Every year for more than 10 years in the middle of summer the picturesque and perfectly preserved Sudak fortress as if again begins to live the life that boiled here centuries ago. Everywhere you can see knights and beautiful ladies, battles and tournaments — all this is an international knight festival «Ganuez Slam», annually gathering in Sudak fans of antiquity and medieval romance.
Held for the first time in 2001 festival «Genoese Helmet» for several years has earned the status of one of the most iconic and attended events in the Crimea. Participants and spectators of the festival as if transported back in time, the former — to feel, and the latter — to observe how and what lived people who inhabited these places in the Middle Ages.
Large-scale staged battles — boogurts, knights’ tournaments, close to real scenes of fortress capture with the use of pyrotechnics and artillery, equestrian competitions and medieval entertainment — all this can be seen by the festival audience in the walls of the ancient fortress. The festival recreates the authentic atmosphere of those distant times, when brave knights went on exploits for the sake of beautiful ladies, and people lived in closeness and unity with nature in beautiful castles and fortresses.
To reincarnate into medieval knights and ladies, members of clubs of historical reconstruction and historical fencing, professional actors and stuntmen from far and near abroad come to Sudak. Also every year at the festival craftsmen from Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, Lithuania, Latvia and other countries, working on medieval technologies, demonstrate their skills. Weavers, blacksmiths, potters and other craftsmen create their products and participate in competitions. The products can be viewed at various exhibitions and purchased as souvenirs.
Another interesting spectacle of the festival is the performances of musicians and dancers, various creative groups presenting to the public fascinating shows, such as the festival of Cossack culture.
At the «Genoese Helmet» you can be not only a spectator, but also a participant: every guest has the opportunity to participate in such entertainments as throwing axes, logs and daggers. Anyone can compete in wrestling and shoot in crossbowmen and archers’ shooting galleries. And for those who want to leave not just bright but also material memories of the festival, an interesting event will be the opportunity to be photographed in medieval costume or armor, with artists after the battles on the battlefields.
Visiting the international knight festival «Ganuez Helmet» is an opportunity to travel back in time, feel the spirit of creativity and freedom, plunging into the times of chivalry within the walls of the famous attraction of Sudak — an ancient fortress. For everyone who appreciates informative tourism in Ukraine and active, interesting vacation, the festival is not the first year to become a good reason to go to Sudak in the middle of summer.