2015 marks the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, an event that has special significance in Wales, and especially in the Brecon Beacons.   A large contingent of men, including the famous Welsh longbowmen, fought alongside Henry V. The king himself was born at Monmouth Castle, and his statue looks out over the town’s Agincourt Square.

Find out more about the local connections our the Agincourt 600 Wales website. 

To celebrate this anniversary a full programme of events has been planned during the coming months across the Brecon Beacons, building up to the anniversary on 25 October.

These include a free touring exhibition, pageants and parades, an official tapestry, medieval fayre, battle re-enactments and archery competitions.

Here are the highlights of of what is happening this month.  To see the full programme of events to to the website. 

June 2015

• 6th A Medieval Fayre in Abergavenny Castle and Museum 11am-3pm

  

The Medieval Fayre is a family event with the Freemen of Gwent setting up camp, archery competitions, demonstrations and medieval games . Close by is St Mary's Priory Church where visitors will find the tombs of Raglan Castle’s William ap Thomas, who survived the battle, and his wife Gwladys.  find out more here

• 11th Henry V 1944 film with Laurence Olivier in the title role at Riverfront Theatre, Newport at 7.45pm find out more here

• 13th  A Night at the Movies – a concert of film music by Brecknock Sinfonia at 7pm in Brecon Cathedral including the Suite from Henry V by William Walton and readings from Shakespeare’s Henry V.  find out more here 

• 13th-14th Azincourt Entente Cordiale at Raglan Castle 11am-4pm find out more here

• 20th  The Great Brecknock Pageant, Brecon 1.30pm-6.30pm

Children’s ‘Medieval Merriment’ morning activities at Brecon Cathedral Tithe Barn, 20 June. This will be followed by The Great Brecknock Pageant starting in the town centre at 1.30pm, which includes a colourful parade through the town with hundreds of men at arms, archers and ladies of the manor.  Find out more here.

20th An Agincourt Anniversary Concert: Monmouth Choral Society at 7.30pm at Wyastone Concert Hall, Monmouth. Members of Monmouth Comprehensive School will make presentations in words and music.

• 21st Medieval Lunch at Tithe Barn, Brecon 12noon-3pm.  Come in costume!  Book your place here.

• 27th-28th The Tretower Court Muster  The month is significant since the contingent of troops including men at arms and a large group of archers responded to a call to arms and met at the 'muster point', Tretower Castle, before their departure for France. Find out more here.

June-August 2015

The free touring exhibition telling the local story of Agincourt  – venues include Brecon (16-22 June)(1-10 August), Abergavenny (until 11 June), Tretower (26-28 June), Trecastle (15-26 August), Raglan (13-14 June) and Newport (4-25 July).

Go first to www.agincourt600wales.com which contains comprehensive information on the battle and its Welsh links, plus details of the ongoing programme of special events.

Come back next month to find out what events are happening in July and August.

Community groups have been working closely with funders to make the commemoration happen. The funders include Brecon Beacons National Park (under their Interreg Rural Alliances project), Brecon Town Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Powys County Council and the Welsh Government.