THIS year’s Monmouth Medieval Festival gave the chance for the community to step back in time and explore some of the town’s history.

The annual festival took place on July 4 and 5 and provided a range of entertainment for the community to enjoy.

As a reporter there I really enjoyed the festival and as someone who has never been before I was really taken back by everything it had to offer.

The festival took place over an array of areas in the town including Vauxhall Fields, Monmouth Castle – birthplace of king Henry V – and the historic Monnow Bridge.

There was plenty of entertainment for people to enjoy, lots of well curated medieval costumes which made the community feel a part of the immersive atmosphere.

One of my favourite parts of the day was watching the falconry display, it was eye-catching to see these birds perform and hear more about what they are like.

Another part of the day I particularly enjoyed was having a tour of the Monnow Bridge Gate House as despite using the 754-year-old bridge as a frequent walkway I have also wondered what it was like inside.

It was fascinating to see the design and structure of the inside of the building and hear about what it used to be like hundreds of years ago although the narrow staircase was a challenge to climb but overall it added to the authentic, medieval experience.

Besides those two moments there was lots more entertainment over the weekend including: dressing a knight, origami, and sword demonstrations.

Overall, the festival was a fantastic celebration of the rich history Monmouth holds and as a first time visitor I was pleasantly surprised by everything there was to do and the unwavering community support which was carried throughout the day.