Guédelon: An Astonishing Medieval Construction Site To Visit
Guédelon Castle in the Yonne is much more than a monument to visit. It is an educational experience that invites visitors on a true journey back in time! On this unique site in the world, passionate craftsmen, experts in various trades, are building a 13th-century castle using the techniques and materials of the period. The site is open to the public from April to October.
An educational construction site
If you have ever wondered about the construction techniques of Medieval builders and wish to uncover the secrets of building an authentic medieval castle, you don't need a time machine... You just need to visit the construction site of the Guédelon Castle in the Yonne department!
This unique site is located on departmental road 955, between Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye and Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye. There, in an old wooded quarry, you can see artisans building a castle in accordance with 13th-century techniques, using the same materials as back then.
Guédelon, a project ongoing for three decades
The initiator of this somewhat crazy project is Michel Guyot, owner and restorer of the Château de Saint-Fargeau in Yonne. Following an archaeological study conducted on his château, he came up with the idea of building a castle "like in the Middle Ages."
Maryline Martin, the current director of the project, helped him realize this extraordinary endeavor. Within a few months, she managed to gather, convince, and mobilize various partners: architects, archaeologists, and patrons, of course... The history of this project began in 1995 and it is far from over. In 2024, it is estimated that another ten years will be needed to complete the main structure of the castle.
A natural site, identified in the Guédelon forest, was first selected because it offered all the materials necessary for the construction of the castle. The first stone was laid on June 20, 1997, and the site was opened to the public for the first time on May 1, 1998. Thirty years later, the edifice is taking shape, and visitors can admire a tower, a bridge, and a manor house adorned with murals.
Ancestral expertise to rediscover
For nearly three decades, more than forty craftsmen have been working on the historical reconstruction of a fortified castle using stone and wood from the Guédelon forest.
On the site, there is no trace of an old medieval castle. This project is a "new" construction but with ancestral techniques, without electricity or modern machines. Numerous artisanal skills are represented on the site: quarrymen, stonemasons, masons, lumberjacks, carpenters, blacksmiths, cartwrights, tilers, ropemakers, potters, basket weavers...
These craftsmen work by hand, with 13th-century tools, to bring the Guédelon castle to life, and that is what makes this building extraordinary! To respect the techniques and materials used in the Middle Ages, this project is inspired by a number of 13th-century castles, such as Ratilly (89), La Motte-Josserand (58), Dourdan (91), or Yèvre-le-châtel (45).
Since the launch of this extraordinary project, tens of thousands of enthusiasts and curious visitors have come to discover the progress of the work. This site allows for a leap into the past and a rediscovery of ancient trades. It is also possible to interact with the workers (the name given to the artisans of this project).
On-site, no guided tour is imposed: visitors can wander freely to make the most of this unique experience.
Practical information
Here is the useful information to get to the Guédelon castle construction site:
Address
Guédelon medieval construction site
D955
89520 Treigny
Contact
Tel: 03 86 45 66 66
Fax: 03 86 45 66 67
Please note that the site is closed in winter, from November to March, due to weather conditions. For opening hours and prices, visit the website below.
