Ghost festival reincarnates medieval past

The most famous castle in Slovakia will be overrun for 10 days starting April 30 by ghosts, witches, knights in shining armour, fair maidens, falconers, and thousands of spectators who wish to experience Slovakia's medieval past. The picturesque Bojnice castle, modelled on the chateaux of the French Loire valley, is the perfect backdrop for this 5th annual international ghost festival.Whether one approaches by car or bus, the castle can be glimpsed from afar, perched above a clustered village of red roofs pushed into the side of densely forested hills. The peace and quiet of the scene evaporates as you get closer. During festival days, and especially on weekends, the mass of little kiosks, which sell everything from baskets and ceramics to kitchen ware and socks, spills out from under the castle into the village.

Whether one approaches by car or bus, the castle can be glimpsed from afar, perched above a clustered village of red roofs pushed into the side of densely forested hills. The peace and quiet of the scene evaporates as you get closer. During festival days, and especially on weekends, the mass of little kiosks, which sell everything from baskets and ceramics to kitchen ware and socks, spills out from under the castle into the village. Tables extend onto the streets from restaurants serving sizzling pork dishes and steaming Slovak dumplings. Music blares from a corner of the grounds, a mixture between traditional accordion, violin, and vocal harmonies, and loud disco music pumped in by a DJ.

Halloween-like props, a straw-stuffed corpse hanging by its neck from a tree, a pirate ship in the moat, black witches and fortune tellers are scattered all around the castle. Spontaneous shows re-enact ancient medieval legends. Knights clash on horses. Wizards enchant maidens. The atmosphere is almost uninhibited.

On the hour, falconers put on a spectacle as majestic falcons and hawks soar to towering heights and then swoop over the audience before returning to their master's arm.

All of this excitement surrounds the castle, which forms a kind of supporting cast for the festival's main attraction, a castle tour. Guides in full medieval costume lead tours of 40-50 people around the historic interior. Inside, each room showcases some bit of Bojnice history with live acts, a king and queen, Arabic dancers, and other famous Bojnice inhabitants. It gets a bit corny after a while, but at least the participants don't try to pretend otherwise.

5th International Ghost Festival

April 30 - May 10

SNM - Muzeum Bojnice, 972 01 Bojnice

Tel: 0862-430633 Fax: 0862-430051

e-mail: email@bojnicecastle.sk

Thursday April 30, 1998

12.00 - 18.00 Scary Castle Tour

19.00 - 20.30 Uncover your destiny using tarot cards

21.00 - 22.00 Lux in tenebris