Medieval history in the making

Eleven years ago, John Lichfield witnessed the birth of Château de Guédelon, the 13th-century castle being built by hand in modern day France. This week he went back to see how work is progressing

It is the year 1241. Good King Louis XI is on the throne of France. The son of Bad King John, “average” King Henry III is on the throne of England and struggling, as ever, against his revolting barons. Medievally speaking, we are in a prosperous and peaceful period. There is a brief lull between two crusades. The Black Death is still a century away.

Down in the verdant forests of northern Burgundy, a castle is under construction: one of hundreds of similar castles to be built in France, and England, at this time. To reach it we could saddle our best charger or mule. Alternatively, we could drive down the A6 motorway from Paris, branch off on to the A77 and then head east into the rolling hills and fields of La Puisaye…

The “owner” of the castle, Seigneur Guilbert, a middling feudal lord, is not in the busy car park to greet us. He is absent, possibly paying homage to his seigneur, the Lord of Ratilly; or maybe straggling back from the Sixth Crusade, which was supposed to have ended 12 years ago in 1229. Instead, our guide, wearing a fetching 13th-century peasant skirt and rug, is Sarah Preston, originally from Bath. She may, we suspect, be an advance spy for the English invasion of France which will begin in 97 years’ time and last for a Hundred Years or more.

Full Story: Medieval history in the making – Europe, World – The Independent.