A French historical experiment that began with the construction of a medieval castle in 1997. (Getty)
More than 25 years ago, a group of history lovers in a quiet forest in the Burgundy region of France decided to build a brand-new medieval castle from scratch. However, their condition was that everything should be done as it had been in the thirteenth century.Today, this project, Godelon Castle, is one of the most prominent historical experiences in France. But the castle is not yet fully completed. But after more than two decades of work, the building is now surrounded by walls, towers, a great hall, a chapel, kitchens and other medieval features. It has also become a center for archaeological research, traditional crafts and sustainable building techniques.When work began in 1997, very few people believed such an ambitious project could succeed.
The site was an abandoned quarry surrounded by woods. Furthermore, the workers used only locally sourced hand tools, stone, wood, and other materials that were available around 1230.At that time, only the outlines of the castle could be seen, and the walls barely rose above the ground. No one knew how long the project would take because no one had attempted to build a medieval castle entirely by hand in hundreds of years.
Now, more than a quarter of a century later, the castle is a major attraction, receiving around 310,000 visitors each year.
It is formed by hand
Work at Guedelon is being carried out by more than 60 skilled craftsmen, NPR reported. Stonecutters, masons, blacksmiths, carpenters, carpenters, painters, tilers, rope makers, basket makers and wheel makers work using traditional techniques.
Skilled craftsmen use only hand tools and traditional methods in construction (Gudelon Castle)
Modern equipment is largely absent with the only exceptions being safety shoes and goggles for cutting stones and safety ropes for workers on scaffolds.Visitors to the castle can also hear the sounds of hammers hitting stone, the sounds of horses pulling carts, and blacksmiths forging iron over open fires instead of engines or electrical tools.
Learning by doing
Builders did not simply copy existing castles. They study medieval antiquities, historical records, and the advice of archaeologists, historians, and scholars before testing different methods themselves.Much of the work involves deduction and experimentation, said Florian Renucci, Godilon’s chief construction foreman.
One of his current challenges is understanding how medieval drawbridges worked. “We know there are pulleys. But that’s about it. How did they work? In the year 1250, how exactly did two men raise and lower a 400-ton drawbridge?” Rinucci said as quoted by The Guardian.Some problems also took years to solve. The team rebuilt the clay tile kiln five times before it was finally functional because no complete medieval model exists.When they struggled to make waterproof mortar for the castle’s tank, they collected samples from another medieval castle and analyzed them in a university laboratory. Even placing the keystone on the church ceiling required months of trial and error.
Functional construction work
Many workers spend years at Guedelon because of the unique experience it offers. Many Godillon craftsmen subsequently contributed their expertise to the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral after the devastating fire of 2019, offering advice on medieval building techniques.Education is also an important part of the project. School groups visit the castle regularly, and workers stop several times a day to explain their work to visitors. Young artisans also receive training in traditional heritage skills. The project also attracts people who change careers to learn traditional trades.Over the years, about 50 children were born to workers at Guidilon, showing how much time has passed since the first stones were laid.Even after more than 25 years, the castle has not been completed. The main tower still needs to be completed, while several other sections are still under construction. It is estimated that the project may take another five or six years, or much longer.
