18th century blog

September 3-26 there will be a big 18th century festival in Copenhagen called 1700s - globalization, gossip and greed.

There will be countless lectures, shows, tours, exhibitions and concerts, and the festival opens with a big masquerade ball. I would love to go to some of the lectures because they sound really interesting, but unfortunately I just don’t understand spoken Danish.

Click the picture above to go to the festival website!

I received an invitation to the Winter Ball at Château d’Ursel, in Belgium. While I won’t be able to go to an event in Belgium I thought I’d pass the information on.

The stately home at Hingene was the ‘maison de plaisance’ of the aristocratic d’Ursel family for almost four centuries. Now, it belongs to the Province of Antwerp who has restored the castle to its former glory with passion.

On this festive evening, the grand hall of the castle will once again be transformed into an 18th-century ballroom, replete with flickering candles on the driveway, beautiful costumes, and elegant ladies and gentlemen.

Experienced dancers are welcome but dancing masters Veerle Fack and Ingolf Collmar will also be there to guide the debutants’ first steps. The contredances will be performed live by the early-music ensemble, Ardalus.

To keep you dancing throughout the evening, refreshments will be provided.

Go here for more information.

July 11 to July 25 it’s time for Lyss till 1700-talet at Skansen again. Check out times and events here.

On February 6 there will be a lecture, Siden och kattun, about 18th century clothes and fashion at Stadsarkivet. The lecture starts at 12 am.