This year's Bruce Festival, which honours the connections between Robert the Bruce and the town of Dunfermline will be held in the shadow of the town's medieval cathedral at Pittencrieff Park. The festival comprises a medieval village, with displays of crafts, horsemanship, food, weapons, as well as living history performers.
Robert the Bruce and Dunfermline
Robert the Bruce, born in 1274, was king of the Scots from 1306 to 1329. He was born at an unknown Scottish location into an aristocratic family, with a Scottish father and a Gaelic mother. Bruce claimed his right to the throne through his great-grandfather, David I of Scotland.
During Robert the Bruce’s reign, Scotland's independence was recognised, making him a national hero in his home country. He died near Dumbarton in 1329 and although his body was buried in Dunfermline Abbey, he had requested that his heart be carried into battle as he had been unable to go on Crusade during his lifetime. The heart was taken as far as Granada, where it was used as a battle talisman at the Battle of Teba. The former king’s heart was eventually buried at Melrose Abbey as he had wished. The heart was excavated in the 1920s and found to be of the correct age to have belonged to the king. It was reburied after examination.
The Bruce Festival 2011
Anyone with an interest in the Middle Ages and life in medieval Scotland will find plenty to interest them at Scotland’s free-to-enter Bruce Festival.
The town of Dumfermline is proud of its connections to Robert the Bruce, who is buried in the medieval cathedral. The 2011 festival aims to foster a medieval atmosphere through a variety of activities. Highlights of the festival include 'A Legendary Walk Through Time' which is a theatrical tour of Dunfermline's glen, performed by a living history group; there will also be a recreated medieval village, where visitors can step back in time and experience what life was like in Bruce's time, with authentic entertainment, cooking, games, crafts, battles and pageantry.
Visitors are free to explore the encampment and meet a variety of characters from the Middle Ages including knights, jesters, craftsmen and even King Robert the Bruce himself. There will also be storytelling workshops and a food village hosted by Scottish chef Christopher Trotter. Medieval Scotland will also come to life via a unique equestrian event which brings medieval horsemanship to life, with a performance from Les Amis de Onno.
The festival runs from 12 noon to 4pm each day and entry to the event is free. For details, tel: 01483 732226; or visit the website.
Rachel Bellerby - I am an experienced UK writer with two non-fiction books and more than 100 articles published in the UK and US. As a mum of three young ...
