Some stately homes in England hold medieval banquets and, for one night, you can kid yourself that you're 'Lord of the Manor.'

Spain has Medieval Markets and it would be wrong to claim that these are staged purely for tourists ...because a lot of them take place outside that time of year.

The ramparts (above) don't belong to a castle ...but a monastery. There was a display of falconry (some of it involving birds that looked more like vultures (left) ...and yes, that is a huge, bright yellow snake!

These events often have 'character actors' like the juggler-cum-clown (right) and the troubled-looking friar (far right).

Perhaps the monk was supposed to come from the time of the famous Spanish Inquisition and was a little scared of falling victim to some of the instruments of punishment pictured left!

Being a market there was more to see than people juggling at you and reminders of penal correction from a day when you only had human rights if you had enough money! You could buy things too!

The Herbalist (right) was most insistent that I send him a copy of this photograph!

There were also boys toys for all ages ...for a plywood shield (with heraldry) and a wooden sword suitable for slaying imaginary dragons the stall (pictured bottom right) was all you could ask for.

Of course you'll always get somebody who stretches the bounds of the medieval theme a little ...and an aromatherapy stall (bottom left) was a little out of place. I think the Spanish Inquisition may have had something to say about this…