Visiting Guédelon Castle in Burgundy, France 2021

What is There to See at Guédelon?

In seven hectares of woodland you can see the construction of the castle, as it happens. And this is not just the laying of stone, but also a number of associated activities. From quarrymen, stonemasons and carpenters, to woodcutters, blacksmiths and tilers, as well as potters, basket weavers, carters and rope makers. There are in fact 11 different trades represented on the site. All of these may be busy in their tasks when you visit.

To visit Guédelon is to visit an active ‘medieval’ construction site. The various people will be doing what is required at that moment in time. There are no formal demonstrations, and there are no set times for when tasks will be carried out, as is usually the case on a so-called living archaeological sites. The workers are engaged in their job and they get on with it.

As visitors you are encouraged to talk to the workers, and part of their work is to engage with visitors. And from what I saw when I visited, they are only too happy to do so.

Of the castle itself, you can walk along the parapets of two of the exterior curtain walls (from where you get a great view of the courtyard). You can see the plan of the castle as the bases of the four towers and the twin-drum towers that make up the gatehouse are complete. You can go inside the great hall and the adjacent bed chamber with painted walls. The chapel, the kitchen and the guardrooms are also complete.

Beyond the castle and the activities surrounding it, you can take a short walk in the forest to see a medieval mill in action (weather and other conditions permitting).