If you like anything middle-ages related than this castle will be like taking a trip through time. Located in Burgundy, France, Guedelon Castle is a one of a kind project in which a group of researches and volunteers are constructing an authentic 13th century castle by using only methods and materials that were available back at that time.
Stared by Michel Guyot and Maryline Martin back in 1997, it has been slowly nearing completion since then. Now the project has created 55 jobs and has more than 300,000 visitors every year.
The castle even has a historical story behind that dictates the design and construction. According to Guedelon’s annals, work began in 1228. That means that every year that passes today also passes in historical time, meaning that we are now in 1249. “The rule is that only what we know from documents that existed at the time is allowed,” said Sarah Preston, the English guide. “Funnily enough, we found that even though we knew we were being accurate, somehow the castle lacked soul. So we invented a character – the owner – who would have likes and dislikes, wanting this and not wanting that.”
The lord of the castle is Seigneur Guilbert, a middle-ranking lord who got the rights to build his own castle when he took the crown’s side in a rebellion during 1226.
“At one point we realized the stonemasons were cutting the stones for the towers too perfectly, which just wouldn’t have been appropriate. It would have suggested he had a lot of money and therefore a small army in the chateau, which wasn’t the case.” The castle is expected to be finished around 1253 – or 2023 in today’s time.
More info: guedelon.fr