I thought the treadmill crane was fictional.

The treadwheel crane, or treadmill crane, sounds like something from Astérix or the Flintstones. But at Guédelon in France, not only do they have one: they're using it to help build their brand new castle. ▪ More about Guédelon: www.guedelon.fr/
Camera: Simon Gillouin
Editor: Michelle Martin / mrsmmartin
Producer: Axel Zeiliger block8production.com
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[@TomScottGo]

The round of applause at the end didn't feel justified...!

[@lightningwingdragon973]

Fyi Tom, there if ever you visit the Battleship Texas, you should Collab with Tom Scott (The other one)

[@Average_Mortal]

👏👏👏👏

[@HazardNP]

SPOILERS TOM!!

[@Knightway1]

embrace it Tom!

[@dean244]

I was told that clapping on KZbin videos is supposed to be at the start.

[@prysthaea7735]

"We use modern safety equipment, because we're not here to see how many people died making a midieval castle" is such a hilarious way to put it.

[@Helveteshit]

Probably a few tourists that have asked or pointed out that inaccuracy that they have to stress it.

[@ProtosR]

except for the fact they clearly show them not being safe. and put them selves and others in danger

[@Dreyno]

But it………it would be interesting…………interesting to find out. Wouldn’t it?

[@Pattoe]

@@ProtosR where?

[@ProtosR]

@@Pattoe hard hats look out of date. Guys having a load above them not wearing hard hats. Swinging a crane aorund with people underneath. A non section off area for where a load is above. Potentially non hard capped boots. Non automatic brake for the crane. Lifting more then the allowed ohs weight. Overreaching to load onto platform.

[@blundy1]

Imagine being described as a "low ranking, local, fairly modest nobleman."

[@falconerd343]

If that means I get a castle, I'm fine with that.

[@heart0fthedrag0n]

@@falconerd343 But no running water or a toilet. Think I'll pass.

[@phoneowner2664]

@@heart0fthedrag0n you get a toilet

[@TheGreatMrTeabag]

@@phoneowner2664 you get a latrine

[@suchanhachan]

Given the possible alternatives in the 13th Century, that doesn't sound too bad...

[@nicokelly6453]

This is one of the coolest reconstructive archaeology projects I've seen.

[@ThePixel1983]

It's not a reconstruction. It's entirely new.

[@idot3331]

@@ThePixel1983 It's still a "reconstructive archaeology project" even if it isn't a reconstruction of a specific castle.

[@nessa-parmentier]

I actually quite literally added my stone to that building, by doing a "builder internship". Spent a week there helping in various places of the construction, and the last day I helped the masons who were, at the time, working on the gate towers. People couldn't go in the castle by the bridge, because the double treadmill crane was sat there, and a friend and I operated it for a day. Really cool experience (and ultimately working in such a place for a living would be my dream)

[@essentielley]

What an awesome experience! Anything that surprised you?

[@Gomisan]

that's an awesome thing to have done!

[@GeorgeG815]

Thats an awesome story!

[@nmatavka]

Did you initial it or write a nasty word into the stone?

[@nielskorpel8860]

That is soo cool!

[@zappababe8577]

I wondered who was paying for building this magnificent castle, assuming that it would be the government. No - it is being financed by a private company, and the admission paid by the 300,000 visitors the castle attracts is paying for all the marvellous reconstruction we see here. It is very gratifying to know that so many people are still so enthusiastic about history that their admission fees are enough to pay for building such an immense castle. Well done, citizens of France!

[@DoseofZest]

Honestly this is probably one of the coolest projects I have ever heard about. I constantly dream about living in other time periods and this is such a fantastic way to, ある程度に, do that

[@j03man44]

I assume they're also being financed by grants for University archeology students interning on the site.

[@everything-has-a-handle-now]

The flipside of France being extremely proud of their language, culture, etc

[@0xEmmy]

Huh, so not only is it a valuable historical work, but it's a profitable business? It is incredible what people can do when they're not in danger of starving.

[@poiu477]

As if government financing would be worse somehow. Could probably get it done cheaper through greater bargaining power.

[@doc3255]

I feel like Tom has fallen into a "weird stuff in France" and "historical reenactment" rabbit hole lately and I love every second of it (so does he, apparently)

[@khalilahd.]

Lmfao agreed and I’m not even mad at it 😅

[@llave8662]

He probably grouped a bunch of France-related things together for doing in a single trip, that way he doesn't spend that much on travel

[@fietehermans9903]

'Weird stuff in France' should be a full-time show! When you go beyond the popular monuments, France is just such a weird country...

[@chrisr4023]

Now i would be interested in 'Weird stuff in -insert a country-' series.

