Come In!

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This is the very first door that has been installed at Guédelon! It is the ripe fruit of the labors of Olivier the blacksmith and Nicolas the carpenter. This door closes the passage that leads from the keep's inner chambers to the chemin de ronde behind the Lord's residence.

*A chemin de ronde is a raised protected walkway on top of a castle wall, generally protected by a battlement  

 

The door knocker is quite elegant in its simplicitiy and pure functionality. 

Don't the hinge spikes look rather intimidating? The door as a puzzle is now complete. Bravo for your hard and inspiring work!

photos courtesy of C. Duchemin benevoleguedleon.com

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Something's Fishy!

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This is an illustration of the old belief that the tail of a beaver was considered fish-like in nature and was therefore acceptable as food for fast days during the Middle Ages. The notion bases animal classification as much on habit as anatomy. The beaver is a semi aquatic rodent after all.

 

Here's a closer look at that tail. It certainly does have mullet like qualities.

Platearius, Livre des simples médecines, ca 1480. Paris, Biblioteque Nationale, Département des manuscrits, Français 12322, folio 188

Beaver photo courtesy of Wikicommons - No, I'm not a wildlife photographer:)

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Pliny The Elder and Geese

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These geese seem to enjoy watching Bernard weaving his wares! Pliny the Elder had some paticularly fascinating fowl thoughts. Here's an excerpt from Natural History Book 10, 26-29:

Geese keep careful watch; the cackling of geese warned of an attack at the Capitol in Rome. Geese may have the power of wisdom, as shown by the story of a goose who was the companion of the philosopher Lacydes and refused to leave his side. Geese are valued for their liver, which is a great delicacy, and for their feathers, especially the soft inner down.

Geese came on foot to Rome from Gaul; if one gets tired it is moved to the front, so that it is forced to continue by the press of the geese behind it. Medicine can be made by mixing goose fat with cinnamon in a bronze bowl, covering it with snow and letting it steep. Only the ostrich reaches a greater size than the goose. Geese kept in a fishpond lose their flavor, and stubbornly hold their breath until they die. Visit Guédelon Blog

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Nova Science Now

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Cameras at Guédelon? Nova Science Now was on site shooting footage for a broadcast on the building of cathedrals! It will be airing sometime in 2010. I'm sitting on the edge of my seat and absolutely can't wait to see it! I'll keep you updated as to the air times.

Did you know that Nova Science has an official YouTube channel? Now you can watch their spectacular programming whenever you want! 


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Medieval Pigs

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This swineherd is preparing to knock down more acorns for his foraging pigs with his sturdy stick. Green acorns contain toxins that are poisonous to cattle and to people. The protein rich acorn fodder is not harmful to pigs at all. The medieval domesticated porcus has quite a different look to him. His legs and snout are certainly longer. You can't miss those bristles either!

The pigs of Guédelon certainly look content in this photo! v

Jean Pucelle (French, active in Paris, ca. 1320–1334)

November calendar page from The Hours of Jeanne d’Évreux, ca. 1324–1328

Grisaille and tempera on vellum; 3 1/2 x 2 5/8 in. (8.9 x 6.2 cm)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Cloisters Collection, 1954 (54.1.2)

See the Collection Database to learn more about this work of art.


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The Wheelwright

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This 13th century stained glass window is an invaluable research resource when studying the Middle Ages. A wealth of information about clothing, tools, and professions can be found in this breathtaking piece of glass art found at Chartres Cathedral.

Here is the powerful and gentle spirited Laetitia carting materials on site at Guédelon. The hand hewn wheels were certainly fashioned after the medieval know how learned from the viewing of this window!

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What is a Crenel?

The square notches in the top of the castle wall are called crenels. Soldiers stood behind the merlons and shot through the crenals. They were traditionally thought to only have a defensive function but new research suggests that a 'license to crenelate' may have been granted more for heraldic reasons, as a mark of grace or favor.

This is a computer generated image of how Guédelon will look when finished in the year 2025! Isn't it breathtaking?

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The French Blogger

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Meet Guédelon's French blogger. You certainly don't need to speak French to enjoy this no holds barred web log. It's chock full of pure Guédelon eye candy! His virtual pages are an in depth visual journey of the medieval construction site from start to present. His esteem and respect for this unique building project certainly shine through his photos.  Hop on over to Benevole Guédelon here. Enjoy!


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A Battered Plinth?

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The term 'battered plinth' refers to the base of the castle wall being built with a widening slope. It strengthens the bottom of the wall against undermining and provides a ricochet surface for objects, such as rocks, being dropped down. The hunks of rubble would bounce off horizontally and hopefully put the kibosh on attackers. The battered plinth is a characteristic seen in the 'standard plan' of castles built by Philip II Augustus of France and of course here at Guédelon!

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Blanche of Castile

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A visit to Guédelon transports you back in time to the year 1240. The 26 year old Louis IX, is reigning the prosperous and relatively peaceful country of France. Louis was crowned King at the tender age of 12. He owes his realm to his spitfire Spanish Mother, Blanche of Castile, who acted as regent until little Louis was old enough to manage his kingdom. She broke up a nest of viper-like barons and repelled an attack from King Henry II of England. Her energy, firmness, and adroit diplomacy were awe inspiring!

This is the coronation of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile at Reims in 1223; a miniature from the Grandes Chroniques de France, painted in the 1450s, and kept at the National Library of France

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Meet the Blacksmith

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The term 'smith' originates from the word 'smite', which means 'to hit'. The black color comes from fire scale, a layer of oxides that forms on the surface of the metal during heating. I had always incorrectly assumed that our talented shaper of metal was simply covered with ashes! Olivier, the smithy at Guédelon, remarked that the color is fused into his skin and doesn't scrub off with soap! Here he is sharpening his forged iron wares.

 

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Medieval Coloring Pages

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Here is a magical selection of Medieval stylized coloring pages. Imagine that you are richly illuminating a cherished codex or scroll. Have you mixed your yellow pigment yet? Some medieval recipes called for the use of earwax!

Right click on any image to save it. Enjoy this calming exercise that will transport you back to the Middle Ages!

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