Builders go back in time to construct castle the good, old medieval way

By HT Correspondent

Updated On Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

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Forgoing all modern technology, blacksmiths, stonemasons and quarrymen are hard at work in France building a 13th century-style castle. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

Forgoing all modern technology, blacksmiths, stonemasons and quarrymen are hard at work in France building a 13th century-style castle. (REUTERS)

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Using the most basic tools and materials, they are replicating the methods used hundreds of years ago to better understand them. The Guedelon castle is a typical French medieval chateau-fort being built using the techniques, materials and rules of the 13th Century, and has been in construction since June 1997 when the first stone was laid. Picture taken September 13, 2016. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

Using the most basic tools and materials, they are replicating the methods used hundreds of years ago to better understand them. The Guedelon castle is a typical French medieval chateau-fort being built using the techniques, materials and rules of the 13th Century, and has been in construction since June 1997 when the first stone was laid. Picture taken September 13, 2016. (REUTERS)

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A man works at the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon near Treigny in the Burgundy region of France. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

A man works at the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon near Treigny in the Burgundy region of France. (REUTERS)

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Workers carry stones at the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon. Forgoing all modern technology, workers use hammers to break stones and forge iron, operate wooden wheels to hoist their materials up to where they are needed, and rely on a quarry for stone, clay and sand as they build up a castle from scratch. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

Workers carry stones at the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon. Forgoing all modern technology, workers use hammers to break stones and forge iron, operate wooden wheels to hoist their materials up to where they are needed, and rely on a quarry for stone, clay and sand as they build up a castle from scratch. (REUTERS)

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Stonecutter and massons work at the construction site. Construction on Guedelon Castle in central-eastern France began in 1997 after an archaeological survey revealed a medieval fortress hidden inside the walls of nearby Chateau de Saint-Fargeau. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

Stonecutter and massons work at the construction site. Construction on Guedelon Castle in central-eastern France began in 1997 after an archaeological survey revealed a medieval fortress hidden inside the walls of nearby Chateau de Saint-Fargeau. (REUTERS)

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A potter works at the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon near Treigny in the Burgundy region of France. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

A potter works at the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon near Treigny in the Burgundy region of France. (REUTERS)

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A stonecutter works at the construction site. Those behind the project hope to answer questions about medieval construction and provide lessons on sustainable building. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

A stonecutter works at the construction site. Those behind the project hope to answer questions about medieval construction and provide lessons on sustainable building. (REUTERS)

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A view of the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

A view of the construction site of the Chateau de Guedelon. (REUTERS)

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A woman plays with geese at the construction site. Around 40 people work at the site. “The point of what we’re going to do here is...also help better restore ancient heritage,” 44-year-old stonemason Clement Guerard, who has worked on the site since 1999, told Reuters. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

A woman plays with geese at the construction site. Around 40 people work at the site. “The point of what we’re going to do here is...also help better restore ancient heritage,” 44-year-old stonemason Clement Guerard, who has worked on the site since 1999, told Reuters. (REUTERS)

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A worker walks in a winch drum at the construction site. After initially being funded, the project is now financed by the roughly 300,000 tourists who visit each year to see the castle slowly come together. Hundreds of people also come each year to work on the project. (REUTERS)

Updated on Sept 16, 2016 02:51 pm IST

A worker walks in a winch drum at the construction site. After initially being funded, the project is now financed by the roughly 300,000 tourists who visit each year to see the castle slowly come together. Hundreds of people also come each year to work on the project. (REUTERS)

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