The Middle Ages lives on in the small off-shore island of Sark, located a mere few kilometers away from the French coast. This tiny English Channel isle is home to a lord and his vassals who live peacefully together in an area that forbids cars. If you’re looking for a unique glimpse into the past, then look no further – this is a perfect case study for Crazy Borders!
Sark is an independent British Crown dependency, a status which it has held since 1565 when Queen Elizabeth I granted it to Helier de Carteret. While most of the rest of Europe has gone through numerous political upheavals since then, Sark has stayed relatively untouched by these changes – boasting its own parliament as well as its own Monarch. Life here continues much like it did centuries ago, and visitors can expect to find cobblestone streets and thatched roof cottages along with traces of its medieval heritage still intact.
Today there are around 600 people living on Sark – many of whom have long ancestral roots dating back to the original inhabitants of the island. They continue to observe ancient traditions such as ‘Sark Day’, where locals gather together in traditional costumes for games and festivities. What makes Sark so interesting is that despite having all these traditions intact, they still embrace some elements of modern life too – such as mobile phones and internet access!
This incredible case-study can be seen explored in greater detail in Crazy Borders – a documentary series exploring how borders are formed and how they affect culture around them. From free-trade agreements between countries to religious boundaries between communities, the show explores how these boundaries shape our world today. With fascinating stories from locations such as Canada, Mexico, Palestine and more; this show gives viewers an intriguing insight into global politics on a local level.
So if you’re interested in finding out more about the unique culture found on Sark Island or want to explore other borders around the world, then make sure you check out Crazy Borders!
