Discover Guédelon Castle in Burgundy, France. A unique fortress built using only medieval tools and methods. See stonemasons, carpenters, and blacksmiths at work. Try stone carving, rope making, and more.
Guédelon Castle in Burgundy, France isn’t a finished monument.
It’s a work in progress.
Since 1997, a team of builders has been raising this medieval fortress using only tools and techniques from the Middle Ages.
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No power tools.
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No machinery.
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Just hand-forged iron, wooden scaffolds, rope pulleys, and the strength of oxen.
What makes it special?
Everything is produced on-site, the medieval way:
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Timber from the surrounding forest becomes beams and scaffolding.
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Stone is quarried nearby for walls and towers.
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Bread, rope, and tiles are handmade inside the castle grounds.
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The gardens grow crops from medieval seed varieties.
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Even the bread is baked from flour milled from ancient grains.
What can you do as a visitor?
You’re not just watching history. You’re part of it.
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Try carving a block of stone.
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Weave rope like a medieval worker.
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Shape a roof tile with clay.
A visit lasts only a few hours, but it feels like stepping into another century.
You leave with more than photos. You leave with dust on your shoes and a deeper respect for the patience and skill of medieval builders.
Why visit Guédelon Castle?
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It’s part open-air theatre.
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It’s part archaeological experiment.
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It’s a rare chance to see how a fortress was really built.
Would you build a castle with your own hands if you had the chance?
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