Build A Castle, and They Will Come

In the French countryside, one very determined archaeologist isn't just working on his dream project -- he's constructing an international landmark.

It's the stuff of fairy tales, except this one is for real. Two hours south of Paris in an abandoned quarry, a real-life medieval castle is being constructed by a passionate group of individuals using authentic medieval building techniques that haven't been used in over 700 years.

Building this castle is the long-time dream of archaeological historian Michel Guyot. While restoring Saint Fargeau castle, located just miles from the current castle construction site, he and the team discovered that hidden in the walls of the 15th-century castle were original stone walls from a medieval fortress from the 13th-century. The discovery planted a seed in Guyot and it eventually inspired what is now the castle of Guédelon -- a medieval-style dream home built using 13th-century building techniques.

The dream, which some people have called crazy, took years to realize. But Guyot did not give up and eventually he teamed up with entrepreneur and co-owner Maryline Martin, who instantly saw it as a way of boosting the local economy, creating new jobs, providing people with real training and bringing tourists to the area.

Martin and Guyot hired a team of about 50 workers, obtained the correct permits, located a site and finally broke ground. Nothing about building this castle has been easy or fast. In fact, they've been at it since 1997 -- that's almost 13 years, and it's not expected to be finished until sometime between 2023 and 2025. It's taken longer than it would have in medieval times, due to the small size of the work force and a constant flow of tourists.

Finding the right spot
Where can you build a 13th-century castle? The French countryside, of course. Martin hunted for the best piece of land, and struck gold when he located an abandoned sandstone quarry. And what a fateful location! The quarry contained almost all of the materials that they needed to get the castle off the ground, such as wood, stone and clay. The only items that they bring in are limestone, extra wood and the lime used to make the mortar.

Building it right
With no specific historical plans, how were they to build an authentic medieval castle from the ground up? Jacques Moulin stepped up to the challenge of being the head architect, designing a building that would emphasize the medieval building techniques. The goal of the entire project was not the castle itself but the experience of learning and understanding the process.

Some of the first challenges they faced were meeting building codes and regulations. They certainly didn't want to replicate the unsafe conditions of medieval times, so a good partnership with the county safety committee was a must. Some of the ancient techniques took years to get approved. To ensure that the practices are safe for modern day workers, many wear protective gear such as hard hats, safety glasses and steel-toed boots; workers also wear medieval-style clothing. This helps separate them from the tourists but also helps make the experience seem even more authentic.

So what does it take to build a castle without the assistance of cranes, bulldozers or power tools? A lot of trial and error, research and education. The workers certainly didn't know how to use "wattle and daub," an ancient form of wall making, or medieval quarrying techniques, so there was a steep learning curve for just about every skill. Construction techniques and materials were researched by the castle's archaeological committee, mostly taken from illuminated manuscripts, stained glass windows and financial documents. Under direction of master mason Florian Renucci, the work is supervised to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of every step.

Helping the economy
The project was funded for the first three years by investors, but after that the whole project has been self-funded. At first, there were only local French visitors, but now the site attracts people from all over the world. Last year, more than 300,000 people came from far and wide to see Guédelon. Besides unguided or guided tours of the construction site, there are various activities for kids, like stone-carving workshops. Just over 100 miles from Paris, it's a nice drive through the French countryside if you're up for an adventurous day trip!

The road ahead
So who will be the proud owner of castle Guédelon once it is complete? It's unknown at this time. It will likely continue to be a tourist attraction and a place for education. One thing's for sure -- you won't find Guyot living there. For him, it's all about the journey. One stone at a time.

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