Natural Building: A 13th Century Castle, Still in Construction
My favorite castles have always been what we called Château Forts, which can really be translated as Fortified Castle. I never could find an actual definitive translation, but I think that will do. They are the castles of the Medieval Period.
Having grown up in France for the first 12 years of my life, seeing old stone and fortified structures was normal, and kids are still kids in Europe, most of us liked role playing some kind of knight or Robin Hood and Royalty. The games could be endless, especially in a time when climbing on Ruins wasn't against the law or parents seemed to freak out a lot less about danger!
We used to climb everywhere...
Scource, Click on the scource if you want to learn all about it, it's their website!
So a few years ago I discovered a project a few people had taken on. Their idea was to take to build a castle with 13th century techniques and tools. They set out to find a team of 50 builders, took over a disused quarry surrounded by forest and started building a 13th century castle. The plans and blue print for this castle is completely new, there aren't some lost piece of architecture that was never built or was never finished. The design is based on what Philip Augustus of the 12th and 13th century had built.
The place is so inspiring, especially for those of us who enjoy old skills. It's like a whole diy thing. To the left of the castle is the quarry, next to that there's a stonemason workshop. To the right of the castle is a blacksmith working away making the tools needed for building this massive undertaking! Once in a while you will see a horse drawn carriage bringing entire tree trucks to the carpenters shop to be turned into anything from rafters to shingles.
You can also see people making tiles for the roof and for the floors. Clay plays a big role here as do all the elements of this environment. As you walk through the giant construction site, every structure is something to pay attention to. If you like natural building techniques, there are a lot of skills to be observed.
We are starting to build ourmulti-family homestead for artists and anarchist who want to get back to the land, so you can imagine how exciting this place is for us...so many ideas for shelters, or workshops and gardens!!!!
Here are a few photos from our second trip there
Notice the roof tiles? And this building is a very good example of Wattle and Daub.
He loves to take his photo... at least he didn't get pissed, he ran around like a wildling!
They've been working on this thing now for 20 years. It's set up now as a tourist attraction but it is something to see. It may as well be one of the wonders of the world... Where else will you see 21st century humans work at such a slow pace with outdated tool? Actually... I can think of a few countries where I have seen people still using what seemed to be old, old skills
Though, in our time these may become Needed Skills again. Learn to swim, learn to adapt and learn that change is good...
It's not a question of the earth's survival, she is strong AF, but of our own!
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Thanks for putting natural building into perspective. What sticks out to me are the trades surrounding the build.
This stands out to me. These days our inventories are ridiculous, which is a huge reason for the waste we produce.
Making a tool as needed is so much more satisfying and environmentally friendly...
Great post, my friend.
You're welcome and thank you for a great commemt!
True, if we could make oir tools as we need them it for sure would make less waste. They literally built everything on site there!
So many good lessons
If I ever come close there, I will definitely need to visit this - I love castles! Thank you for this wonderful article! :)
First, thank you for the massive Upvote, I appreciate it a lot!!!! Wow.
And second, yes this place is something to visit for sure. And everything is properly done the same as (as far as we know) it was nack in those days. Just amazing.
We try to go everytime we are near. I could stay for days!
I know, English doesn't have the distinction you can see in the German language between Schloss (more like a mansion) and Burg (the château forts). Oh, and how amazing it is, that it's being built by modern people using traditional techniques. Lot's of learning opportunities, I'm sure. Though in the end, it might make you appreciate power tools much more... or who knows, regard them as unnecessary, once you've gotten so good at the hand tools. In either case, I love the idea of building medieval castles in our days.
Haha as much as I love working without powertools I do find them very useful! But yeah learning all about how to use yhese skills would be great, I'm sure it can take a lifetime to master one aspect of the build.
Just amazing they are doing it today, I wonder if they imagined the project to take this long...
i wish they started building castles all over the world... this is so cool!
I know right! I am in the US now and I am kind of tempted to just build one one the property we bought....
lol, maybe once steem goes to the moon, we'll each build one...
Yes, I like the way you think! It's a deal...!
This is so Awesome. Learning the skills to build something as large as a castle with hand tools is such a great learning experience.
For sure right! It's so amazing we've gone teice so far and know we will go again....
I think they still offer apprenticeships. It would be kind of fun and you have to dress the part too, for the tourists!
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I used to live in the Loire Valley where chateaus are aplenty and I didn't know anything about Guédelon! It seems to be close enough to the river, too. Love the idea and I'll be curious to find out if there are any advantages of only using 13th century techniques and if it's not more sustainable to weigh which is the best option at the intersection of the old and new.
Good to see wattle and daub gaining more popularity.
Great post!
Yea that would be an interesting thing to know, though I have a feeling the building techniques or maybe the materials, are more sustainable than today's.
It's beautiful country la Loire. I'm curious to know what brought you there. There an area in france Le Pays Cathare, the castles there are truly amazing. Most of them are purched high on top of some very steep mountain peak.
Check that out sometime if you're still in france and you can park a van or small motorhome where you wish, its a great place to camp and hike too!
Thank you
I'm a Tourangelle :) I did my master in Tours and truly consider it one of my homes. I left France about 2 years ago although I keep going back to Tours to see my friends and visit the guinguette. I did the Loire à Vélo between Tours and Nantes one summer so I got to see some of the nicest chateaux of the Loire.
I'm not in France anymore, at the moment I live in Seoul but I'm definitely putting this on my list for whenever I go back next!
Excellent! I never bicycled that much, not for days on end like that but I'm sure it is very rewarding and relaxing. It must have been a very beautiful trip.
Seoul must be interesting?
The Loire à vélo was one of the best experiences of my life. You should definitely give it a go if you have the opportunity!
Seoul is a whole new world of interesting. Planning on writing about it soon!
Oh cool, see that was why I used to like facebook. We could exchange stories and photos from around the world and keep in touch with all the friends I made traveling the planet!
Here on Steemit, the direction we seem to take is on the right track to stay genuine. Being decentralized helps with that I guess too... can't wait to see your post.
What an amazing project. The photos on the website take your breath away.....such skill. Recently I watched a program where volunteers were trying to test ways that the huge stones at Stonehenge were lifted into place....that was a weekend project, not 20 years!
Yea it's just amazing what they're doing, and unfortunately (I'm guessing because I wasn't a part of steemit and it was my second time there) I didn't take very many photos, but I'm glad you went to the sight.
This Stonehenge project, did they move the stones with a marble or something like that where one man can move them? I would be interested in finding the program. Do you have a link for it?
The BBC have a lot about Stonehenge. Try this link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04hc5t9 They moved the stones into their final vertical position by a lot of people pulling on ropes and dropping it into a hole.
Oh the great pit... I will check that out, I was actually referring to this guy:
This is so amazing. What a beautiful thing to devote a life to. It reminded me of the book The Pillars of the Earth.
So amazing I think I will go again for the 3rd time next time I'm near! Incredible dedication for sure!