Just Jousting for Love

Hospital de Órbigo is the perfect place for a medieval festival since its own walls, streets and bridge are, in fact, all architecturally medieval.

Hospital de Órbigo es el lugar perfecto para un festival medieval ya que sus propios muros, calles y puente son arquitectonicamente medievales.

The Medieval Jousts are the biggest, but certainly not the only attraction of the Medieval Festival  that occurs the first weekend of June. There is an event that stands out, the yearly historical recreation of the courtly love or "el amor cortés" of Don Suero de Quiñones in the XV century which recounts the undying impossible love of Don Suero toward his lady, Doña Inés de Tovar. For so many years he was so imprisoned, so enamored of his said love, that he decided to give her an outward sign of his devotion by fasting every Thursday and wearing a heavy metal collar around his neck. A true knight enslaved by love. Finally, however, needing to free himself, he had the idea of exchanging his above torment with the feat of breaking three hundred lances of other knights whom he would fight as they passed over the bridge of the River Órbigo. His ongoing deeds are remembered to this day.

Las Justas Medivales es la más grande, pero sin duda no la única atracción del Festival Medieval que ocurre el primer fin de semana de junio.  Hay un acontecimiento que se destaca, la recreación histórica del amor cortés de Don Suero de Quiñones del siglo XV, la cual cuenta el amor eterno e imposible de Don Suero hacia su dama, Doña Inés de Tovar.  Por tantos años se sentía tan encarcelado por dicho amor que juró ayunar todos los jueves y llevar un collar de hierro para mostrar como era su esclavo. Por fin, tuvo la idea de liberarse del dicho tormento a cambio de romper trescientas lanzas de otros tantos caballeros que pasasen por el puente sobre el Río Órbigo. Esta  hazaña se recuerda desde entonces.  

Hay vendedores de la calle, un mercado medieval, comidas deliciosas, vinos y pastelerías.

There are street vendors, delicious foods, wines and pastries, and entertainment of all sorts.

Este año tanto como 30.000 asistieron el festival, haciéndolo una de las celebraciones más grandes en toda la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León.

This year as many as 30,000 attended the festival, making this one the largest celebrations in all of (the province of) in Castilla and León.