![Men and women participating in a race at Augsburg shooting festival in 1509, illustration in ‘Kriegsbuch u. a. Über Schützen- und Turnierwesen’ (war book about shooting events and tournaments i.a.), circa 1570.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/wettrennen-am-augsburger-schutzenfest-von-1509-300x225.jpg)
Sport in the Middle Ages
The word sport conjures up images of modern sporting pursuits, such as football, cycling, rugby and skiing. But what about during the fondly remembered Middle Ages? Did sport exist back then and, if so, how did it compare to the modern competitions held on the territory now known as Switzerland?
![Shooting festival in Constance from 1458. Illustration from the ‘Eidgenössische Chronik’ (federal chronicles) by Diebold Schilling of Lucerne, circa 1513.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/schutzenfest-in-konstanz-1458-300x274.jpg)
![Shooting event in St. Gallen, 16th century.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/schutzenfest-in-st-gallen-300x199.jpg)
![Mercenaries passing the time with sporting competitions. Illustration from the ‘Eidgenössische Chronik’ by Diebold Schilling of Lucerne, circa 1513.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/landsknechte-vertreiben-sich-die-zeit-mit-sportlichen-wettkampfen-181x300.jpg)
![Detail from an illustration taken from the ‘Eidgenössische Chronik’ by Diebold Schilling of Lucerne, circa 1513.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/landsknechte-wettkampfen-detail-300x178.jpg)
![Depiction of a medieval ball game in a French artwork from the 14th century. People are playing chess in the background.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/jeu-de-paume-1-300x191.jpg)
![The ‘Solothurner Fechtbuch’ from 1505-1515 shows different combat techniques from the late Middle Ages.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/solothurner-fechtbuch-300x207.jpg)
coveted. cared for. martyred. Bodies in the Middle Ages
There were conflicting perspectives of the human body during the Middle Ages: it was glorified, suppressed, cared for and chastised. The exhibition features many loaned exhibits from within and outside Switzerland to explore how the human body was viewed during the Middle Ages from a cultural history perspective, thereby also raising some questions about how we perceive the human body today.
Swiss Sports History
![](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/swisssportshistory-300x225.jpg)
This text was produced in collaboration with Swiss Sports History, the portal for the history of sports in Switzerland. The portal focuses on education in schools and information for the media, researchers and the general public. Find out more at sportshistory.ch