Guédelon Chantier Médiéval

As our time winds down here, Annie wanted to be able to send off one more letter to Ally, so on our way we stopped at the post for one last letter drop.

Our neighbors had told us of a 13th Century castle being built today as if it were being built back then, using all the techniques form the 13th Century. The kids really wanted to see this so we found ourselves at Guédelon.

This is a work in progress. It began in 1997 and is scheduled to take 25 years. The idea is to be able to see the building of a castle in it's different stages. All the supplies they need-sand, rock, wood etc. are found right there on the site.

The quarry is quite impressive, with it's massive, colorful rocks.

We watched the stone cutters take those enormous rocks and begin to turn them into window arches, door headers and many other parts for the castle.

We decided to take a tour so we could learn as much as possible about the castle and the idea behind it. There was a big crowd for the tour, but when the tour guide came out and called for all the french speakers everyone left but us- so we had our own private tour with Simon. He was a student who wanted to try to improve his English and thought this would be a good way to practice, he was terrific.

A little lesson in geometry.

This was one of our favorite parts, Simon explained the science behind the doors and the secret locks. The big brace he is standing behind actually slides back into the wall of the castle so it is hidden and can be pulled as an extra security.

Everything they were working on was so interesting. Here we watched a man making shingles from logs.

I found this to be a very brilliant contraption. It is the "rain gutter".

We just knew if Grandpa T was here he would have asked if he could have a whack at this arch the woodcutter was creating.

We later saw our guide Simon, apprenticing with the blacksmith.

We are hoping to come back in a few years and see the progress of the castle.
Check out the website at www.guedelon.fr/en
We took the Scenic route home and passed many other castles. We decided to take a peek inside this one.

Chateau de Ratilly. The path leading up to the castle was very impressive and very secluded.


Vive en France

The field adjacent to the chateau was irresistible.
Rooftops and old buildings on winding streets- I will miss this.

We saw many neat old castles, but look at this great house. I made Mark turn around so we could get some good photos. Isn't that just awesome.