The Chapiteau de Fontvieille was briefly transported back in time this week as the venue hosted an impressive medieval combat tournament on Saturday, February 7, marking the opening event of the 2026 Magna Carta season.
Replacing acrobatics with armoured clashes, the arena welcomed ten behourd teams from France, Italy and Spain, all competing in a full-contact medieval fighting discipline rooted in historical battle techniques. Around 200 spectators gathered to watch the confrontations unfold, drawn by a spectacle rarely seen in the Principality.
Far from a simple historical reenactment, behourd is a demanding combat sport. Fighters wear up to 30 kilograms of steel armour and engage in intense bouts where strikes — including controlled blows to the helmet — are permitted under strict safety rules. Strength, endurance and tactical coordination are essential, making each encounter as physically punishing as it is visually striking.
By hosting the season opener under the Chapiteau de Fontvieille, Monaco offered an unusual but captivating showcase of medieval martial culture, blending history, sport and spectacle in a setting more often associated with modern entertainment.
Image courtesy of Directorate of Communication – Stéphane Danna