[@johan3561]

Gotta write off the holiday somehow

[@ceepuck1511]

in response to Tom mentioning how he got dizzy looking straight ahead, being the "hamster" in the hamster wheel was something blind people were used for since it was something they could do and be productive at and as an added bonus you didn't have to worry about them being scared of heights

[@docjoules4738]

Huh. Thats neat

[@hannahbrown2728]

Ive known about this project for a while but its annoyingly difficult to find anything more up to date than like 2013. I didnt know they had to add an extra ten years! And I love they reused the line 'Were not here to find out about the number of deaths from building a castle' I hear it nearly every time I watch something about Guédelon Castle

[@fredblonder7850]

If I worked there, every couple hours I’d toss a mannequin from the wall and scream loudly.

[@zimzimph]

@@fredblonder7850 They should have a speaker play a Wilhelm scream

[@thejammyguy0187]

They also have an instagram page that they post to relatively often with what they are doing if you didn't know

[@bas933]

Don't change a winning team, I mean, line!

[@valentink1858]

At least for pictures, google maps has 45000, Ive been there in July, its quite interesting.

[@rhettorical]

I knew it was real because Treadmill Crane is a tech you can research in Age of Empires II and the manual that came with the game had historical sources explaining everything.

[@jamesburton1050]

Huh! I missed that one! Have to go look now!

[@KCzz15]

Exactly where I knew it from too, I was confused when Tom expressed any doubt over it.

[@matt45540]

What a missed ad opportunity

[@JNCressey]

although, not everything in AOE2 is historically accurate. eg: mangonels and onagers having wheels.

[@redryder3721]

@@JNCressey One thing I learned from AOE2 was that mangonels can drive themselves and don't need a person to push them around like cannons do.

[@nutsbutdum]

This castle is going to confuse archeologists a thousand years from now.

[@Bendigo1]

🤣

[@blockin9556]

thats what I was thinking

[@ThoraninC]

Yo dawg I heard you like archeology. So we rebuild medieval age castle with informatics age safety standard in space travel age. So we can learn how people in the old time build their old timey castle.

[@myladycasagrande863]

I'll bet the aliens will get a kick out of it, too!

[@rmsgrey]

There's a megalith in Australia that dates to, if memory serves, sometime in the 1970s, some four of five thousand years or so younger than Stonehenge and its contemporaries on the other side of the world.

[@havvik3505]

I love how toms coping mechanism is always “I’m gonna just talk a lot and I don’t care if I’m not saying logical things, narration will save me”

[@eaaeeeea]

As a tech enthusiast it gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling to know even the Romans had such an awesome technology as cranes at their disposal! I just added this castle to my places to visit, I can't believe there's such an awesome project like this that I wouldn't have ever heard of if it weren't for Tom Scott.

[@cerdic6305]

The Romans had concrete as well if you didn't know already. It wasn't rediscovered until the 18th century as far as I know

[@trueaussie9230]

That technology was in use looong before the Romans. The Romans took from the ancient Greeks so much of what so many people today incorrectly attribute to the Romans.

[@trueaussie9230]

@@cerdic6305 Concrete was invented by Fred Flintstone. I saw it in the movies. 😉😊😇

[@toboterxp8155]

@@cerdic6305 I mean, concrete in one form or another always existed. Cement was lost though. Medieval castles just used powdered limestone.

[@liamjm9278]

@@trueaussie9230 Proof?

[@joelavrunin347]

Love the hardhats at 2:10 - looks like they colored them to not stick out so while not period authentic it maintains the medieval vibe while still being safe.

[@dumbleking5172]

They really look like they're chiseled out of limestone.

[@vsikifi]

Period authentic hardhat would be an iron helmet.

[@gerry343]

I think they are covered with canvas or sack cloth.

[@steampunkskunk3638]

Those cloth covers are to protect the hard hats from abrasion damage. They also protect the hard hats from UV light that can make the plastic brittle.

[@joelavrunin347]

@@steampunkskunk3638 That makes sense but do the covers normally look like that?

[@Christopher_S]

This is SOOOOOO cool. Building a genuine castle from scratch would be my childhood (now that I think about it, adult too) dream!

[@Evan-rj9xy]

I saw another documentary on this castle and they mentioned that, although they have a historical ropemaking workshop on site, they use modern ropes for hoisting all the stones. Historical plant fiber ropes would be cool, but modern ropes have a known breaking point and you really don't want any unknown risks with hundreds of pounds suspended in the air. Such a cool project.

[@Shinzon23]

*thousands.

[@marcbarbier5646]

If I remember my visit properly, I think they also show a mill and a forge in the area.

[@keatoncampbell820]

one of my favorite things about that is seeing some of the scaffolding go up. Its wonderfully interesting to see people in what appears to be working class dress of the 13th century, wearing bright orange harnesses and hardhats. Humans are fantastically strange!

[@jackielinde7568]

The idea is to replicate the construction techniques and tools, not the issues with those tools.

[@Croz89]

They do still make ropes out of plant fibres like hemp and sisal, it'll be made by modern machinery but it's still more or less period accurate, just looks a bit neater. Nylon is cheaper though.

