Photography

Photos: Building a Medieval Castle in the 21st Century

More than 25 years ago, Michel Guyot, the owner of a French château, launched an experimental castle-building project. Workers using tools and techniques from the 13th century have now completed most of Guédelon Castle, and about 300,000 visitors a year come to watch and learn.

By Alan Taylor
An aerial view of a small medieval-style castle in a wooded area.
Aufort Jerome / Getty
An aerial view of Guédelon Castle in Treigny, France, in 2023
Stonecutters in medieval-style clothing work at a construction site.
Jacky Naegelen / Hans Lucas / Reuters
Stonecutters work at the construction site of the Château de Guédelon on June 25, 2005.
A person in medieval clothing stands at the building site of a castle.
Xavier Rossi / Gamma-Rapho / Getty
A person in medieval-style clothing observes the building site of Guédelon Castle in June 2002.
A blacksmith in medieval attire works at an anvil.
Thierry Perrin / Gamma-Rapho / Getty
A blacksmith in period attire works at the Guédelon Castle site on April 12, 2018.
Two people walk inside the wheels of a medieval treadwheel crane, lifting material at a castle construction site.
Godong / Universal Images Group / Getty
Two people walk inside the “squirrel cage,” a medieval treadwheel crane, to lift material at the construction site in 2011.
A view of a small castle, under construction
Aufort Jerome / Getty
A view of the castle, under construction, as seen in 2023
A person prepares a medieval dish for tourists visiting the construction site of Guédelon Castle.
Philippe Desmazes / AFP / Getty
A person prepares a medieval dish for tourists visiting the construction site of Guédelon Castle on July 15, 2014.
A carpenter uses an old hand-saw to cut into a thick piece of lumber at a construction site.
Jacky Naegelen / Hans Lucas / Reuters
On June 25, 2005, a carpenter prepares a log to be used in the construction of the castle.
A stoneworker pours water onto stones and mortar being placed in a circle atop a round chamber.
Jacky Naegelen / Hans Lucas / Reuters
A stoneworker pours water onto stones and mortar being placed on September 13, 2016.
Timbers support the roof of the Great Hall of the castle.
Godong / Universal Images Group / Getty
Timbers support the roof of the Great Hall inside of Guédelon Castle.
A woman plays with geese beside a medieval-era cart.
Jacky Naegelen / Hans Lucas / Reuters
A woman plays with geese at the construction site on September 13, 2016.
A visitor enters the castle from the courtyard.
Arnaud Finistre / AFP / Getty
A visitor enters the castle from the courtyard on June 23, 2025.
A carpenter works on support timbers for a rounded roof.
Xavier Rossi / Gamma-Rapho / Getty
A carpenter works on support timbers for a rounded roof in June 2002.
Several young people work on a wood-shingled roof.
Albert Ceolan / De Agostini / Getty
Young women work on a shingled roof at the castle construction site in 2019.
A close view of stonework and an arched opening in a castle wall
Godong / Universal Images Group / Getty
A close view of stonework and an arched opening in the castle wall.
Visitors walk the grounds and castle walls at the construction site.
Arnaud Finistre / AFP / Getty
Visitors tour the construction site of Guédelon Castle on June 23, 2025.
Children and adults sit at a table during a medieval construction workshop, with many hand-built wooden hammers laid out.
Stephane Mouchmouche / Hans Lucas / Reuters
Children and adults attend a construction workshop led by a worker at the castle on April 29, 2023.
A school group walks outside a medieval-style castle.
Arnaud Finistre / AFP / Getty
A school group tours the Guédelon construction site on June 23, 2025.

About the Author

Alan Taylor is a senior editor at The Atlantic.
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