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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2022 17:17:24 GMT
Kerouac’s Post #30 from September 2017: ”Maybe it should be the location of the next meet-up. We could charter a bus." Sorry, my quote feature isn’t working, but I think it’s really ironic that you’ve taken a "bus" on this latest trip. Perhaps this was a scouting opportunity. I’m so glad you have made it back to Guédelon and am looking forward to seeing more photos. It looks like a fascinating place to visit, especially with so many folks there to offer explanations.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 14, 2022 18:44:15 GMT
This is not the place for people who dislike children. During the school year, school groups make up about 90% of the visitors. On the day I went, groups of children made up only about 50% of the visitors. This is probably more than most other days, because it was a Wednesday, the traditional day for municipalities to take children off the hands of their parents. (This is because there is no school on Wednesday up until entrance into middle school.) In a place like Guédelon, children are very useful because they are always ready to ask questions during the demonstrations and also to give answers to questions, often correct. We adults keep our mouths shut so as not to appear foolish.
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Post by mickthecactus on Jul 14, 2022 20:02:21 GMT
I love this report! Thanks k2.
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Post by fumobici on Jul 14, 2022 20:59:07 GMT
The continuity and rhythm of returning, again and again, is wonderful. It may seem a bit frivolous to some but touristic distractions aside, this is a real glimpse back into a more primeval past, closer to nature and history. They must be at it in the cold and mud when nobody is around to appreciate the spectacle. How would you rate the construction progress over the years? Looks like a lot of unromantic work, makes you appreciate what our ancestors may have had to contend with to build a little piece of civilization from forest and stones.
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Post by mich64 on Jul 14, 2022 23:17:23 GMT
Such an interesting topic and you being able to visit and see their progress is fascinating. It is awesome that there is a bus from Paris to make the trip to it. We have enjoyed many trips like this on small buses and enjoy the commentary from the bus/tour drivers.
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Post by bjd on Jul 15, 2022 6:31:15 GMT
It definitely looks like an interesting place to visit. Too bad it's so far from where I live. Are the bus trips on all year round?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2022 10:56:07 GMT
I think the bus trips started just this year and are only in July and August. Obviously, if there is an increase in demand I'm sure they will be happy to propose more buses. The site is closed from November to the beginning of April in any case.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2022 11:13:32 GMT
It was explained that the main hall was used by the local lord for dining, receiving visitors and also as a court room for trials. I thought it was interesting to see that the fireplace in the bedroom was damaged. This is one of the lessons they learn when building this place. They'll need to find a solution. The man here was explaining that these are the golden years of the Middle Ages while many people think only of the plague, the Inquisition, and various famines which happened later. At this particular period, Notre Dame and other gothic cathedrals were built, the Sorbonne opened, and the population of France was 20 million. Skilled workers were well treated without sex discrimination. People did not work on Sunday or on any of the religious holidays, of which there were 145 during the year (gasps from the audience). A couple of hundred years later, it all went to hell.
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Post by htmb on Jul 15, 2022 12:11:06 GMT
Fabulous report, Kerouac!
Do you know, are all the people working here employed/paid, or are some volunteers?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2022 14:52:30 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2022 15:01:51 GMT
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Post by lugg on Jul 15, 2022 19:37:17 GMT
Fabulous K2 - so worthy of a return visit. I can quite understand why this is a magnet for enlightening school children about the past.
Its great to see how the work to preserve the chateau has progressed over the years but its more than that isn't it ?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2022 19:52:09 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 15, 2022 20:35:49 GMT
I started reading some of the information on the link you posted earlier, and then followed other links. It’s truly a fascinating story.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2022 3:22:01 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2022 5:54:36 GMT
I should mention that the pigs and sheep seen in previous visits are no longer there. They were fun to see in the past, but they didn't really add much to the medieval experience. The decision was certainly taken during the two years of closure due to covid. I heard sombody ask about the pigs, and the attendant said "they were getting much too big." That is of course what happens when you are not raining them for food and they have no lack of food themselves. They might return in the future after the château has been completed. Completion of the project could take place in 5-8 years, and it has not yet been decided what happens next. One possibility is to just use Guédemon as an educational site for school visits. There is also talk of transforming it into a training centre for all of the traditonal crafts -- masonry, woodworking, carving, etc. And the third possibilty is to start a completely new project of the construction of a medieval village in the woods. I'm pretty sure that they will end up doing all three if visitor numbers continue to grow.
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Post by bjd on Jul 16, 2022 6:14:38 GMT
Nice to see that almost all the kids looked interested in what was going on.
I suppose future projects will also depend on getting enough people to work on the projects, especially building another entire village or castle.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 16, 2022 18:16:58 GMT
And another grain shortage in 2022, thanks to the Russia-Ukraine war and unseasonable weather on the Canadian Prairies...
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 16, 2022 19:50:25 GMT
Famines were another major element of the Middle Ages.
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 17, 2022 17:49:46 GMT
As Guedelon gains in popularity, I think it is nice that they are trying a "St. Nicolas" event this year, including a medieval market, spectacles, music, etc. And the castle will be lit (certainly not with electricity?) and decorated. Best thing of all for the people in the region -- there is no entrance fee. Saint Nicolas à Guédelon
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Post by onlyMark on Nov 22, 2022 17:07:39 GMT
Post 61 shows a couple of treadmill cranes. I've seen illustrations of these on building medieval bridges. Nice to see them actually working -
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Post by kerouac2 on Nov 22, 2022 18:07:23 GMT
All things considered, the treadmill was a magnificent invention.
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