The methodology

The architectural and historical context

Guédelon's building plans

The methodology

The materials

1997 - 2010: Building timetable

Diaporamas

The methodology

The methodology

The Guédelon project's mission had been clearly defined: a search for the highest degree of authenticity in all the work practices used on site, the only limit being current health and safety legislation.

This leads us to continually consider the different options available - in all the aspects of the construction - with the aim of putting into practice the most widely recognised theory in each field; from this stems the need to put in place a precise methodology.

The day-to-day running of a 13^th century building site remains to this day difficult to interpret.  Indeed, the importance of the Guédelon project is its ability to both put to the test tools and ways of working, whilst also proposing credible solutions for problems as they arise - for example, the chemical composition of mortar.

© Dourdan castle

The methodology adopted for making architectural choices

A long-term task is the compilation of an extensive bank of information. This, continually updated, information bank is the result of collecting data from three principal sources:

-  field trips and surveys in situ at castles from the same period and based on the same architectural canons.

-  contemporary iconography (illuminated manuscripts and stained-glass windows) and medieval building contracts (a few surviving fragments.)

-  modern scientific sources symposium reports,

                                                                                  theses, archaeological excavation records etc.

© Yèvre-le-Châtel castle

By processing this information, we create the most complete index of data possible, which can then be referred to when selecting the most appropriate architectural options for Guédelon castle.