The Story of Guedelon Castle

In the mid-1990s, researchers studying the Château de Saint-Fargeau in Burgundy found a medieval castle hidden inside its 17th-century brick walls. Their report ended with a line that changed Michel Guyot’s life: ‘Reconstructing Saint-Fargeau castle would be an amazing project.’ Guyot, who had already rescued historic châteaux, decided to do something bolder: build a brand-new 13th-century castle from scratch, using only the tools, materials and methods of the Middle Ages.

Guyot, who had experience in saving castles, gathered a small group of enthusiasts to create the project at Guedelon. Together, they have been in the process of building a 13^th-century castle using the same tools and materials the lords of that era would’ve employed.

Getting Started at Guedelon Castle

Early in the project, they ruled out Saint-Fargeau Chateau. It didn’t make sense to reconstruct an existing building. Instead, they opted to find a new location and build a neighboring castle. They had to lay the financial groundwork to get the project going. The needed funds to purchase property, pay staff and construct an entrance barn. They found the right connections to secure the funds and the castle was ready to become more than just a great idea written in a report. The team chose Guedelon Forest as the site of the new castle because it could provide them with all the construction materials they needed.

Experimental Archaeology

Guedelon Castle allows the scientific community a space to test their hypotheses about how castles were built.

 My normal work consists of carrying out research on existing ruins…In fact we mentally deconstruct the wall that we are studying.  This can take us so far, but it remains an intellectual activity.  Today, Guedelon is helping us to put ideas and research to the test.

Fanatics for a Fortress, Archaeologist and Lyon University Senior Lecturer Anne Baud

The construction is slated to continue for a decade or two, which is part of the appeal of the castle. It’s about the experience and not the completion.

Guests at Guedelon Castle

By 1998, Guedelon Castle opened to the public. It receives 300,000 guests a season, and their entry fees support the continued construction efforts and a workforce of 70 to 100 people. The site hosts various events throughout the year and has two restaurants. Visitors who want to learn more about medieval construction can volunteer to help with the effort.

Education is the guiding principle. The masons, carpenters and rope-makers stop to explain their craft to anyone who asks, and hands-on learning in a working medieval site makes a lesson you don’t forget. It harks back to a world without engines or electricity.

Guedelon Castle and Asgard Alaska

Guédelon shows what patience, craft and a committed community can build, and that the building itself can be the attraction. It is a roadmap and an inspiration for Asgard Alaska as we work toward an open-air Viking museum in Alaska. Follow our progress, or lend a hand as we learn the old ways together.