Ritterturnier Schloss Lauersfort

Ritterturnier Schloss Lauersfort — Medieval times between moats

The Ritterturnier Schloss Lauersfort annually transforms the Lower Rhine moated castle in Moers-Kapellen into a medieval stage on the May Day weekend. From Friday, May 1st to Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, knights, squires, minstrels, craftspeople, and market women will parade across the castle grounds — and on the jousting field, horse and rider will compete in lance combat.

Horse jousting twice daily

The highlight of the program is the horse jousting with real lances and armored riders — two performances daily at 1:00 PM and 4:30 PM. The spectacle showcases classic disciplines of historical equestrianism: jousting from a gallop, ring jousting, charging the quintain. Horses and riders are specially trained for medieval show jousting — historically accurate, without endangering animals or humans.

Over 40 craft stalls

On the castle grounds, more than 40 craft stalls offer historical goods:

• Leather goods — belts, pouches, shoes according to medieval patterns
• Blacksmith work — knives, tools, jewelry
• Pottery and ceramics
• Wool textiles and felt crafts
• Woodwork and turning
• Mead, beer, medieval bread
• Smoked goods and natural cosmetics
• Blacksmith demonstrations and turning demonstrations

Musicians, jugglers, and jesters roam the alleys, perform on small stages, and entertain the audience.

Schloss Lauersfort — Lower Rhine moated castle

Schloss Lauersfort is a 17th-century moated castle with earlier structures dating back to the 13th century. It is located in the Kapellen district of the city of Moers, nestled in an English landscape park with moats and old oak trees. The castle is privately owned and opened for selected events — the knight tournament has been the largest and best-known for years.

Moers — City on the Lower Rhine

Moers is a medium-sized city in the Wesel district in North Rhine-Westphalia with around 104,000 inhabitants, located on the left bank of the Lower Rhine, west of Duisburg. The old town with Moers Castle, the medieval castle walls, and the castle park is among the most beautiful on the Lower Rhine. Moers is also known for the annual Moers Festival for jazz and improvisational music (one of Germany's oldest jazz festivals).

Organized by Vehi Mercatus

The organizer is Vehi Mercatus, one of Germany's leading medieval market organizers with decades of experience. The market stalls and show groups are carefully curated — not just folklore excursions, but craftspeople and performers with genuine specialization in medieval culture.