[@the-white-eye]

imagine being an archeologist in like 3000 years and finding a mid 13th century castle only to test the rocks or smth and finding out it was actually from the 2000s

[@DisposableSupervillainHenchman]

It’s like the pilot episode of “Futurama” when you see how time has passed while Fry is cryogenically frozen. Earth is destroyed by aliens and then civilization is rebuilt in a medieval style, only to then get destroyed by aliens again. If I recall correctly. 🤔

[@soundscape26]

Funny prospect but everything regarding this castle is quite well documented so they won't be fooled that easily.

[@drob128]

Well I feel like at a certain point our historical records probably get really accurate. Probably around 1970?

[@meurigf]

xkcd Historical Dates 2676

[@spekaly]

@@soundscape26 If it's not all digital maybe!

[@brianhaygood183]

That's really great that someone out there is building something in such an historic way.

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

🤣

[@emilyjanet455]

I'm very chuffed to see folks wearing historical clothing! It changes so much about how you move and how your body feels and interacts with space. This project is so cool

[@BertGrink]

Their quest for authenticity went even further than the clothes worn by the workers: Even their food, and how that food was prepared was/is as close to medieval food as they could manage. I learned this from a series of youtube videos I watced a few years ago, where three british historians and achaeologists put in a stint of a few months during the construction. It was really interesting to see how it all was done.

[@Yojibby]

“…so obviously we’re not trying to discover how many people were killed in the 13th century.” - Sarah Preston “There will be a portcullis, there will be murder holes…” -Also Sarah Preston 😂

[@morefiction3264]

You never know.

[@krissp8712]

You try and attack the castle, I want to see the defences in action!

[@fietehermans9903]

They don't kill the construction workers. The tourists have more meat on them!

[@stephen1r2]

That's just the security system. The ring doorbell of the middle ages

[@elevown]

Yes but I dont think they intend to put them to use.

[@panfrei5932]

in Breisach in Germany we still have an original, it stands in the wheel tower named after it and was intended to fetch water from the 41 m deepen well. A funny story is that Napoleon's soldiers, who occupied the city, used to voluntarily run in the wheel to impress the women fetching water.

[@maindepth8830]

I don't know why but this is just hilarious to me

[@chazzadooiusus]

19th century version of picking up 2 chairs at once

[@recklessroges]

Carisbrooke Castle has a well lift wheel powered by a donkey walking. Similar concept, but not quite the same. Portugal has had donkey powered water lifts for hundreds of years, (possibly older, but I don't have evidence.)

[@ntvypr4820]

Oh, those wacky conquerors! 🙃😆

[@Vok250]

Gym bros been lifting for centuries it seems.

[@Hunter-ew2ve]

I like how Tom needs a hard hat to lift 1 rock but the workers at 3:25 don’t need them as the crane whips a platform of rocks above their heads 😂

[@jonny-b4954]

Showing for the cameras they're safe. When in reality, most guys don't bother if they don't have to. Just like on modern work sites. When OSHA shows up or someone is filming, all of sudden everyone is wearing safety gear haha.

[@DeathlordSlavik]

@@jonny-b4954 Safety gear gets hot especially in the sun, also some types of safety gear seem to cause more problems and injuries then they prevent but you are still "required" to use it.

[@ChrisPoindexter98]

I adore the efforts to be as historically accurate as possible *even in the building process,* which likely aids the accuracy *considerably,* yet utilize the advancements in ethical and responsible engineering since then. Perfect, best of both worlds, imagine how many things can benefit from this....

[@lewismassie]

Finding out that the closest cathedral to me still has a medieval crane in it is not what I expected to learn today

[@dielaughing73]

Go see it!

[@wolfsokaya]

And its only one of its many dark secrets. Mwuhahaha. :D

[@matthewgillies7509]

Cologne Cathedral had a Medieval crane left atop one of its unfinished towers for nearly 600 years, until it was finished in the mid 1800s!

[@HilaryB.]

I know! Imagine a medieval builder leaving it behind and it still being there!

[@charleslambert3368]

I'm surprised Tom's never been up into the roof of Beverley Minster where they have one. They do public tours and you can look down the plughole thingy into the nave. I suppose that sort of crane wasn't obselete (for repairs and suchlike) till the 18th or 19th century and it'd be a faff to remove it after that.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

guedelon castle is one of those projects that maybe more people should be aware of especially when they wonder why arts and history are important

[@SmallSpoonBrigade]

I hadn't heard about it until recently, isn't it an experimental archaeological site where they try to figure out how ancient people did various things?

[@boobah5643]

I somehow doubt some people enthusiastically stacking rocks for three and a half decades is going to convince doubters that arts and history are important.

[@jongyon7192p]

@@SmallSpoonBrigade Is too advanced. Those medieval French couldn't have done it by themselves. I'm not saying it's aliens, but... /s you never see any ancient alien conspiracies say this

[@ValentineC137]

I'm shocked they've managed to be going for 25 years without me hearing about it before

[@thierrymilan2039]

@@boobah5643 You don't know what's going on at Guédelon. There is an entire little village around with artisans.

