News
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL IN LĄD… IN A MINUTE
The National Festival of Slavic and Cistercian Culture is a cyclical cultural and educational event that celebrates the rich legacy of the Middle Ages – a pivotal period in the development of modern European civilisation. It takes place annually in Ląd on the Warta River, a small village near Słupca that, for centuries, was a hub of political, religious, and cultural life. This remarkable heritage is reflected in two major historical landmarks: a thousand-year-old stronghold and a former Cistercian monastery. Inspired by these sites, scholars, museum professionals, and local authorities joined forces to bring this unique festival to life.
Each edition offers a wide array of attractions, including popular-science lectures, exhibitions, educational workshops for children and families, guided tours of the monastery and stronghold, concerts of early music, theatrical performances, historical re-enactments, traditional craft demonstrations, and medieval combat shows. The programme is created in partnership with academics, curators, educators, artists, and historical re-enactment groups from across Poland. Following the event, we publish the lectures delivered by leading medievalists – an invaluable resource for history and archaeology enthusiasts.
Since 2005, the festival has been held in the picturesque setting of the Ląd monastery and the nearby park at the Environmental Education Centre. Each year’s edition is inspired by key events and features of the medieval world, offering insight into different aspects of life in that period. This year’s theme, “Kings, thrones, and coronations,” is especially meaningful: from 31 May to 1 June 2025, we will celebrate the millennium of the coronation of Bolesław the Brave. Together with scholars, we will discuss the role of the royal coronation in shaping the history of our nation. Meanwhile, a wealth of outdoor attractions, organised in collaboration with artists and historical re-enactors, will immerse visitors in the era when the Piast realm became a kingdom.
This year marks the twenty-first edition of the National Festival of Slavic and Cistercian Culture in Ląd on the Warta River — an event we are proud to host once again. For this year’s theme, we’re drawing inspiration from a remarkable historical milestone: the one thousandth anniversary of the coronation of Duke Bolesław I the Brave, who became the first King of Poland in 1025.
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
Saturday, 31 May 2025
SLAVIC SETTLEMENT
10:00–18:30 – Traditional food and drinks, market stalls, archery, live music performances, and medieval craft demonstrations (park by OEP*)
10:00–17:00 – Promotional, educational, and workshop stand of the ZPKWW* and OEP* (square by OEP)
11:00–17:00 – Slavic playground (park by OEP)
11:00–17:00 – Archaeological sandbox (park by OEP)
11:00–13:30 – Historical and nature walk to Rydlowa Góra (meeting point: in front of the stage)
12:00–15:00 (last start at 14:30) – "All that glitters is not gold" – archaeological field game (info point at OEP)
12:00–14:30 – Warriors’ tournament for the Prize of the Castellan of Ląd (arena)
12:00–12:45 – Guided tour of the Molinia meadow diorama featuring oxbow lake elements (meeting point: OEP main hall)
13:00–13:45 – "Nature tales" – Kamishibai picture theatre (meeting point: OEP main hall)
14:00–14:45 – Guided tour of the Molinia meadow diorama featuring oxbow lake elements (meeting point: OEP main hall)
14:00–15:00 – Folk games and activities for children (in front of the stage)
15:00–15:45 – "Nature tales" – Kamishibai picture theatre (meeting point: OEP main hall)
15:00–15:45 – Concert by Aždaja (stage)
16:00–16:45 – Guided tour of the Molinia meadow diorama featuring oxbow lake elements (meeting point: OEP main hall)
16:00–17:00 – Official welcome of the guests of the XXI Ląd Festival and award ceremony for the tournament winners (stage)
17:00–18:00 – "Battle for Ląd" – early medieval combat reenactment (arena)
19:00–19:40 – "Poland in the Crown" – royal coronation-inspired performance by Cracovia Danza Court Ballet (stage)
20:30–21:30 – Concert by Roderyk (stage)
MONASTERY
10:00 – 18:00 – Exhibitions: archaeological – "Jewels not only in the crown" by Magdalena Felis (gallery), and poster exhibitions: "Figures in Bolesław the Brave’s circle" by Mateusz Sikora and "As it was – 20 Years of the Ląd Festival through the lens of Bogdan Walkiewicz" by Kateriny Zisopulu-Bleja (monastery cloisters)
10:00 – 18:00 – Educational stands by Adam Mickiewicz University, Archaeological Reserve Genius Loci, and the Graphic and Conservation Labs of the Archaeological Museum in Poznań (monastery cloisters)
10:00 – 18:00 – Old printing and stained-glass making workshops (monastery cloisters)
10:00 – 18:00 – Safe sword duels in the knights’ camp (monastery park)
10:00 – 18:00 – Mini ZOO – child-friendly farm animals (monastery gardens)
