The Revived Pages of History - the Battle of Narva
Narva is a city rich in history, a city which
has survived wars and revolutions, fires and triumphs, a
city which has lived through the Danish, Swedish and Russian
rule...But how much has transcended from those times to
the present day? As it turns out, history can come alive
and take your city back into the past. Narva festival is
the largest annual international festival devoted to the
historical reconstruction of the Northern War, happened
here twice - in 1700 - the battle was won by the Swedish
Army led by the 18-year-old King Karl XII, and in 1704,
when the young Russian Czar Peter I with his Army celebrated
the victory over the Swedes.
The first festival had the fewest number
of battle-reconstructors, but was probably the most impressive.
This is how one of a local newpaper described the event:
"The participants of the battle put up their camp of
the territory of Narva Castle on August 13, and the next
day saw a fierce battle on the slopes of the fortress walls.
Thousands of Narvanians watched with awe the reconstruction
of the events of the Northern War". The moment of transformation
of serious people - bankers, architects, artists - into
little boys "playing war" is something that must
be seen with one's own eyes. During the three days of the
reconstruction, the grown-up men play as devotedly as 5-year-old
boys, who brag with their toys to the others. Except the
toys have become more expensive: someone has acquired an
antique smoking pipe, someone else has got a hold of an
old ink-pot.There have been five festivals since then. In
2007 the festival featured a "Village of Living History",
displaying the living conditions of the Estonian peasants
of the 17th century. Last year night-time battles
were introduced. The historical atmosphere of Narva Castle
and its Northern Yard, restored with the purpose of reviving
a part of the craftsmen street of the 17th century,
make an ideal venue for the reconstruction of the past events.
The historical festival "The Battle of Narva"
will take place on 7 - 9 August 2009. Admission is free!
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