[@_Gypsy]

The fact that they're using historical methods like this is honestly incredible. Thank you for making a video about this project and it's methods, I wouldn't have known about either if you didn't.

[@pROaBDUR]

02:17 "So obviously we're not trying to discover how many people were killed or injured in the 13th century.". The Lady has got some advanced level of humour right there.

[@PerXX82]

This one of the many topics that really makes me wish Tom would do in-depth, detailed videos and not just 5 minute teasers with little time to actually explain much.

[@robvanbogaert]

There are hours of interesting documentaries about Guédelon castle on KZbin. I recommend them all 🙂

[@tupolev141]

For a whole entertaining series, look up Timeline: Secrets Of The Castle.

[@ShadowDragon8685]

Search for "Secrets of the Castle," then disappear down the total _rabbit hole_ that is the experimental archeology films of Dr. Ruth Goodman and two out of three of Peter, Tom and Alex.

[@eyesofthelaw]

would reccomend you look up Kirsten Dirksen's video about it

[@Legority]

he’s done a couple, one that comes to mind is about monetization

[@Drekal95]

I remember going on a school trip to Guédelon, back then the "house" had maybe 2 rooms and mostly stairs, the walls were still being built and the gate was mostly a big hole. It's awesome to see the progress over the years and the dedication of these people. I was a bored kid back then but with the years I only have amazement for this and I'm very happy to see so much international attention to this project. Thanks Tom !

[@gusfl2]

Actually, same except nothing was built at all. Just some tower foundation

[@kotzpenner]

Yes, it's awesome! I follow it for several years now and it really sparked my interest for medieval architecture, in particular castlebuilding. Not the castles themselves, but the interesting techniques people used back then.

[@msamour]

The irony of this castle is that for a while the BBC did a series on it, and there were British people working on building the castle. The series is called Secrets of the Castle. One of the most interesting historical series i've seen I'm a big fan of Ruth Goodman.

[@SiqueScarface]

@@msamour The series is available on KZbin, that's where I have seen it.

[@msamour]

@@SiqueScarface Thanks, I didn't know that. I'll be watching it again. The series with Ruth are pure gold. I don't know why they didn't do anymore. Full Steam Ahead was also very good. I'm sure Tom would like those series.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

I've been to see this castle under construction and it is well worth a visit and it is worth mentioning that I read that Conwy Castle in North Wales, which was built around the same period, had 15,000 men working on it. It took just 5 years to construct. So it isn't just that they are having to put down tools, there is a tiny number of workers in comparison on site. I honestly wish they would repair one of the great castles in the UK as a tourist attraction like this. People would love to see it and imagine having a perfect medieval castle to see in Wales or wherever instead of the ruins we have.

[@brandonhamilton833]

This castle is one my list of things to see in France. So cool!

[@KermRiv]

This is probably one of the coolest historical experiments I've seen. I'd love to see somebody like tod's workshop or shad visit.

[@stuartrockin]

Sarah Preston was a pleasure to listen to. Its always great to hear someone so knowledgeable and passionate about their craft. The enthusiasm is contagious.

[@Blox117]

good to see preston helping another settlement

[@victornunes9845]

@@Blox117 Here, I'll mark it on your map.

[@nZektor]

It's crazy how excited I was to listen to OSHA essentially

[@soundscape26]

Yep, loved hearing her as well.

[@azteclady]

Love the idea that it's taking much longer to build the castle today, partly because of tourism, and partly because in the 21st century there are things like just so many hours of work per day/week, weekends, etc.

[@StrikeNoir105E]

Not to mention there's probably less people working on this castle now than in castles back then, which would have more people assigned to it because it's more or less a life-or-death situation.

[@thribs]

Tourism is probably where they get the money to build it so it's a necessary evil.

[@TitanDarwin]

@@StrikeNoir105E From what I recall, the local peasantry usally "owed" their lord a certain number of work days per year, so they would have also been employed for doing basic tasks (read: anything you don't need a trained craftsman for) at construction sites like this.

[@duck8dodgers]

I'm glad Sara Preston mentioned that the Romans had this "hamster wheel" technology. I remember reading about them setting up a similar system for pumps in a gold mine that is now in Spain. That one looked much darker and less fun.

[@ChrisWalshZX]

We've been to Guedelon 4 or 5 times over the last 20 years or so. It's been great seeing it develop over the years

[@Patrick.Weightman]

This is just so insane to watch - just sitting back and seeing them work, you genuinely forget you're in the present day and it's not all some multi-million-dollar movie set. Just imagine what it would've been like when there were a hundred of people working all at once

[@Bo-kq8tn]

when they're done with it, I bet it would make a great movie set if they wanted to rent it out for that! :D

[@Caroleonus]

Not too dissimilar in feel to your local building site where they're raising a multi-story, I imagine! Methods of course change but the feel of it wouldn't change much

[@zebedeesummers4413]

@@Bo-kq8tn honestly it'd make a good set now, preparing for expected conflict.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

I hope somebody has filmed a movie there, while the workers are working. It would make a very immersive backdrop.

