For 20 Years The French Have Been Building A Medieval Castle Using Medieval Techniques, And The Result Is Incredible
If you’re fascinated with medieval life, you don’t need a time machine to visit the period. Guedelon Castle in Burgundy, France, is a unique project where volunteers and researchers are constructing an authentic 13th century castle, using only techniques and materials that were available in the medieval period.
Michel Guyot and Maryline Martin started Guedelon Castle project in 1997, and it has been nearing its inevitable completion ever since. Today, it has created over 55 jobs and is a real tourist attraction with more than 300,000 visitors a year.
There is even a period-accurate backstory attached to the medieval castle that guides the design and construction. In the annals of Guedelon, works began in 1228. Each year that passes is a year in ancient times, too, so we were now in 1248. “The rule of the reenactment is that only what we know from documents that existed at the time is allowed,” says Sarah Preston, an English guide. “Funnily enough, we found that even though we knew we were accurate, somehow the castle lacked soul. So we invented a character – the owner – who would have likes and dislikes, wanting this and not wanting that.”
Seigneur Guilbert is a middle-ranking feudal lord, who was granted the right to build his beautiful castle because he sided with the crown during a rebellion in 1226.
“At one point we realized the stonemasons were cutting the stones for the towers too perfectly, which just wouldn’t have been appropriate. It would have suggested he had a lot of money and, therefore, a small army in the chateau, which wasn’t the case.” Completion of this incredible place to visit is expected around 1253 – or 2023 in today’s world.
More info: guedelon.fr
In France, people are building a castle from the 13th century using only medieval building techniques and materials
Image credits: Guédelon
Michel Guyot and Maryline Martin started Guedelon Castle project in 1997, and its completion is expected around 2023
Image credits: Guédelon
Here, stonemasons are working on bricks and keystones
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
Workers transport stones by cart
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
Special cranes are built to take heavier rocks to higher levels of the building site
Image credits: Guédelon
In the annals of Guedelon, works began in 1228. Each year that passes is a year in historical time too, so we are now in 1248
Image credits: Guédelon
“The rule is that only what we know from documents that existed at the time is allowed”
Image credits: Guédelon
They’re paying extreme attention to detail for the interior as well. Here’s a shot of the timber work inside the castle bedroom
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
Another view of the castle bedroom and its decorated walls
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
Even the transport around the site is medieval: people use site carts and horse-drawn carriages to move around
Image credits: Guédelon
Workers are also re-building servants’ homes and buildings used for daily life
Image credits: Guédelon
A look at some of the woodwork in the castle’s halls
Image credits: Guédelon
Some of the building techniques had to be re-discovered or improvised, such as the exact combination of materials for the mortar
Image credits: Denis Gliksman
Those who want to do more than just visit the castle can also pitch in and work for a few days — about 650 people each year volunteer to do so
Image credits: Guédelon
Here’s a British engineering student Cloe, from Northampton, walking in a winch drum at the construction site
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
And another volunteer playing with geese
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
A man works at the construction site
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
Clement Guerard, a blacksmith at the site since 1999, poses in his workshop
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
Man grinds flour in a gristmill
Image credits: Guédelon
The location was chosen because most of the building materials are nearby. There is rock for the walls and towers, big oak trees for wood and close access to water and sand
Image credits: Denis Gliksman
This is how it looked like in the early stages of the project
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
And a glimpse of the building plan for the castle shows how it will look completed
Image credits: Guédelon
This is how Guedelon Castle looks now
Image credits: Jacky Naegelen
Be sure to watch the video to find out more secrets of this chateau
I visited this place last year. It's just an incredible and touching project and realisation. I add that clay is also on site (they make all the tiles).
So cool!!
I wonder if there will be a bath room added, or will everyone have to rely on a bucket, and bottle of perfume? 😜
People had bath, but no 'bathroom' (i.e. a room just dedicated to that), so no bathroom planned in Guedelon. There is actually a big well in the courtyard for water. That is a really cool project (I worded there for a couple of weeks as a volunteer years ago), everyone who is interested should watch the 5 episodes of Secrets of the Castle, it is really good.
" As for the privies in castles, excrement would either fall into the moat, or released down the side of the castle’s walls. An interesting story about this medieval ‘sewage’ system comes from the 1203-1204 siege of Château Gaillard in Normandy, France. During the siege, the French forces succeeded in capturing the second wall by penetrating it via a unguarded toilet chute that led to a chapel. in order to keep their teeth white, people began to use mixtures of herbs and abrasives, including burnt rosemary, to scrub their teeth. A mouthwash made from a mixture of vinegar and wine was also used for oral hygiene. In addition to these measures, people of the Middle Ages would freshen their breath by chewing on strong-smelling herbs, such as mint, cinnamon, or sage. only the wealthy would have access to private bathtubs. The rest of the population had to settle for public baths, which had to accommodate hundreds of people. " Pic : Sharing of a bathing and dining experience, France, 15 th Sharing-of...52e271.jpg
this is the " toilettes médiévales " (medieval toilets) at GUEDELON ! TOILETTES-...099be3.jpg
l did watch this show when it aired a couple of years ago here in Oz..it was quite interesting cause I'm interested in castles..one of my brothers was a stone masonry teacher for quite a few years and l put him onto this show..if l was ever to plan a trip in that direction it would be nice to go and visit it..
But there are loos in many rooms ;)
It is entirely possible. Many of the larger castles did have some kind of plumbing, borrowing what the Ancient Romans left behind in regards to engineering. It just was extremely expensive to build and maintain, so most didn't bother.
