performances, it includes an open-air handicrafts market with vendors and even visitors garbed in period costume. The main market is at the Old Great Square[3] (one of the city's oldest market squares), but there are other performances and exhibitions at Turku Castle, Turku Cathedral and at the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova Museum.[1][5] Together these different performances and exhibitions form the Medieval Turku event, which is organized in unison by Turun Suurtorin keskiaika ry, the Museum Centre of Turku, the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova museum, Rohan Stables and Turku and Kaarina Parish Union.[5] These areas are closed to traffic during the event.[6]

Turku Medieval Market
Turun keskiaikaiset markkinat
Medieval Market of Turku logo
Booths at the Turku Medieval Market
StatusActive
GenreHistorical reenactment event
Date(s)From the end of June to the beginning of July
FrequencyAnnually
VenueOld Great Square
Location(s)Turku
Coordinates60°27′3″N 22°16′33″E
CountryFinland
Years active27[1]
InauguratedJune 30, 1996 (1996-06-30)[1]
Previous event2022
Next event2023
Participants180 000 (2015) [2]
Organised byTurun Suurtorin keskiaika ry
WebsiteOfficial web page

History

The event, held in late June, has been organized since 1996, and is constantly growing in popularity. In 2005, it drew in approximately 100,000 visitors, and employed over 100 voluntary and professional actors and actresses.

The Town Market of the Hanseatic merchant, "Laurentius" was organized by the Aboa Vetus & Ars Nova Museum till 2013. Since then, the museum has focused on presenting medieval times through guided tours, lectures and archeological digs.[7]

More recently, the visitor amounts of the market have climbed to 180,000, and they now compete with the most popular summertime events in Finland, such as Ruisrock (93,000 visitors) or Pori Jazz (150,000 visitors).[2][4]

This market went virtual in 2020.

  • Rope twisting 2005
    Rope twisting 2005
  • Voluntary actor as a soldier 2005
    Voluntary actor as a soldier 2005
  • Voluntary actors as members of the bourgeois 2005
    Voluntary actors as members of the bourgeois 2005
  • Handicrafts 2005
    Handicrafts 2005
  • Turku Medieval Market 2006
    Turku Medieval Market 2006
  • Market visitors 2012
    Market visitors 2012
  • Animal skulls 2015
    Animal skulls 2015
  • Acrobatic show 2015
    Acrobatic show 2015
  • Medieval band 2015
    Medieval band 2015
  • Sahti brewing 2015
    Sahti brewing 2015

See also

Notes
  1. City of Turku news Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  2. YLE news article Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  3. Medieval Market at Turku Archived 2013-04-19 at archive.today.
  4. Turkulainen news article Retrieved 2017-02-05.
  5. Medieval Turku info
  6. Market Place
  7. Medieval Turku 26.–29.6.2014
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