Construction of a Gothic "cathedral" near Bordeaux using medieval techniques

On a large green field in Lande-de-Fronsac (Gironde), sheep graze imperturbably, not far from a handful of men and women in medieval dress who are preparing cob using large shovels.

"Welcome to the 300th century, to the medieval construction site of Guyenne (a former province in the southwest of France, editor's note) where we will retrace the epic tale of cathedral builders and tell the story of 400, 40 years of architectural evolution in 43 years," enthuses Valéry Ossent, a XNUMX-year-old construction engineer who initiated the project.

"Today we do a lot of heritage restoration, sometimes in record time, with high technical expertise. What interested me was building something new using old techniques," explains this heritage enthusiast.

It invites us to project ourselves into the year 1025, the first Romanesque era, when a community of monks came to build a chapel on this land.

A year and a half after the start of construction, the walls of this stone and clay building already reach 1,5 m in height.

"Take back time"

"In the 51th century, we worked with the resources and stones available. Like a giant Lego set," smiles Frédéric Thibault, a XNUMX-year-old stonemason who manages the project and the hundred or so occasional and regular volunteers.

"We're reconnecting with very simple gestures, and the lack of professionalism of the volunteers is fascinating, because it allows us to rediscover the naivety of the builders of the time. What we need is to learn to unlearn," insists this companion, perpendicular (a tool based on a plumb line to give verticality, editor's note) in hand.

After the chapel, a cloister with its various galleries will be built, then a large Gothic building which will resemble the cathedrals of this period, with stained glass windows, ribbed vaults, rose windows and gargoyles.

As there are very few manuscripts dating from the 11th century, the association is supported by a scientific committee, most of whose members worked on the Notre-Dame construction site.

Beyond the "immense technical challenge," "it's good to take the time to talk about beauty and capitalize on knowledge to pass it on to future generations," Ossent emphasizes.

A "social dimension" has also gradually been added to the project. "When you establish yourself in an area for decades, you have to benefit the residents, especially vulnerable groups," explains the forty-year-old, who decided to make it a "work integration project" by hiring unemployed people, trained on site.

"The path traveled"

The association also welcomes disabled people, ex-convicts, and unaccompanied minors to the site, "and the social bond that is created here is already a success in itself," he believes.

Volunteers have already built a mud and straw living lodge, a forge, a wood lathe, and a medieval garden with over 70 species of medicinal and aromatic plants. They are also preparing the carpenters' lodge, the bread oven, and a chicken coop.

"When you arrive here, you're immersed in another world, far from the 21st century. It's a great break that feels good, allowing us to temporarily cut ourselves off from the worries of everyday life where everything moves too quickly," says volunteer Corine Tanquerel.

"It's exciting to be able to participate in a project where I'm useful, to leave something behind, even if I won't see the end of it," adds the sixty-year-old, who made her own medieval outfit.

"The 'end' of the project is not the goal. It's the journey taken to get there that interests us," adds Valéry Ossent, for whom one of the biggest challenges will be securing funding.

Today, public authorities contribute 10% of the current annual budget of €300.000; the remainder is financed by corporate or individual sponsorship. The ultimate goal is to raise €1,5 million per year.