New old medieval castle

[nickk]

One of our visits in France this year,thanks to @Mick Annick ,a government sponsored construction of a faithful copy of a13th C fortress,very authentic even with 3 man engines,not a power tool in sight ,craftsman wearing rags plus tent like workshops,the lack of guarding and oppressive rails and fences everywhere was also refreshing,even with 3 kids in tow,plus an open fire you could actually sit around was welcome.
ID LIKE to return to see progress. It’s called GUEDOLOT.

 

[Barking Mat]

I've seen this, where is it ?

 

[roofman]

Wow..looks like it was being lived in and worked yesterday

 

[nickk]

And a shop close to my heart,the blacksmith’s.
@Barking Mat ,nearest town is TOUCY.

 

[Mick Annick]

And a shop close to my heart,the blacksmith’s.
@Barking Mat ,nearest town is TOUCY.
View attachment 418545

I’m glad you enjoyed it, we’re going to go back again before winter - from your photos they’ve made a lot of progress since we last went.

 

[DanZac]

Looking at the tools on display it's amazing how little has changed in 700 years (apart from powering those tools). Looks like a fascinating place, and a brilliant project.

 

[Mick Annick]

Their website in English if you want to have a look:

Guédelon - Nous bâtissons un château fort

Nous bâtissons un château fort

www.guedelon.fr

 

[Mick Annick]

And a UK documentary on it:

 

[Parm]

Fabulous place and project, I watched a programme a few years ago, I think it was Ruth Goodman the the two lads whose names I can’t remember

 

[Gritineye]

I saw the program on that Nickk, I'd like to visit some day.

Unlike here the French like to restore their castles instead of leaving the in a ruined state, which I like as they put back a lot of wooden defensive items that you just don't see here after the've rotted away.

The total lack of self and hasty is very refreshing too, you can be high up with nothing to stop you or your kids falling backwards off a walkway if you step back while looking at the view between the battlements, concentrates the mind on cheap life was back then.

We stayed inside Carcassonne Castle a few years ago, in a room right against the wall. A magnificent place that had been saved from demolition and almost fully restored many years ago, but now most historians agree it was tidied up a bit too much and lots of interesting features were lost, while other parts were restored completely incorrectly.

I could dig out some pics of it and other castles we visited and post them in another thread if there's any interest.

Carcassonne - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[bourbon]

You can volunteer to work there. There is a requirement that you have to be able to speak French. It's a very good project though. My medieval group do the same type of thing, with a Blacksmith, Pole lathe turner, general carpenter and other crafts of the time. The 'rags' you say people are wearing, Cost me £400!

 

[not done it yet]

even with 3 kids in tow,

Tie his hands together - and only have two in tow

Looks like an enjoyable visit.

 

[nickk]

I’m glad you enjoyed it, we’re going to go back again before winter - from your photos they’ve made a lot of progress since we last went.

Hi mick,when did you last visit?

 

[Mick Annick]

Hi mick,when did you last visit?

I can’t remember, think it may have been pre-covid…

 

[Nick67GT]

One of our visits in France this year,thanks to @Mick Annick ,a government sponsored construction of a faithful copy of a13th C fortress,very authentic even with 3 man engines,not a power tool in sight ,craftsman wearing rags plus tent like workshops,the lack of guarding and oppressive rails and fences everywhere was also refreshing,even with 3 kids in tow,plus an open fire you could actually sit around was welcome.
ID LIKE to return to see progress. It’s called GUEDOLOT.View attachment 418535View attachment 418536View attachment 418537View attachment 418538View attachment 418539View attachment 418540View attachment 418541 View attachment 418542 View attachment 418543 View attachment 418544

We also visited this place a couple of months back. Fascinating. Bit disappointed that the blacksmith wasn’t doing anything, but all the other trades were there showing off their skills.



Built on the site of an old quarry apparently, hence the abundance of the basic raw material.