Every historical era has its re-enacting enthusiasts. Imperial Rome has an obvious attraction, and lets people research authentic uniform and tactics, but others enjoy being Saxons or Vikings for the weekend and are not deterred by a relative paucity of evidence. By the Medieval period, documentary records and paintings again offer plenty of assistance, and the Swiss enthusiasts I found in the Chateau de Chillon really reminded me of Flemish Renaissance scenes.

A few of these pictures come from re-enactments of the Battle of Hastings (1066) held on what has traditionally been regarded as the original site. Around 3000 re-enactors from across Europe attended the big event held on the 940th anniversary, and a hundred charging horses literally made the ground shake.