Guédelon Castle
{{Short description|French project recreating a 13th-century castle}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Guédelon Castle
| native_name = Château de Guédelon
| location = Near Treigny, Yonne, Burgundy, France
| image = Guédelon 2017.jpg
| caption = Guédelon Castle in April 2017
| coordinates = {{coord|47|35|1|N|3|9|20|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| image_map = Plan du château de Guédelon.svg
| image_map_caption = Plan of Guédelon Castle
| pushpin_map = France
| pushpin_map_caption = Guédelon Castle
| ownership = {{ill|Michel Guyot|fr}}
| built = 1997–present
| website = [http://www.guedelon.fr/ www.guedelon.fr]
}}
Guédelon Castle ({{langx|fr|Château de Guédelon}} {{IPA|fr|ʃɑto d(ə) ɡedlɔ̃|}}) is a castle currently under construction near Treigny, France. The castle is the focus of an experimental archaeology project aimed at recreating a 13th-century castle and its environment using period techniques, dress, and materials.
In order to fully investigate the technology required in the past, the project is using only period construction techniques, tools, and costumes. Materials, including wood and stone, are all obtained locally. {{ill|Jacques Moulin|fr|Jacques Moulin (architecte)}}, chief architect for the project, designed the castle according to the architectural model developed during the 12th and 13th centuries by Philip II of France.
Construction started in 1997 under {{ill|Michel Guyot|fr}}, owner of Château de Saint-Fargeau, a castle in Saint-Fargeau {{convert|13|km|mi}} away. The site was chosen according to the availability of construction materials: an abandoned stone quarry, in a large forest, with a nearby pond.{{Cite web|last=Dowson|first=Thomas|date=2020|title=Experience Gudelon Castle|url=https://archaeology-travel.com/france/guedelon/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-11-29|website=archaeology-travel.com}} The site is in a rural woodland area and the nearest town is Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye, about {{convert|5|km|mi}} to the northeast.
History
In 1979, French entrepreneur Michel Guyot purchased the ruins of the Château de Saint-Fargeau and began restoring it with profits raised on-site.
{{cite news
|last=Henley |first=Jon
|date=30 July 1999
|title=King of a modern medieval castle
|newspaper=The Guardian
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jul/31/jonhenley
|access-date=25 October 2018 |url-status=live
|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20171022043639/https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jul/31/jonhenley
|archive-date=22 October 2017
}}
In late 1995, a study by Guyot's staff revealed the medieval foundations beneath the current, brick ruins, complete with a hypothesized plan of the original castle. After some consideration, Guyot rebuilt the existing castle, but began assembling funds and experts – and opening negotiations with the French government – to build a new castle.{{cite web
|title=The story begins
|publisher=Guédelon Castle
|url=https://www.guedelon.fr/en/the-story-begins_76.html
|lang=en
|access-date=25 October 2018
}}
Over five months in 1997, Guyot raised €400,000 from the European Union, local and the central French governments, and commercial entities.
A former sandstone quarry was chosen as the site of Guédelon Castle because of its relative elevation and abundance of local natural resources, which would have been expensive to transport in the Middle Ages.{{sfn|Minard|Folcher|2003|p=57}}
{{cite news
|title=A medieval castle in France could be Notre Dame's salvation
|last=Willsher |first=Kim
|date=6 June 2019
|newspaper=Los Angeles Times
|url=https://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-france-paris-notre-dame-guedelon-20190528-story.html
|access-date=2019-06-07 |df=dmy-all
}}
The castle location is in a woodland, two hours south of Paris, near Treigny. The ceremonial first stone was laid on 20 June 1997,{{sfn|Durand|2005|p=6}}
and permission for the construction was received from the commune of Treigny on 25 July 1997.
{{cite web
|title=Order of construction
|publisher=Guédelon Castle
|url=https://www.guedelon.fr/en/order-of-construction_86.html
|access-date=25 October 2018
}}
After ground-breaking mid-1997 through early 1998, the site was cleared and the first workshops erected.
{{cite web
|title=Guédelon's building plans
|publisher=Guédelon Castle
|url=https://www.guedelon.fr/en/guedelon-s-building-plans_82.html
|access-date=25 October 2018
}}
By 1998 the castle perimeter had been built up to a metre (3 ¼ feet) in height, following which Guédelon was opened to the public.