[@AJD...]

Sarah is so eloquent in her explanation. Very well spoken and precise with her words. Huge props!

[@kentd4762]

Well said. She'd be a real delight as a tour guide of the entire complex.

[@AJD...]

@@kentd4762 or give Tom a run for his KZbin money 👀

[@slash196]

She's clearly given that talk a LOT. Very smooth, all the right laugh lines. A well-practiced teacher is always fun to watch.

[@madameghostie]

I saw the multi-episode Guedelon documentary series (Secrets of the Castle) a few months back and I LOVED it! I would love to visit Guedelon in the future.

[@Foxwolf9Tails]

There was a mini series a few years ago about the castle and the surrounding grounds, I am glad to see they are still working on it, I am excited to see it finished.

[@tangerinealarm]

I knew of this. Ruth Goodman did a TV series a while back called 'Secrets of the Castle' with a couple of other archaeologists. It's fascinating to see that they're still building it, and how seemingly simple the crane is in its operation.

[@fox.loves.autumn]

When I see the chapel window in any of the shots I'm amazed at how far along that part of the project is! Wish RP&T would revisit!

[@misterhat5823]

The TV series is on YT. I watched it.

[@Cathowl]

That is one of my favorite documentaries. I love all the series with those three. I should go rewatch it!

[@carneeki]

The Englishman who walked up a hill, but came down a castle.

[@DaveDexterMusic]

if you come down a castle they ask you not to come back

[@epiendless1128]

@@DaveDexterMusic Eww!

[@felicitygee381]

Awesome alternative quote

[@mlr801]

I visited Guédelon in 2008, it looked so different back then Happy to see how the building is going

[@WryAun]

"This week on Tom Scott - the internet's most athletic nerd!" Nice one! I'd never heard of this but it makes so much sense now that I've been shown it! And it really speaks to the kid who still lives inside me and spent all the time after school flipping through his copy of 'How Stuff Works' Thank you Tom! And thank you for the captions! I respect your commitment to walking the walk on that one, always!

[@eTiMaGo]

Hello fellow "How Stuff Works" fan, I cannot count how many times I have read through cover to cover :D

[@WryAun]

@@eTiMaGo hours and hours on my bedroom floor as a kid! Then I was just so thrilled to spot it working in the real world

[@chanman819]

I wonder how common ratchets were to prevent accidental rollback. As Sarah mentions, this machinery dates back to the Romans, if not further, and Roman siege engines definitely had ratchets for preparing for firing

[@Meoiswa]

Entirely conjecture, but I think the gear ratio is so reduced the human being's weight alone is enough to prevent the wheel from being driven backwards by the load. The "effective incline" of the wheel being pulled backwards shouldn't be enough to make you tumble "down" continuously. However with a higher load-to-driver ratio you'd be potentially tumbling "down" several flights of stairs if you lose your footing which is terrifying (and has probably happened at least once in the past)

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

So _that's_ what the Romans have done for us!

[@paulgrieshammer2707]

Just wildly guessing, but In a war, a rollback aka misfire was time costly and expensive, one less ammunition and time wasted. Both are important. While building a castle you got the time to risk a load falling back down, and the people working them were probably the lowest ranking citizens so a injury or death was, well, acceptable. Not worth the hassle equipping all cranes with complicated ratchets.

[@hamjudo]

It won't roll back as long as the entire weight of the human hamster is on the bottom rim of the wheel. Without the brake there could be significant injury if the human tried to step out of the machine with a load on it.

[@ericconnor8419]

@@paulgrieshammer2707 Would it need a complicated ratchet, or just a bloke nearby with a length of timber ready to wedge in the right spot? That seems the sort of job an apprentice would do.

[@zoidsfan12]

I love that these guys are still getting covered. Years and years ago I was watching videos on how they did their masonry because I legitimately wanted to dig a quarry and start building my own fortress in the desert. Very glad to see them still at it because these guys are an inspiration.

[@ModeHistoire]

Are you writing this from your desert fortress now?

[@foximacentauri7891]

@@ModeHistoire I sure hope so

[@ichhabe330]

@@ModeHistoire I love your optimism and humour.

[@sarrakitty]

How's the desert fortress project going?

[@MrRobotrax]

@@ichhabe330 jeez get a room you two

[@tonytrott9789]

Treadmill crane remains have been found in salisbury cathedral as well as several other locations and have been known about for over a hundred years.

[@d3Rm0Nk]

Guédelon is SO AWESOME I've been following them for quite some time now and it's amazing to see their progress

[@HandToolRescue]

This is actually just a modern home build now, with the cost of materials the way they are...

[@LordKhuzdul]

With the amount of lumber in that crane, and lumber prices nowadays, it probably does cost as much as a house if you want one for yourself.

[@Helveteshit]

@@LordKhuzdul They haven't paid much for the materials. Most of are sourced from the property that the castle is placed on.

[@Aamirbt1]

just did a double take to make sure it was actually HTR posting!

