After a few hours spent within the castle, we promise you that you will no longer want to return to the 21st century.
© Louise Guyonnet
Kléber and Geneviève Rossillon
The Giboulées de Mars in no way attach the good humor of the participants and the organizers: whether under a bright sun or under hail, nothing comes to sweep the smiles of some and the amazed eyes of others. “We came for my daughters, who study the Middle Ages at school and who are super interested in the period,” explains Sandra, who decided to do an hour to come and spend the day with her three children.
Festivities built with scientific rigor
Well he took it, since this day is particularly special for the castle: that it has been open to the public for 40 years, as well as its museum of war in the Middle Ages. For the occasion, many festivities await the public: Trumbhet fire (weapon of war with counterweight), singular fights respecting the rules and technicality of the 13th, XIV, 15th and 16th centuries, as well as demonstrations of several craftsmen, who came to share their know-how: Georges Jolliot (Ariège), armor drummer; Dominique Humbert (North Finistère), manufacturer of Ecus and Pavois; Or Gaël Fabre (Ardèche), specialist in swords.
© Louise Guyonnet Calligraphy Arnaud Hosse
Please note: out of the question to compare these festivities organized at the castle of Castelnaud to those of a famous themed park, since here, “there is no romance of the period”, explains Kléber Rossillon, owner of the castle. Everything is thought and developed using researchers and historians with strictly scientific rigor. The shots are made like the time, armor and weapons too, to illuminations.
Investigate to get closer to the truth
Impossible, in fact, to put yourself in the skin of architects and craftsmen of the Middle Ages without reproducing with as much accuracy as possible their works. And the task is not easy: there is indeed no plan explaining with precision how to make a trebuchet, with which materials, nor how they were used at the time.
It was therefore by deciphering coded sketches of Villard de Honnecourt, an architect of the 12th century, that Reynaud Beffeyte, specialist in ancient engineering, managed to build these machines identically. It took him two years of investigation! This machine, the most powerful of its time, is capable of projecting a 56 -kilo stone ball at 212 meters. It was used during assaults to destroy enemy walls … and as much to say that the result is particularly impressive!
© Louise Guyonnet
In addition to trebuchet and other fire drips, a visit to the castle is also offered to visitors. Again, Castelnaud innovates from her opening, since he is one of the first castles where visitors can wander in total freedom, without a guide. “We were able to install surveillance cameras for the first time in theaters. They allow us to monitor the curious and those who approach too close to the works, ”explains Kléber Rossillon.
Deconstruct popular ideas on the Middle Ages
Scientific rigor on all the equipment presented, beware of the chronology of works and meticulous selection of craftsmen … So many elements that also make this visit an ideal opportunity to deconstruct several received ideas on the Middle Ages.
In the Middle Ages, people were not washing themselves
❌ False: Admittedly, the streets were dirty, for lack of sewer system, which led to the accumulation of wastewater and the proliferation of bacteria and diseases. However, people were washing themselves. It was not until the 14th century, after the epidemic of black plague, that hygiene habits changed. It was then thought that the water opened the pores and allowed diseases to enter the body, which led to a decrease in the frequency of the baths.
The knights' armor was too heavy, condemning them when they fell from horse
❌ False: The weight and quality of armor largely depended on the warrior's social class. The more heavy it, the more it protected, the more it was expensive. However, they were not heavy enough to prevent a knight from getting up: the objective being that he can continue to fight even on the ground. Until the 12th century, armor was rather light. In the 15th century, complete armor weighed around 25 kg. As for the sword, it was not heavier than a bottle of water and could be handled with one hand!
© Louise Guyonnet
The lords all lived in strong castles
❌ False: When we speak of “strong castles”, it means “provided with fortifications”, and this was not the case for all the castles in the Middle Ages. Before the 10th and 11th century, the castle was not used to protect but to show the power and richness of the Lord. It was only between the 10th and the 11th century that the rivalries between the neighboring lords led certain palaces to have fortifications, to complicate the task of an invader potential. These castles were not “limited to military functions”, specifies Inrap: they were real administrative centers.
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
