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August 2018

20180831
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To Arms! Sabre fencing as Polish national heritage

Date: 31.08.2018 - 30.11.2018
Place: Collegium Maius, ul. Jagiellońska 15, Kraków
To Arms! Sabre fencing as Polish national heritage

“To Arms! Sabre fencing as Polish national heritage” is a brand new exhibition shown in JU Collegium Maius. The preview will take place on 31 August at 3.00 p.m. in Collegium Maius courtyard.

Historical sabre fencing is the lost national heritage of Poland. Yet, this weapon has a special place in the consciousness of Poles, as one of our national symbols. The vanishing of old fencing traditions can be attributed to the loss of national independence followed by the long period of foreign rule (1795-1918) as well as the development of the military sabre and sport sabre. Very little has remained from this magnificent symbol of Polish national identity – most weapons were either destroyed or remade, and the last great fencing masters passed away in the middle 19th century.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the restoration of Polish independence and the 200th anniversary of the start of the first fencing courses at the Jagiellonian University, the JU Museum is hosting a special exhibition, accompanied by a workshop and an academic session. The events will be organised together with the Silkfencing team and the cultural foundation “Urwany Film”, in cooperation with the Cracovian School of Fencing and the Association For Renaissance Martial Arts. The aims of the organisers include initiating a discussion about the essence, purpose, and ways of recreating the immaterial heritage, such as the Polish techniques of armed fighting.

The exhibition will present various aspects of Polish sabre fighting, including the history of fencing techniques, the differences between the combat sabre, military sabre and sport sabre fighting, and the place of the Polish sabre between the eastern sabre and the western European sword, along with issues related to honour duels and civic education.

The event is partially funded by the PZU insurance company.

The admission is free.