[@fietehermans9903]

There was a famous crane on top of Cologne cathedral. After a while, construction stalled, so it stayed up there about 400 years until they finished the cathedral, and the crane taken down. You can find pictures of it online!

[@lunakoala5053]

I just scoffed at a TV program touting wood as a durable material. 400 years ain't bad tho.

[@fietehermans9903]

@@lunakoala5053 When Notre-Dame de Paris burned down, the majority of the roof timbers dated back to the 13th century, so they were almost 800 years old

[@raifikarj6698]

@@lunakoala5053 Of course when you use the right wood from certain tree. Because the wood we use nowadays is a mass produced wood in a certain standard. In the past when the forest still covered all in Europe the variety of Old Growth wood is plenty

[@lunakoala5053]

@@raifikarj6698 Also, according to some documentary I saw about stradivari violins (or rather why we fail to replicate their quality), trees grew different back then for climate reasons.

[@raifikarj6698]

@@lunakoala5053 not only climate reason but also soil, that's why some food grow in different soil have different taste. Tree is also like that the composition will change slightly just like Metal Alloy have different property depending the material composition

[@rolandpaterson-jones1740]

It's an open secret that all of the old European cathedrals used human treadmills to raise heavy blocks. Strasbourg, Frankfurt all now offer this as standard practice in their historical vids on-site.

[@Gomisan]

I love Guedelon, I have visited 3 times over the years and the progress is just awesome. I think I need to fit another trip to France in some time soon.

[@twojuiceman]

The shot at 5:14 is the same way they filmed the jogging round the room shot in 2001: A Space Odyssey. They built an enormous enclosed wheel and fix the camera to the frame. The jogger runs in place as the wheel spins, and from the camera's perspective, it looks like he's running around the room

[@boobah5643]

Well, he _is_ running around the room. It's not the runner's fault that from a frame of reference outside the room he isn't moving.

[@OALXI]

I cannot express how excited I am seeing this video. Guédelon is literaly half an hour away from where I live, I go there often with my family to see how things are advancing there.

[@eizzah8323]

Ah un bourguignon ici noice

[@OALXI]

@@eizzah8323 Oui ici la Bourgogne!

[@TastyTarco]

dad?

[@OALXI]

@@TastyTarco Oh my goodness!

[@comicus01]

What would you recommend in terms of transportation for a visit? I visited Europe in 2019, but Paris was as close as I got, and doing a day trip seemed very impractical. Renting a car from the center of Paris probably wasn't a good idea, and taking the RER to the end of the line and then renting a car still would have taken a long time. I feel like a road trip around France is really the only good way. Or is there something I haven't thought of? I really would enjoy visiting Guedelon for a day.

[@bean2349]

Never thought I would see this again. I took a trip to Europe four years ago and binged a show that featured this castle build after I got back. This brings back so many good memories, and I’m glad you made a video on it.

[@tomfinn6579]

One of the highlights of our trip to France in 2019.

[@williamstrachan]

My word, I love that they're recreating this at a 1:1 timescale when it comes to technological advancement etc. (Albeit not building at full speed)

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

It took years to build a castle. This was the precedent for the modern tradition of taking years to build a single overpass.

[@martinsoler396]

Apparently (according to. Guidelines guide) it used to take about 5 years to build back when they built them. With Many more people, many more.

[@Wierdy1024]

Something Tom failed to explain... The crane is such an effort-saving device because, when using the crane, you are only lifting the weight of the stones (plus some rope). whereas when walking up steps with a stone in your hands, you're lifting your own body weight, plus the weight of the stone. Therefore, to build a castle, you probably reduce the number of calories needed by 60% by using cranes.

[@tissuepaper9962]

Obviously the rope and cradle have some weight to them as well, but you're right that it isn't nearly as much as the big sacks of meat we carry around all day every day.

[@bosstowndynamics5488]

I can see another, albeit smaller advantage; the crane is traversing a smaller distance - to carry a significant payload a person would need stairs, which means travelling at least 1.4 times as far as the direct vertical traversal that the crane follows

[@mikehoyt7592]

Plus the energy to hold the stone in your hands. Plus the energy to walk back down the stairs. Plus the traffic management problem on the stairs

[@epiendless1128]

Agreed. I had to think about that for a bit, since you are effectively walking uphill on that thing. Made sense to me when I reasoned that you are lifting your body, but the wheel converts your potential energy into potential energy of the stone. Compare and contrast carrying a stone to the top of the wall and then climbing back down, vs climbing to the top of the wall and coming down in a rope and pulley arrangement that lifts the stone as you drop.

[@Tonoborus]

I imagine it also avoids a lot of injuries from mishandling the stones on the way up or from the repetitive stress of carrying them.

[@george.....]

Been following this project for a while now. Always a joy to see how much progress has been made.

[@mittfh]

Large trebuchets (such as those that inspired the reconstruction at Warwick Castle) were based on crane tech - Warwick's uses two drums and teams of four walkers, who initially walk one way to wind down the arm, then the other way to unwind the rope. Courtesy of the commentary (there are numerous YT videos), in the day, sickness and injuries were occupational hazards of walkers...

