Archery and Crossbow Shooting

Archery and crossbow shooting is one of the most popular active activities from Viduramžiai LT, because guests get to try both weapons at a single range. We use replicas of historical bows and crossbows, chosen so participants feel the real weight and power of the weapon – not a toy, but a serious tool once carried by medieval warriors.

Unlike a short, scheduled performance, the range usually runs as an open zone for the whole length of the event. Guests don't need to gather at a set time – anyone can step up and shoot whenever suits them, and the activity never competes with the rest of the programme for a dedicated time slot.

Every participant is supervised by a professional instructor, who explains the correct stance, aiming principle and shooting technique. That's why hitting the target is achievable even for someone holding a bow or crossbow for the very first time – neither adults nor children need any prior experience.

The range is set up to formal safety requirements: the shooting lane is kept separate from foot traffic, and protective nets and shields are placed behind the targets so arrows and bolts stay inside a clearly defined zone. That makes it possible to run the activity even while another part of the event is happening nearby.

In the basic format, guests simply shoot freely at the targets as much as they like. For those after more excitement, we offer a competitive format – individual or team mini-tournaments that crown the most accurate shooter at the event. It's an easy way to involve a larger group: colleagues at a corporate party, friends at a birthday, or family at an anniversary.

For children, we select lighter bows so they can complete a successful shot within their own strength and feel the same satisfaction as the adults – always under the supervision of a parent or instructor. To reinforce the medieval atmosphere, instructors can optionally dress in 14th–15th century historical attire; this doesn't change the activity itself, but it does add to the overall look of the event.

We deliberately choose replicas of historical bows and crossbows rather than modern sports archery gear – the kind of weapons real warriors and hunters carried in medieval times. That means the weapon feels heavier in the hand, the string pulls harder, and the shot itself demands more technique than squeezing a modern trigger. That difference is exactly what makes the impression stick – the sense of holding an authentic piece, not a souvenir version.

The crossbow is often the bigger discovery, since many guests have only ever seen one in films or illustrations and now get to load and fire it themselves with the instructor's help. Because both weapons are available at the same range at the same time, participants can compare which one suits them better and return to their favourite as many times as the schedule allows.

The shooting zone works equally well at an intimate family celebration and at a larger corporate event or public festival: the format adapts easily to a few dozen guests or a few hundred, because participants set their own pace – nobody waits for a shared start or finish. At corporate events, the mini-tournament format is especially effective as a team-building element: colleagues form groups, cheer each other on, and walk away with a shared talking point for the rest of the evening.

At public city or community events, the range often becomes one of the most popular stops, since the sight of bows, crossbows and targets draws in passers-by who initially only meant to watch from a distance. Because the activity has no age limit, it suits family days and adult parties equally well.