Train yourself in the construction professions in Guédelon
In Guédelon, in the heart of a Burgundy forest, in Puisaye, in Yonne, you will forget the 21st century, for a dive into the Middle Ages. Here, 50 workers take on an extraordinary challenge: building a 13th century fortified castle, using the techniques and materials used in the Middle Ages, under the eyes of thousands of visitors. This openness to the public allows us to discover, show in real time and understand the art of building during this period. Positioned on old ferruginous sandstone quarries, Guédelon workers build with the materials found on site: wood, stone, clay, sand and water.
This famous medieval construction site is unique in France and offers an authentic experience that combines heritage, history and learning about the builders' trades.
A unique castle of its kind
Guédelon, a living witness to the Middle Ages, is a project to build a fortified castle initiated in 1997. This exceptional site, open to the public, offers a total immersion in the construction techniques of the time. A true experimental archaeological site, being a worker at Guédelon not only means taking on a unique challenge but it is also a state of mind: that of learning as the construction progresses. From the start of this adventure, a scientific committee composed of art historians, archaeologists, castellologists work in association with the site management committee to validate the construction and deepen their research.
How to get to Guédelon?
GPS coordinates: lat. 47.581298° long. 3.155481°
Guédelon is close to the village of Saint-Sauveur en Puisaye, Saint-Fargeau and Saint-Amand en Puisaye, on the 955 departmental road.
If you come by car:
- 45 minutes fromAuxerre by the D 965
- At 2 hours from Paris via the A 6, then the A 77 (exit No. 21)
- At 1h45 fromOrleans by the N60 1h20 from Bourges by the D 955
- A 1h00 of Nevers by the A 77 (exit No. 22)
- A 2h30 of Dijon via the A 6 (exit No. 20, Auxerre Sud)
If you come by train:
- Train station of Cosne sur Loire – 58200 (Paris – Nevers line) 26 km from Guédelon
- Train station of Joigny – 89300 (Paris – Dijon line) 55 km from Guédelon
There are no shuttles connecting the Joigny and Cosne sur Loire stations to Guédelon.
How many professions are represented in Guédelon?
Carpenter, quarryman, clearer, blacksmith, rope maker, stonemason,… it’s a fifteen professions represented on site. In terms of training, recruitment is mainly focused on masonry, stone cutting, carpentry and mediation.
When will the construction be finished?
Guédelon is a never-ending story! There is still more for at least 10 years for the structural work. Workers have just started building a village with a common oven and projects are underway such as the construction of a chapel and stone houses.
Guédelon: a life-size school
Guédelon becomes your classroom. You will immerse yourself in a unique environment, where learning takes place through contact with raw materials, tools and craftsmen who are passionate about their profession and this crazy adventure. The site welcomes schools, training centers as well as individual professional trainees.
We must do everything so that each trainee who comes to Guédelon leaves with the conviction that their choice to work in heritage, in traditional or green buildings is truly the right one!
Professional internships
01
Professional internships
Internships in the stone, wood, earth and heritage professions take place within the framework of an agreement by an approved organization. Learning to transform raw materials and using tools are the main objectives of this internship, from 15 days to several months.
02
School internships
The students ofprofessional establishment or vocational high school are also welcomed on the site, from Thursday to Monday, in groups of 5 to 10 participants, in the stone cutting, masonry and carpentry trades.
03
Rendering courses
Squaring courses are intended exclusively for experienced carpenters working on restoration sites. Look out. They train in manual pruning of green wood: squaring with an ax and doloire. A training certificate is issued at the end of the course.
Contact Guédelon for more information
Plan your visit to Guédelon
Whether you are a history buff, a lover of medieval architecture, an aspiring building professional or simply curious, set off to discover Guédelon, the result of a unique construction based on medieval methods!
Take advantage of your visit to Guédelon to visit the region. La Puisaye-Forterre, in the middle of a preserved countryside, is rich in built heritage, ancestral know-how and cultural events. Colette's native country, this region is one of Burgundy's best-kept secrets.
In Puisaye-Forterre
