Medieval Chivalry

Vicki, Mario, Maggie and the kids went to a chivalry show held in the stables of Chambord . It was very impressive with a storyline based on François 1er, who commissioned the castle.

His fondness for horses and pretty ladies was a good excuse for showing fancy dressage moves.

Then a quartet of knights displayed their skills,

including blowing up gas-filled balloons with their fire-tipped lances,

and some spectacular equestrian acrobatics at full gallop.

A young spectator was called in to help give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to an "exhausted" horse in this very funny skit.

And then came time for a tournament between François 1er and Henry VIII, in a re-enactment of a meeting of the two kings that took place in June 1520. Here's François representing Les Bleus.

And Henry representing Les Rouges.

First, the jousting at full speed with splintering lances,

axe fighting,

and sword fighting,

with François winning the battle, of course...

In the end, our own knights are inspecting the horses and riders.