Actually, what I was really referring to was the "Bath" part in Bath Room, not the privy. Sorry if it was misunderstood. Can you imagine hardly ever taking a bath? I know I can't, Wheeewww. 😜
All i can think of is Sam from GoT emptying the bed pans at night trying not to puke. Bad enough seeing what breakfast looked like but seeing how it came out the same way it went in was a site Sam ( or i ) will ever forget!
There are examples of primitive "facilities" built into the stonework where waste material was dropped down "chimneys" and "lower" life emptied the waste at ground level (probably used as earth improver)
all medieval castles had toilets . Picture : this is the one in my neighborhood in southwest France. " As for the privies in castles, excrement would either fall into the moat, or released down the side of the castle’s walls. An interesting story about this medieval ‘sewage’ system comes from the 1203-1204 siege of Château Gaillard in Normandy, France. During the siege, the French forces succeeded in capturing the second wall by penetrating it via a unguarded toilet chute that led to a chapel." TOILETTES-...362abb.jpg
This comment has been deleted.
actually noblemen and women were a lot cleaner during the Middle Ages than in the 17th and 18th centuries when they stated using perfumes. pic : medieval toilets at Guedelon TOILETTES-...90cd81.jpg
actually in medieval times people were a lot cleaner than we think. there were public baths in every towns. here is a medieval toilet in a castle 6de1e4d46c...8759e5.jpg
medieval toilets in a castle toilette-m...145c4d.jpg
Hehe, reasonable question! It came to my mind how this is compatible with workplace safety laws. Do not get me wrong, I do not mean to provoke. But the risk of being smashed by a rock is quite substantial, and they do not even wear helmets.
That place is awesome!!!
I visited this place last year. It's just an incredible and touching project and realisation. I add that clay is also on site (they make all the tiles).
So cool!!
I wonder if there will be a bath room added, or will everyone have to rely on a bucket, and bottle of perfume? 😜
People had bath, but no 'bathroom' (i.e. a room just dedicated to that), so no bathroom planned in Guedelon. There is actually a big well in the courtyard for water. That is a really cool project (I worded there for a couple of weeks as a volunteer years ago), everyone who is interested should watch the 5 episodes of Secrets of the Castle, it is really good.
" As for the privies in castles, excrement would either fall into the moat, or released down the side of the castle’s walls. An interesting story about this medieval ‘sewage’ system comes from the 1203-1204 siege of Château Gaillard in Normandy, France. During the siege, the French forces succeeded in capturing the second wall by penetrating it via a unguarded toilet chute that led to a chapel. in order to keep their teeth white, people began to use mixtures of herbs and abrasives, including burnt rosemary, to scrub their teeth. A mouthwash made from a mixture of vinegar and wine was also used for oral hygiene. In addition to these measures, people of the Middle Ages would freshen their breath by chewing on strong-smelling herbs, such as mint, cinnamon, or sage. only the wealthy would have access to private bathtubs. The rest of the population had to settle for public baths, which had to accommodate hundreds of people. " Pic : Sharing of a bathing and dining experience, France, 15 th Sharing-of...52e271.jpg
this is the " toilettes médiévales " (medieval toilets) at GUEDELON ! TOILETTES-...099be3.jpg
l did watch this show when it aired a couple of years ago here in Oz..it was quite interesting cause I'm interested in castles..one of my brothers was a stone masonry teacher for quite a few years and l put him onto this show..if l was ever to plan a trip in that direction it would be nice to go and visit it..
But there are loos in many rooms ;)
It is entirely possible. Many of the larger castles did have some kind of plumbing, borrowing what the Ancient Romans left behind in regards to engineering. It just was extremely expensive to build and maintain, so most didn't bother.
Actually, what I was really referring to was the "Bath" part in Bath Room, not the privy. Sorry if it was misunderstood. Can you imagine hardly ever taking a bath? I know I can't, Wheeewww. 😜
All i can think of is Sam from GoT emptying the bed pans at night trying not to puke. Bad enough seeing what breakfast looked like but seeing how it came out the same way it went in was a site Sam ( or i ) will ever forget!
There are examples of primitive "facilities" built into the stonework where waste material was dropped down "chimneys" and "lower" life emptied the waste at ground level (probably used as earth improver)
all medieval castles had toilets . Picture : this is the one in my neighborhood in southwest France. " As for the privies in castles, excrement would either fall into the moat, or released down the side of the castle’s walls. An interesting story about this medieval ‘sewage’ system comes from the 1203-1204 siege of Château Gaillard in Normandy, France. During the siege, the French forces succeeded in capturing the second wall by penetrating it via a unguarded toilet chute that led to a chapel." TOILETTES-...362abb.jpg
This comment has been deleted.
actually noblemen and women were a lot cleaner during the Middle Ages than in the 17th and 18th centuries when they stated using perfumes. pic : medieval toilets at Guedelon TOILETTES-...90cd81.jpg
actually in medieval times people were a lot cleaner than we think. there were public baths in every towns. here is a medieval toilet in a castle 6de1e4d46c...8759e5.jpg
medieval toilets in a castle toilette-m...145c4d.jpg
Hehe, reasonable question! It came to my mind how this is compatible with workplace safety laws. Do not get me wrong, I do not mean to provoke. But the risk of being smashed by a rock is quite substantial, and they do not even wear helmets.
That place is awesome!!!