Behind the scenes of an amazing 25-year project
By David Upshal, Executive Producer
The principal rationale for undertaking the project was devised by Guédelon’s formidable founder and director, Maryline Martin.
She conceived of it as a novel means of creating long-term work opportunities for the long-term unemployed.
The beauty of a 25-year project to build a medieval castle, she advocated, was not only that it might offer sustainable jobs but, more importantly, that it could provide people with skills and qualifications that would give them a trade for life.
- — “the world’s biggest experimental archaeological site”
Stonemasonry and blacksmithing may not immediately seem like transferable skills in the 21st century...
...but many of workers have gone on from Guédelon to gain work in the modern construction industry or to meet the growing demand for restoration of historic buildings. As we reached the end of our filming, Guédelon’s Master Blacksmith became the latest in a long line of site workers to move on and set up his own business.
Others have stayed for the long haul
Florian Renucci, the site’s Master Mason, has been here pretty much since the beginning in 1997, working his way up the ranks. Having started as a stone-cutter, he is now in charge of planning and co-ordinating the construction of the entire site.
In their own words
Sophie Wintzer, carpenter
I’ve worked at Guédelon since July 2013. When the season at Guédelon comes to a close, I work as a traditional carpenter-joiner for 2 months and I travel for the other three: to the Caribbean last winter and to India this year. My best experience at Guédelon, so far, must be my involvement in the building of the mill. Building a wooden mechanism and then seeing it actually working has been an incredible experience.
Yvon Herouart, rope-maker
I have worked at Guédelon since June 1st 2011. Now that I’ve retired, I will take time to relax at home and among other things cut wood, enjoy walks in the forest and of course go back to visit Guédelon. My best memory of my years at Guédelon was meeting the former rope-maker who passed on to me all his knowledge of his trade and also of plants. What I enjoyed most in my work was meeting people and having the chance to live “a life less ordinary”.
A final thought on the documentary
The biggest accomplishment of the production team has been to gain the acceptance and trust of this remarkable workforce.
It’s the achievement of which I am by far proudest.
The bottom line is that we could not have achieved a fraction of what we have been able to deliver on screen without the support, enthusiasm and patience of Guedelon’s incredible workforce.
And I hope the TV series we have created together does justice to their extraordinary undertaking.
- — “the world’s biggest experimental archaeological site”
