GET a taste of the medieval period at Corfe Castle this summer.

The National Trust property is open from 10am until 6pm and the highlight of this summer is the popular medieval village with the knight and damsel academy every day in August.

Visitors can turn back the clock to the 14th and 15th centuries and immerse themselves in the Hundred Years War.

The castle promises an action-packed family day out with a range of interactive activities for budding knights and damsels.

Activities and displays for 2013 include a knight school with ‘arming the knight’ demonstrations and talks, including safe handling sessions as well as a working medieval kitchen.

There will also be tales and expertise in the many fields of the steward of the castle such as calligraphy, alchemy, medicine and disease, an interactive sword school and have-a-go archery at an extra charge.

Performances of the open air theatre take place in August such as Babe the Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith, adapted by David Wood, on August 29.

There is also open air cinema over the August bank holiday weekend, showing The Woman in Black on Friday, August 23, Disney’s Brave on August 24 and Skyfall on August 25.

Built by William the Conqueror, the castle dates back to the 11th century in the Purbeck Hills on the route between Wareham and Swanage.

The first phase was one of the earliest castles in England to be built using stone when the majority were built with earth and timber.

Corfe Castle underwent major structural changes in the 12th and 13th centuries and in March 1645 it was demolished on Parliament’s orders.

Owned by the National Trust, the castle is now open to the public and in 2010 received around 190,000 visitors. It is protected as a Grade I listed building and a scheduled ancient monument.

For more information call 01929 466060.