A day to experience what life was like on the Iberian Peninsula in the mid-14th century, witnessing not only its jousts but also its daily life. This is the concept behind The Four Kingdoms: The Great Medieval Tournament, a one-day event (Saturday, March 28) that is well worth a trip to Valladolid (less than an hour and a half from downtown Madrid by Avant train). Tickets for the three showings are already on sale but are selling out very quickly: get yours now so you don’t miss out.
War comes alive in the arena
The Valladolid Bullring will be the setting for Los Cuatro Reinos: El Gran Torneo Medieval, which is set on the Iberian Peninsula in 1362 (Spain as a nation was founded nearly a century later). At this time, King Pedro I of Castile felt besieged on all fronts, both by his enemies and by his illegitimate brother, Enrique de Trastámara, eager to seize the throne with the help of the French. Under these conditions, conflicts were not always resolved through war; sometimes a grand tournament was enough to demonstrate who was in charge.
The Four Kingdoms: The Great Medieval Tournament recreates one of these thrilling tournaments, specifically the one organized by the King of Castile to demonstrate his military strength, to which he invites the three most important kingdoms alongside his own: Aragon, Navarre, and Granada.
Through various trials pitting these four kingdoms against one another, the Valladolid bullring will be transformed into an arena hosting both mounted challenges and hand-to-hand combat. It will all culminate in the ultimate challenge: the jousts, a final battle where the finalists from the trials face off in a fierce contest on horseback with lances.
But there is life beyond the arena: part of the Valladolid Bullring will be transformed into a medieval market showcasing the trades of that era (blacksmiths, artisans, etc.), as well as an area for medieval jousting challenges, family activities, and a food court.
The entire event will feature a realistic atmosphere, with period costumes and decor, so that for a few hours we can forget the hustle and bustle of the 21st century and enjoy a 100% immersive experience in the Middle Ages.
To make the event accessible to everyone, there will be three time slots: morning (11:00 a.m.), afternoon (4:00 p.m.), and evening (9:00 p.m.).
How to get to Valladolid from Madrid
Image generated with Artificial Intelligence
Valladolid is very well connected to Madrid. If you’re coming by public transit , the Avant train from Chamartín-Clara Campoamor gets you to the city in just one hour and five minutes. And it’s about a fifteen-minute brisk walk from the Valladolid Renfe station to the plaza. If you decide to attend the event by private car, it’s about a two-hour drive.
The proximity of the Plaza de Toros to the center of Valladolid (a 15-minute bus ride or a 30-minute walk) makes attending the Los Cuatro Reinos: El Gran Torneo Medieval event a great opportunity to take a day trip to the city and enjoy its landmarks (such as the Cathedral or the Old Town).
