Companie di Bjornstad - Midsummer Medieval Festival


	Companie di Bjornstad Midsummer Medieval Festival Castello di Amorosa - The Castle -
	Since 2009, The Vikings of Bjornstad have been associated with events at the Castello di Amorosa, a winery in Calistoga, California. The owner, Dario Sattui, was "bent on being totally authentic incorporating every element of a real 12th - 13th century Tuscan castle". Each year in June the castle winery hosts a medieval festival and banquet, complete with jousting. Bjornstad members bring their Medieval gear - including a trebuchet. Photos by Melinda Hughes, Ed Berland and Jack Garrett.

The Castello di Amorosa.	A banquet under the stars.

A castle tower in the glow of the setting sun.	Brian, Henrik and Ed - enjoying the day.

The star of the Bjornstad show - a trebuchet.	Its view downrange - the lake is the target.

The Bjornstad Trebuchet - Launching stones into the Castello lake Move your mouse cursor over the video screen below to see the controls

Steve, Brian, Henrik, Ed, Rick, Dan and Jack.	Great settings for pictures.

Melinda is behind the camera.	Medieval Bjornstad.

Henrik obviously enjoys the 13th century.	A gray-beard conversation.

Annie is all smiles.	The artillerists prepare the trebuchet.

Rick follows the stone into the lake.	Brian approves of the shot.

The horn section.	The trebuchet crew.

One of the festival guests looses a stone.	Another guest steps up for her turn.

Rick watches closely.	Then you pull the lanyard...

And the stone is on its way...	Ed keeps guests from getting too close.

Another stone heads toward the lake.	Rick, Henrik and Steve are ready for the next shot.

Our encampment in 2010.	The trebuchet is being prepped.

Flung Rocks 'R' Us.	A celebrity sighting. That's Matt LeBlanc (Joey from Friends) in the musketeer outfit.

Our stone throwing over, Bjornstad relaxes at dinner.	The wine was excellent.

And now for a tour of the castle's lower depths.	Helmets in the armory.

Winery weaponry.	The dungeon diet: guaranteed weight loss.

One of the many corridors filled with wine casks.	The torture chamber.