By June 2010, the great tower stood at {{convert|15|m|ft}}.
{{cite news
|last=Schofield |first=Huge
|date=30 June 2010
|title=France's new medieval castle
|website=BBC News
|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/10440300
|access-date=25 October 2018
}}
By 2014, the castle was attracting about 300,000 visitors annually,
{{cite news
|last=Grant |first=Olly
|date=18 November 2014
|title=A trip back in time at Guédelon Castle
|newspaper=The Telegraph
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/11236750/Guedelon-visitor-guide-Secrets-of-the-Castle.html
|access-date=25 October 2018 |url-status=live
|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20191205094556/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/france/11236750/Guedelon-visitor-guide-Secrets-of-the-Castle.html
|archive-date=5 December 2019
}}
and had annual revenue of about three million euros.
{{cite news
|last=Godeau |first=Élise
|date=23 September 2013
|title=Guédelon, créneau pédago
|website=Libération
|lang=fr
|url=http://www.liberation.fr/voyages/2014/09/23/guedelon-creneau-pedago_1106899
|access-date=25 October 2018 |url-status=live
|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20190616175440/http://www.liberation.fr/voyages/2014/09/23/guedelon-creneau-pedago_1106899
|archive-date=16 June 2019
}}
In 2022, the castle was attracting about 275,000 visitors.
The techniques redeveloped for Guédelon Castle were used in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris after its catastrophic 2019 fire.{{Cite news |title='They said it was impossible': how medieval carpenters are rebuilding Notre Dame |last=Willsher |first=Kim | newspaper= The Observer |date=20 August 2022 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/20/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-rebuild-medieval-carpenters-guledon}}
Media
Guédelon Castle appeared in the 2004 documentary Europe in the Middle Ages.
{{cite AV media
|people=Christian Twente (director)
|title=Europe in the Middle Ages
|year=2004
|publisher=produced by Gruppe 5 Filmproduktion GmbH
|via=Amazon Prime
|url=https://www.amazon.com/Europe-in-the-Middle-Ages/dp/B07QXTV84K
|access-date=15 February 2021
}}
In November 2014 the castle was featured in the series, Secrets of the Castle, in which the project was described as "the world's biggest archaeological experiment".
{{cite episode
|title=The hidden architectural genius of the Medieval castle
|date=November 2014
|network=BBC Two
|people=Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn, and Tom Pinfold (presenters)
|series=Secrets of the Castle
|series-link=Secrets of the Castle
|season=1 |number=5
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAruY1lv6N4
|access-date=2021-12-11 |via=YouTube
}}
{{cite news
|last=Wollaston |first=Sam
|date=19 November 2014
|title=Secrets of the Castle review – good, old-fashioned medieval fun
|newspaper=The Guardian
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/nov/19/secrets-of-the-castle-review-good-old-fashioned-medieval-fun
|access-date=25 October 2018
}}
In September 2022, Guédelon Castle was featured in a video by Tom Scott, which explored the use of medieval treadmill cranes in its construction.
{{cite web
|last=Scott |first=Tom
|title=I thought the treadmill crane was fictional
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk9v3m7Slv8
|website=YouTube
|date=26 September 2022
|access-date=26 April 2025
}}
Construction images
File:Chateau de Guedelon 2000 01.JPG|2000
File:Guédelon11062004.jpg|2004
File:Castle Guedelon 2005.jpg|2005
File:Château de Guedelon 2006 01.jpg|2006
File:Château guédelon août 2007.jpg|2007
File:Château de Guédelon (juin 2008).jpg|2008
File:Château de Guédelon (juillet 2009).jpg|2009
File:Echauffaudage corps Guédelon.JPG|2010
File:Château de Guédelon (juin 2011).jpg|2011
File:Château de Guédelon (août 2012).jpg|2012
File:Guédelon Château fort en construction.jpg|2013
File:Guédelon - mai 2014 - 11.JPG|2014
File:Guédelon - août 2015 47.JPG|2015
File:Guédelon 29-10-2016 13-20-06.JPG|2016
File:Aspect du chantier le 02 juin 2017.jpg|2017
File:Détails du Château de Guedelon en 2018 01.jpg|2018
File:Le château du Guédelon (Treigny, France) le 19 août 2019.jpg|2019
File:Guedelon 107.jpg|2020
File:Guédelon 2021-08-25 01.jpg|2021
File:Château de Guédelon. en 2023 (2).jpg|2023
Gallery
File:Château Guédelon - Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe (FR89) - 2023-09-21 - 90.jpg|Stonemason tools of Guédelon
File:Four Banal Guédelon - Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe (FR89) - 2023-09-21 - 1.jpg|A communal oven
File:Moulin Guédelon - Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe (FR89) - 2023-09-21 - 1.jpg|Guédelon mill, Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.
