When marveling at grand old buildings, it’s common to think, “They just don’t build them like this anymore.” But at a new castle in France, that saying does not apply.
In northwest Burgundy, two hours south of Paris, a castle is being built with the same materials, tools, and techniques that would have been used during the 13th century. The Guedelon Castle has been under construction for nearly 20 years, and serves as an immersive research and education project about medieval life and architecture.
Take a look.
SEE ALSO: The biggest real estate development in US history will have a puzzling centerpiece
The design of the castle is based on the architectural canons of the 12th and 13th centuries, which include high stone curtain walls and round flanking towers.
The venture was started by local chateau owner Michel Guyot and businesswoman Maryline Martin, who still orchestrates the project. 70 staff members currently work on the castle, with 35 directly involved in the construction. All the techniques they use — from how stone is cut to the makeup of the mortar — are modeled after 13th-century practices.
The construction site was opened to the public in 1998, and visitors are welcome to watch the building process in action. They're even encouraged to walk around and talk to the workers. According to the Independent, the project was entirely funded by that tourism as of 2014.
Source: The Independent
See the rest of the story at Business Insider