[@lsedge7280]

Awesome to see Warwick Castle mentioned! It's not far from me, and it's an awesome place. The trebuchets are amazing to watch too!

[@marble3260]

If you can visit Guedelon you should it’s worth it. It’s not just a stone castle there’s a village like area around it and its well explained in multiple languages.

[@trueaussie9230]

If one is interested in and intends to visit someone else's home, one could at least make an effort to learn their language. The vast majority of native English speakers are arrogantly parochial.

[@oldveryveryoldmanfromthe1900s]

@@trueaussie9230 ok

[@satibel]

My sister was doing period accurate circus with a fire breathe friend.

[@stephanweinberger]

@@trueaussie9230 explaining building techniques, architecture, etc. doesn't really work with basic language a tourist might have learned in a couple of weeks. The vocabulary alone is - naturally - quite advanced.

[@davisn456]

The documentary about this castle that's on KZbin is really very interesting. Great visit Tom!

[@The_Gun_Room]

Seen a documentary on this site and am glad to see tons of people still taking interest in it

[@xliquidflames]

Experimental archaeology is awesome. I have watched the Timeline documentary episodes about Guédelon probably 10 times. People often think of our ancestors as less technological. Well, they were. They didn't have computers or even electricity, of course, but they weren't stupid. That's why it's so offensive when conspiracy theorists try to say they must have had help from aliens or something. No, they were smart enough to figure out how to do this on their own. I hope I get to visit Guédelon some day.

[@AlexanderNash]

They were more or less just about as smart as we are now. The only difference is that we stand on their shoulders and everyone who came after them but before us. It's the accumulation of knowledge throughout time.

[@pedroamado2086]

I see it as a kind of projection. The "alien technology" people are obviously not very smart, so they assume people in the past were not very smart.

[@boobah5643]

@@AlexanderNash There's some evidence that we're smarter, on average. But that's mostly because we spend less time starving as we grow up.

[@gupadre8255]

Looks like Tom is having a wheel of a time!

[@spiderzvow1]

I tried to report u but not sure what to report u for. "Made me cring so hard my cat left me" is not an option.

[@LuminousAnima]

god

[@singletona082]

There are no beginings nor endings. However this was A begining.

[@krissp8712]

@@singletona082 "I just read a sentence" is the energy I got from your reply

[@LordAJ12345]

[insert Robert Jordan joke here]

[@Talaxianer]

Archaeologists in 2000 years will have a rough time.

[@eljanrimsa5843]

As the historian pointed out: The fortifications were already a bit anachronistic in 1228. Archeologists will just assume a minor local nobleman still wanted a castle to display his status in 2022.

[@kindlin]

@@eljanrimsa5843 What do you mean? Aren't they talking to all the historians and archeologists (etc., etc.) to make it as accurate as possible? Minus some obvious safety upgrades (which, as another poster pointed out, are but a bare minimum, and not even that).

[@pallasproserpina4118]

Archaeologists are smart, they can figure it out😊

[@virdrae]

It will be worse for paleontologists in 20 000 years. All dinosaurs lived simultaniously, and with humans (unless they carbon date or something?).

[@Fopenplop]

this and the pyramid in Memphis, TN

[@socks2441]

what they are doing is fascinating. i bet tourists love it. i had no idea something like this was being done. bizarre, but awesome. serious respect to those workers.

[@danglesmcbutternut4088]

I remember hearing about this castle as a child, so stunning to see how far it's come!

[@stuiesmb]

It’ll be even quicker when they adopt the feudal system and start using serfs

[@Mechanikatt]

Good old Age of Empires, historically accurate as always.

[@natheniel]

But the Franks didnt have it!

[@rhettorical]

At this point, I've learned more from Age of Empires than I have from any history book.

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

"You played 3 hours to die like this?!"

[@chrislanejones]

Scott needs to play Age of Empires

[@TrapShooter68]

I saw a video on this project quite a few years ago. Nice to see the progress that they have made. And yet again; Tom Scott answering questions we didn't know we had!

[@Cruznick06]

So happy to see this project continuing! I really hope I can visit it before completion and also after. I deeply appreciate that they are taking it slow so the public can learn firsthand about these techniques and the technology of the time.

[@jogennotsuki]

"Secrets of the Castle with Ruth, Peter and Tom" (not Scott) was one of the most enjoyable series in BBC history. Highly recommended to anyone interested Guédelon, or medieval history in general.

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

Really appreciate that they take the time to stop and explain to people what they're doing, it's always fascinating learning about stuff like this

[@JustaMuteCat]

I’m just glad that the Guédelon project is still going even during trying times like those we living.

[@ahmberry22]

Tom, I absolutely love your videos! They show me how very little I know about our world. It's so fantastic getting to experience little bits of our world through you. Thank you!

[@__Albin__]

Both the crane and the castle build are lovely things to learn about.