File:Moutons Guédelon - Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe (FR89) - 2023-09-21 - 1.jpg|Sheep in Guédelon, Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.
File:Oies Guédelon - Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe (FR89) - 2023-09-21 - 1.jpg|Geese in Guédelon, Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.
File:Potager Guédelon - Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe (FR89) - 2023-09-21 - 1.jpg|Guédelon vegetable garden, Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.
File:Site Guédelon - Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe (FR89) - 2023-09-21 - 10.jpg|Guédelon site, Treigny-Perreuse-Sainte-Colombe.
See also
- Campus Galli – a comparable project to construct a faithful medieval town with a monastery, based on the Plan of Saint Gall; in Meßkirch, Germany
- Castell Coch – a 19th-century Gothic revival castle
- Castell Henllys – an archeological site accompanied by reconstruction roundhouses
- Ozark Medieval Fortress – another, similar (but halted) castle project in Arkansas, USA
- Castle Drogo – an Edwardian imitation castle in England
- Basilica of Saint-Denis, reassembly of the north tower and its spire entirely financed by the site visits
- French frigate Hermione (2014) – a project to construct a faithful 18th-century frigate
- List of castles in France
References
{{reflist|25em}}
Sources
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite news
|last=Durand |first=Philippe
|year=2005
|title=Guédelon, construire aujourd'hui un château du XIIIe siècle
|publisher=Editions Jean-paul Gisserot
|url=https://hal.inria.fr/halshs-00008835/
}}
- {{cite book
|last1=Minard |first1=Philippe
|last2=Folcher |first2=François
|year=2003
|title=Guédelon: des hommes fous, un château fort
|publisher=Aubanel
|isbn=2700603133
}}
- {{cite book
|last=Gleyze |first=Emmanuel
|year=2019
|title=L'Aventure Guédelon: l'édification d'un château médiéval au XXIe siècle
|publisher=Presses Universitaires de la Méditerranée
|isbn=978-2-36781-287-8
}}
{{refend}}
Further reading
- {{cite book
|first=Thomas |last=Bitterli-Waldvogel
|year=2006
|section=Guédelon: Bau einer Burg im 21. Jahrhundert
|title=Burgen und Schlösser. Zeitschrift für Burgenforschung und Denkmalpflege
|edition=Heft 4
|place=Braubach, DE
|publisher=Europäisches Burgeninstitut
}}
- {{cite journal
|last=Hutz |first=Richard
|year=2007
|title=There are places I remember: Situating the Medieval past in postmedieval memory
|series=Transfiguration
|volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=89–108
|journal=Nordic Journal of Christianity and the Arts
|publisher=Museum Tusculanum Press
|isbn=978-87-635-0701-1
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NbqBfNMBFykC&pg=PA89
}}
- {{cite web
|title=Guédelon: Renaissance d'un château médiéval
|website=Dossier Futura-Sciences
|lang=fr
|url=http://www.futura-sciences.com/comprendre/d/dossier636-1.php
}}
- {{cite AV media
|title=Building the Great Cathedrals
|date=19 October 2010
|medium=video documentary
|publisher=PBS
|series=NOVA
|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/building-gothic-cathedrals.html
|access-date=20 October 2010
}}
- {{cite AV media
|title=Guedelon
|medium=360°-panoramatour
|date=August 2011
|website=180x360.eu
|url=http://180x360.eu/pano/fr-guedelon-vtour/
}}
- {{cite interview
|title=Chateau de Guédelon
|subject=Maryline Martin
|interviewer=Castlesandfamilies
|language=English
|url=https://castlesandfamilies.com/france/chateau-de-guedelon
}}
External links
{{Commons category|Guédelon}}
- [http://www.guedelon.fr/en/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guedelon Castle}}
Category:Castles in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Category:Buildings and structures under construction in France