The castle was named Guedelon (Guedelon), they build it in Burgundy. The construction site was provided by one of the project initiators, Michel Gaillau. The place was chosen so that all the necessary materials were nearby – rocks for cutting stones, wood for wooden structures, water, deposits of sand.
The project has its own clear, carefully thought out history. According to her, Signor Gilbert, a petty, poor feudal lord, began the construction of his castle in 1248. Accordingly, now the year 1249 reigns on the construction site..
The complexity of construction lies precisely in the strict adherence to historical realities. No cement – in the 13th century it was not invented yet! Therefore, a solution for laying hand-hewn stones is prepared from lime and sand slaked here in the oven. Bricklayers work with sandstone slabs, blacksmiths make nails themselves, and produce roof tiles, baskets and ropes at the construction site. And they lift building materials up with manual winches. Delivery of everything you need is done by carts and carts.
At the construction site of the castle, the entire infrastructure for workers was created. Here they themselves make flour, bake bread, and raise poultry. 65 project participants receive salaries, the rest are volunteer volunteers, including many students, just lovers of antiquity and history, restorers.
Despite the fact that at the first stage the financing of the construction of Guedelon was taken over by a local entrepreneur, and the owner was Michel Gaillau, now the project is based on the principles of crowdfunding, that is, voluntary contributions.
The project also makes good money on tourists. In 2018, the construction site of Guedelon will be open from March 19 to November 4, the entrance ticket costs about 12-14 euros for adults. During the season, about 300 thousand tourists manage to visit the construction site.
Local residents also began to receive additional income, because tourists coming from far away need to spend the night somewhere. Cafes and restaurants are opening around the Guedelon under construction, preparing dishes according to medieval recipes. School trips are often brought to the construction site, children are introduced to the basics of medieval crafts.
Experts call the Guedelon construction project the largest archaeological experiment on the planet. In the future, the castle will definitely become one of the landmarks of Burgundy. However, such it is already now, even in an unfinished form..
I’m very curious to know, in the 21st century, how would one go about building a castle in France using medieval technologies? What specific techniques, materials, and methods would be employed to recreate the grandeur and authenticity of the medieval era? It’s fascinating to think about incorporating centuries-old construction practices into modern times. Can you provide some insights or examples on how this is achieved? Thank you!
I’m curious to know, given the advanced technologies we have today, how would the construction process look if someone were to build a castle in France using strictly medieval techniques? Would it be a purely nostalgic endeavor or could it have some practical applications in terms of preserving ancient craftsmanship? How would the process differ from modern construction methods?