Guédelon Castle: recreating a 13th century structure from scratch

Alexandre Hecker, head quarryman, breaks a stone in the quarry at Guedelon medieval castle project.

Masons work on building two gothic arches at Guedelon medieval castle.

Laetitia Roux transports stone for the masons with her horse and cart.

A mason climbs the wooden scaffolding at Guedelon medieval castle project.

A mason controls the treadwheel crane at Guedelon medieval castle project.

A mason works on Guedelon medieval castle project, a back-to-the-future project re-creating a 13th century castle from scratch in the heart of Burgundy, central France.

Nicolas Touchefeu, a taciturn carpenter shapes wood at Guedelon medieval castle.

Stephane Boudy, shapes a key in the carpentry workshop.

Sarah Prestons gives a tour at Guedelon medieval castle project.

Workers take a break at Guedelon medieval castle project. Since it opened in 1998, Guedelon has been built by trial and error using period techniques, tools and materials.