10:00 – 18:00 – "A few skilled engineers" – late medieval educational station (courtyard behind the monastery)
10:00 – 17:00 – Guided tours of the monastery – every full hour (meeting point: in front of the monastery gate)
12:00 – 15:00 – Popular-science lectures (Abbot's Hall, monastery):
LECTURE "The Crown of Bolesław the Brave" – Prof. dr hab. Przemysław Urbańczyk
LECTURE "When and why did brick architecture begin in Poland?" – Prof. dr hab. Jarosław Jarzewicz
LECTURE "Silver and Power. Bullion circulation and the beginnings of the Piast state" – Dr hab. Dariusz Adamczyk
12:00 – 14:00 – "In the royal treasury, or gold, silver and rubies" – creative workshop for children (monastery cloisters)
12:00 – 14:00 – "Encounter with early music" – Dr hab. Henryk Kasperczak, Academy of Music in Poznań (chapter house)
12:30 – 13:00– "Storyteller’s corner" – listening to medieval legends in the peaceful atmosphere of the monastery cloisters
14:00 – 15:00 – Early and traditional dances workshop – "La Dame" group (monastery park)
14:00 – 15:00 – Concert by the ensemble "Veratus" (Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas)
15:00 – 17:30 – Traditional devotional songs with Kurkowicz/Braszak vocal duo (Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Nicholas)
15:30 – 16:00 – Knights’ combat show (monastery park)
15:30 – 16:00 – "Storyteller’s corner" – listening to medieval legends in the peaceful atmosphere of the monastery cloisters
Sunday, 01 June 2025
SLAVIC SETTLEMENT:
10:00–17:00 – Traditional food and drinks, market stalls, archery, live music performances, and medieval craft demonstrations (park by OEP*)
10:00–16:00 – Promotional, educational, and workshop stand of the ZPKWW* and OEP (square by OEP)
11:00–17:00 – Slavic playground (park by OEP)
11:00–17:00 – Archaeological sandbox (park by OEP)
11:00–12:30 – Costume reconstruction competition (stage)
11:00–11:45 – "Nature tales" – Kamishibai picture theatre (meeting point: main hall of OEP)
12:00–13:00 – "Five-on-five tournament" – warriors team battle (arena)
12:00–12:45 – Guided tour of the Molinia meadow diorama featuring oxbow lake elements (meeting point: OEP main hall)
12:00–14:00 – Popular science lectures (OEP):
LECTURE "Piasts and Přemyslids – cooperation, conflicts, interactions (late 10th – first half of the 11th century)" – Prof. UAM, dr hab. Marzena Matla
LECTURE "Vikings, Slavs, and the elites of the Northern World" – Dr hab. Leszek Gardeła
12:00–15:00 (last start at 14:30) – "All that glitters is not gold" – archaeological field game (info point at OEP)
13:00–13:45 – "Nature tales" – Kamishibai picture theatre (meeting point: main hall of OEP)
14:00–15:00 – Final battle of warriors (arena)
14:00–14:45 – Guided tour of the Molinia meadow diorama featuring oxbow lake elements (meeting point: OEP main hall)
15:00–16:00 – Folk games and activities for children (in front of the stage)
16:00–16:45 – Guided tour of the Molinia meadow diorama featuring oxbow lake elements (meeting point: OEP main hall)
16:00–17:00 – Concert by Żniwa (stage)
18:00–19:30 – Closing concert of the XXI Ląd Festival – "Arka Noego" (stage)
19:30 – Official closing of the XXI Ląd Festival (stage)
10:00–17:00 – Exhibitions: archaeological – "Jewels not only in the crown" by Magdalena Felis (gallery), and poster exhibitions: "Figures in Bolesław the Brave’s circle" by Mateusz Sikora and "As it was – 20 Years of the Ląd Festival through the lens of Bogdan Walkiewicz" by Kateriny Zisopulu-Bleja (monastery cloisters)
10:00–17:00 – Educational stands by Adam Mickiewicz University, Archaeological Reserve Genius Loci, and the Graphic and Conservation Labs of the Archaeological Museum in Poznań (monastery cloisters)
10:00–17:00 – "A few qualified engineers" – late medieval educational station (courtyard behind the monastery)
10:00–17:00 – Old printing and stained-glass making workshops (monastery cloisters)
10:00–17:00 – Safe sword duels in the knights' camp (monastery park)
10:00–17:00 – Mini zoo – child-friendly farm animals (monastery gardens)
10:00–16:00 – Guided tour of the monastery – every full hour (meeting point: the monastery gate)
12:00–16:00 – Paper making and calligraphy workshop "Kalander" (courtyard behind the monastery)
12:00–14:00 – "In the royal treasury, or gold, silver and rubies" – creative workshops for children (monastery cloisters)
12:30–13:30 – Concert by Lux Antiqua (Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Nicholas)
12:30–13:00 – "Storyteller's corner" – listening to medieval legends in the quiet atmosphere of the monastery cloisters
13:30–14:00 – Knights’ combat show (monastery park)
15:00–16:00 – Early and traditional dances workshop – "La Dame" group (monastery park)
15:30–16:00 – "Storyteller's corner" – listening to medieval legends in the quiet atmosphere of the monastery cloisters
*OEP - Environmental Education Centre (Ośrodek Edukacji Przyrodniczej)
*ZPKWW - The Landscape Parks Authority of the Greater Poland Voivodeship (Zespół Parków Krajobrazowych Województwa Wielkopolskiego)
