What sounds like a German buddy cop movie is actually the title of an annual medieval and military reenactment weekend that takes place at Vienna’s Heeresgeschichtliches Museum.
- Show fights and weapon demonstrations
- Historical musical entertainment included
- Market stalls and medieval crafts
- 2025 dates: TBA (was July 6-7 in 2024)
- Book a historical walking tour* of Vienna
- See also:
Uniforms and gunsmoke
(Cannons line the front of the museum)
“Montur und Pulverdampf” translates roughly as “Uniform and gunsmoke”, which hints at what you can expect from this event.
Travel back in time to experience various eras of military history through demonstrations, reenactments, and shows…all mixed in with food, music, and even a medieval market.
Montur & Pulverdampf predates modern warfare, however.
So you might watch as reenactment specialists demonstrate the art of sword fighting and archery, and others wander round in early 20th-century regimental attire (though the event has a strong medieval focus).
(You don’t need to bring your own drinking horn, but it’s an option)
One year, for example, highlights included:
- A “living chess” show, which had live pieces acting out a game of chess and disposing of the opponents using a variety of techniques…from poisoned chalices to shield bashing
- Rhiannon, who continue the tradition of the medieval minstrels with their own music and interpretations performed on historical instruments
- Dresch-Flegel, who put on medieval shows, fights, and similar. They ended each day at Montur & Pulverdampf with a fire show, for example
- Trollferd, another group playing historical music as it was intended, from the late medieval through to early baroque
Dates, tickets & tips
I don’t have 2025 dates just yet. Swords were drawn at the previous edition over the weekend of July 6th and 7th with opening times of:
- Saturday: 10am to 10pm
- Sunday: 10am to 8pm
Montur & Pulverdampf usually happens in the rear grounds of the Museum of Military History, and you need a ticket to get in.
However, entry is free if you’re wearing some kind of medieval costume. Though you probably won’t be packing your halberd and breastplate given airline excess baggage fees.
Incidentally, the same location commonly hosts an enormously-popular Christmas market for a few days during advent.
How to get to the event
Check out the main article for the Museum of Military History for travel tips and subway/tram suggestions. The locations is close to our main railway station, for example.
Address: Arsenal, Objekt 1, Ghegastraße, 1030 Vienna