Site map of castle complex
The Stonemasons’ work station
Stonemasons dress sandstone from the quarry (reddish-brown stone) or limestone (white stone) from a neighboring quarry. The sandstone is used to build the towers, walls and buildings inside the courtyard. Limestone is used to sculpt stones for the windows and vaults.
After quarrying, the stone will be shaped to the proper size according to its place on the wall. The wooden objects hanging up in the stonemasons’ lodge are templates or molds. They are full-scale models of the stones needed for the different features of the castle.
The Stonemasons’ tools are chisels, hammers and lump hammers. They use a wooden ruler and set square to check the precision of their work.
At the mortar work station, the Mortar Makers make the “glue” used to bind the stones.
The mortar oven
The mortar is made from lime, sand and water The ingredients in mortar are adjusted according to the type of mortar required.
The Carpenters make all the wooden elements in the castle: roof timbers, doors, the bridge, centrings, which support the vaults while they are being built, scaffolding and lifting machinery (treadmill and hand winches).
A Carpenter at work
Wooden joists
The Blacksmiths make, repair, sharpen and temper dozens of tools a day. Cutting stone blunts the masons’ tools so much that, unless they are sharpened by the blacksmiths every three days, all work at the castle will come to a standstill.
The blacksmith burns charcoal in the hearth to heat the metal. To raise the temperature, he pulls the large leather bellows. The forge is often kept dark because the blacksmiths judge the heat of the metal by eye, depending on its different colors. An orangey-red to pale yellow corresponds to a temperature between 900 and 1200° Centigrade. For tempering, they look out for cherry-red, which is equivalent to 820° Centigrade. For soldering, they must make the metal white-hot, equivalent to 1250 to 1300° Centigrade.
Horses, ponies & donkeys are used to transport materials on the site. Horses transport stones from the quarry and timber from the forest.
A colt
In the Middle Ages, sheep were very valuable for their meat, skin, wool and dung for manure. Sheep’s wool is carded and then spun to make clothes
The animals at Guédelon, including the pigs, are just on display; they aren’t eaten or killed and are given the best of care.
The basket makers weave strong, short-handled willow baskets for the construction site. Baskets are needed to transport clay and material for mortar. Previously, mortar had been transported in heavy wooden buckets, but baskets are much lighter than wood and just as strong.
A village peacock and geese. Goose feathers were sharpened to make quill pens. Peacocks have been a favorite decorative motif through the ages. They may symbolize royalty, wealth, beauty, rebirth….or dangerous pride.
The village garden
In the village dye house, the dyer dyes fabric with plant-based dyes. Also in this workshop, mineral pigments such as ochre and hematite are extracted and used to carry out mural paintings inside the castle. The pigments are extracted from colored earth, minerals and clays found at Guédelon.
Stone carving workshop for kids
With a set of carving tools, children learn to carve stone by sculpting a design onto a limestone block.
With a set of carving tools, children learn to carve stone by sculpting a design onto a limestone block.
Kids learning stone carving
Village pottery workshop
Pottery wheel
On weekends May through November, you can watch the ancient art of throwing pots on a medieval style, stick-propelled wheel.
Village pond
Tile Workshop for roof and paving tiles
For roofing, wood could be used, but for a fortification, a flammable material is dangerous. Tiles are a better solution. The roof and floor tiles are molded from clay extracted on site. The tile makers form the tiles in a wooden mold.
This kiln contains up to 4,000 roof or paving tiles. A firing lasts for about 12 hours, depending on the weather conditions.
Stacks of tiles in the workshop
Wagon maker
The Quarry horses work on average for a two-hour shift. They must have extremely calm temperaments to work among the public.
Chestnut mares, Paloma and Arpège, are Comtois, a breed of draft horses. The horses are essential for transporting materials on site.
I traveled from Paris to Guédelon by bus with Club Alliance Voyages at a cost of 58 euros. I was the only English native speaker on the bus; the commentary was in French, but the French guide made sure I had all necessary information in English. I don’t know of any other way of getting to the castle other than by driving there. There is a lot more to see on the web site: www.guedelon.fr and choose “anglais” from the drop-down menu.
FYI
Michel Guyot undertook the same project--building a medieval castle from the ground up--in Lead Hill, Arkansas. Having visited Guédelon Castle, two French citizens living in Arkansas offered to sell M. Guyot part of their land for the building of the castle. M. Guyot accepted, and construction began in June, 2009. In May, 2010, Ozark Medieval Fortress opened to the public. Visitors could observe the ongoing construction and talk to the workers. Additionally, starting in 2011 a collection of medieval siege weapons was to be on display. The site was open every day from 10AM to 6PM. In January, 2012, the project closed indefinitely, requiring a buyer or an investor.
Why did it fail? The recession of 2008 didn’t help nor did the castle’s secluded location. It was hoped that the castle’s proximity to Branson, Missouri, (30 miles away) would draw some of the 8 million tourists who go to Branson, but that expectation never materialized. Nevertheless, there are still dreamers who hope for a buyer who will invest in their dream.
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