The Battle of Grunwald, fought on July 15, 1410, was a pivotal conflict where Polish and Lithuanian forces defeated the Teutonic Knights. This victory significantly weakened the Teutonic Order and reshaped the political landscape of Central and Eastern Europe.
This year, the Grunwald Days will run from July 10 to 14.
“Each July, the Grunwald fields come alive with the reenactment of the battle organized by the regional government, attracting tens of thousands of medieval enthusiasts from around the world. I expect this year to be no different,” said Marcin Kuchciński, governor of the Warmian-Masurian province.
Kuchciński also noted that in recent years, the regional government has invested in developing tourist infrastructure around the Grunwald fields, including a modern Battle of Grunwald Museum with interactive exhibits.
The event will kick off on Wednesday, July 10, with medieval combat tournaments, including archery. This year's festival will feature the inaugural Grunwald Palant Championships, a bat-and-ball game similar to American baseball, and the tenth edition of the International Medieval Football Tournament, known as Grundial 2024.
The warrior contests will continue on Thursday, the second day of Grunwald Days, which will include the Grunwald Homemade Brews Competition and Gregorian Choir Workshops.
On the third day, in addition to tournaments and workshops, one of the main highlights will be the Grunwald Call (Grunwaldzkie Wici), a traditional presentation of banners present during the battle.
As in previous years, at 7 p.m., a vigil will be held, an Akathist hymn in honor of the Virgin Mary (
Bogurodzica, literally ‘[female] parent of God’, after Greek term
Theotokos), followed by a procession to the ruins of the battle chapel, accompanied by the medieval choir.
Saturday is the day when the official part of the celebration will begin at half past noon on Monument Hill, with historical reenactors entering the battlefield at 2 p.m. to commence the 26th Grunwald Battle Reenactment an hour later.
The Schola Grunwaldzka medieval choir will accompany a mass in Latin that follows the 1410 liturgy at 9 a.m. on Sunday, a day of prayer.
