Photo: Cristina Baussan for NPR
Deep in a forest in France, a medieval castle is being built with tools and methods from the late 13th century. Three area residents had the idea to build Guédelon in 1995, and the first stones were laid in 1997. It is an example of experimental archeology -- researching how people did things in the past by trying to imitate them, and then passing along those skills and knowledge. Most workers have a diploma in a heritage skill or work experience. Everything is done by hand, using old fashioned tools and motorless vehicles, and workers answer questions from visitors as part of the job. More than 300,000 people visit each year and the revenue of 5 million euros ($5.25 million) largely covers pay for the 100 staff members.
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