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, then 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. The result is Guédelon Castle.
Guyot gathered a small group of enthusiasts to create the project at Guédelon. Since then, they have been in the process of building a 13th-century castle using the same tools and materials the lords of that era would’ve employed.
Asgard Alaska follows Guédelon closely. In fact, it is one of the living-history sites we study as we work toward an open-air Viking museum in Alaska, and the last section of this post explains why.
Guédelon Castle at a Glance
Where – in a forest near Treigny, in Burgundy, France.
Started – the first stones were laid in 1997.
Is it finished? – not yet. In 2023 the builders told NPR it could take 10, 15, even 20 more years. They are content with that.
Visiting – opening dates and tickets are on the official site, guedelon.fr.
Getting Started at Guédelon Castle
Early in the project, they ruled out Saint-Fargeau Château. It didn’t make sense to reconstruct an existing building. Instead, they opted to find a new location and build a neighboring castle. First, they had to lay the financial groundwork to get the project going. The team needed funds to purchase property, pay staff, and construct an entrance barn. In time, they found the right connections to secure the funds, so the castle was ready to become more than just a great idea written in a report.
At first, according to NPR, the work was financed through donations and some European Union funding. The team chose Guédelon Forest as the site of the new castle because it could provide them with all the construction materials they needed.
Experimental Archaeology
Guédelon Castle also 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. In fact, it’s about the experience and not the completion.
Guests at Guédelon Castle
By 1998, Guédelon 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 also volunteer to help with the effort.
Education is the guiding principle. For example, 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.
Guédelon Castle and Asgard Alaska
Guédelon shows what patience, craft, and a committed community can build, and that the building itself can be the attraction. Like Lofotr in Norway and Puy du Fou elsewhere in France, it is a roadmap and an inspiration for Asgard Alaska as we work toward an open-air Viking museum in Alaska. Follow our progress in Axe and Anchor, Asgard Alaska’s Newsletter.
Sources
- guedelon.fr, Guédelon
- NPR, In France, workers build a castle from scratch the 13th century way