[@micahphilson]

I knew about these because maps of medieval cities included them all the time, the ports of Hamburg were even famous for them. But I had no idea they went back to Roman times!

[@PTEC3D]

That was - brilliant. Thanks for bringing us another great video! And thank the good folk at Guédelon for figuring out a brake mechanism, I always wondered about the 'recoil' ...

[@brandoncampbell9794]

I love how fascinating and novel all your videos are. Thanks Tom!

[@DetroitMicroSound]

I've been following this construction, since before the Secrets of the Castle series.

[@iododendron3416]

I remember seeing sth on German TV 10 years or so ago, thinking 35 years would take forever. They were then building the roof of the big hall, I think.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

@@iododendron3416 This project put a wrinkle in time. Imagine the confusion of archiologists, hundreds of years from now....

[@richb313]

Thanks Scott for risking slight disorientation for the rest of us to make this video and actually learn a little.

[@SafariPlum]

This is brilliant and fascinating, thank you for making this video Tom, love your work.

[@Despotic_Waffle]

Wow, I saw a video made by these people a few months ago where they show visitors all about medieval building and crafts techniques. So interesting to see tom cover this. Love such things.

[@thecalvinprice]

'Secrets of the Castle' is a great documentary on this castle from years ago. Highly recommended!

[@smorrow]

'Castle' by David Macaulay was one of John Holt's favourite books.

[@apjtv2540]

The round of applause was completely justified Tom! After all, you did so 'wheel'!

[@ethandavis8090]

This is so awesome that something like this exists and is being built. I have a huge amount of respect for the people who put the time, research and effort into utilising, and reviving medieval techniques to build this thing. It looks absolutely incredible!

[@CriticoolHit]

I watched a documentary over a decade ago about this place when they were just getting started on that north tower! Holy cool! All the way cool! I can even remember saying to myself "I wonder what it would look like in a decade". Now they are saying they need another 10 years. I hope I bump into it again! What a treat!

[@professionalamateur417]

At this point, I can confirm that I've learned more from Tom than from my school teachers, especially since he makes this stuff 50 times more interesting.

[@troyt6532]

I doubt it

[@khalilahd.]

Lmfao you and me both 😂

[@RobRobson]

in a fraction of time too :D

[@bermchasin]

6 minutes vs 7 hours.

[@luc1ferous]

I went through the whole school system before the internet was available (My high school got internet capable computer in my last 18 months there) and I often wonder what it would've been like having the resources we have now back when I was the kid who randomly picked out books from the library because they sounded interesting.

[@darkstrife421]

i remember watching a documentary where historians spent a year there taking part in a few of the building techiniques and looking at what it was like to live at a castle construction site. Awesome video!

[@ronaldachterbergh9392]

In Utrecht ( the Netherlands ) stands a replica from treadwheel crane near the Monica bridge, it’s build at the museum shipyard in Vreeswijk ( Nieuwegein ) the original crane was near the city hall in Utrecht but was broken down after it was destroyed when it was overloaded when lifting a to heavy load .

[@Bomber679]

I happened to learn about this castle recently from Age of Empires IV. Very cool to see Tom there too.

[@AnastasiaCooper]

I've just come back from a trip with my University, visiting medieval church buildings. It touches my heart that Tom out there fulfills dreams by what he does. I for example would've loved to see a sneak peak at the building sites of back then. My trip was mostly focused on the reciprocity of people, money, art and religion. I would've loved to learn more about the actual building craft. Seeing an actual medieval building site, in addition with such detailed thoughts as in which year it all takes place... amazing. Like time travelling a little bit. I'm glad they have modern security standards though. Thank you Tom. This one really hit close to my very own interests and unfulfilled daydreams

[@workaholica]

I have heard about this castle before, and it's amazing how far they have come since then.

[@jasiumodrzynski861]

You have to check out the one in Gdansk, Poland. Its much bigger and was actually used to load stuff on the ships. Worth seeing!

[@louisBrother1988]

I can't wait for Tom to travel to Mars just to explain why it's named Mars.

[@cheeseisgreat24]

I’ve always loved these kinds of things, because preservation of that knowledge helps us move forward in ways one might not expect, since they had to solve the same kinds of problems we have to today, and having access to their different ways of solving it is just overall a good idea.

[@jamieriddell6585]

I remember seeing Ruth Goodman visiting and helping build on this site years ago with a film crew, Secrets of the Castle I think it's called... probably still available on KZbin for those who want to see more of the technology and techniques used.

[@kathilisi3019]

Yes, that was an excellent show! I love all of Ruth Goodman's historical films.

[@lostnetwork5717]

ive been following this build from the start and im so excited to see it finished

[@starlitstreet]

I really appreciate any functional structure named something as blatant and straightforward as a "murder hole"

[@k.jespersen6145]

Ah!! It's been a few years since I've seen this place show up on TV-- look at all of the progress! Thank you for visiting and sharing this one in particular, Tom Scott Team.