Rebuilding Medieval City with Only Medieval Tools

[porwolf]

I Germany people are starting to rebuild a whole 1300's medieval city, including dome, with only tools of the time.

In Meßkirch entsteht eine Stadt wie im Mittelalter - SPIEGEL ONLINE

[JJ 911SC]

baut den Charakter

[Zeke]

I can appreciate that, but it seems like restoring or building a car with WWII tools.

Wait, that's pretty much what I use. But I'd hate to build the Wright Bros. plane with a hand saw and a spoke shave.

[Rick Lee]

As bad as European personal hygiene is today, I can't imagine how bad these guys smell if they're going old school.

[nzporsche944s2]

That looks really interesting but I don't speak German and couldn't see an English link....

[RWebb]

will they have to provide ID when using their credit card to buy stone?

[tevake]

Was just in Orvieto Italy and was blown away by the detail they had developed by the 14th century, still late Middle Ages



Or some of the mosaic done in an 11th century cathedral in Sisily




Mosaic work still being done the old way, slow demanding, but very long lasting.

The progression of design and skill with materials through the Middle Ages is truly amazing to see.

[tevake]

Also the tools and machines developed by Leanardo Da Vinci and others of that time to deal with the challenges of lifting large pieces to great heights were some of the break throughs that have lead to modern high rise buildings.

I salute the effort by those in the OP for taking on real challenge.

[yazhound]

A family accquaintance is a stone mason. He is an ex-seal and traveled to Italy and basically apprenticed under and old stone mason for several years. It is a lost art nowadays, esp in USA where modern bulidings are not but with such materials. A new church - metal crap with maybe some psuedo stone made of concrete etc... The man power and the raw materials are just cost prohibitive for many. Brick veneer homes are not in the same league as what was done in the past. Think of the ancient Romans and what they accomplished. Was not matched for centuries afterward.

[Buckterrier]

Very cool Wolf, thanks for the link.

[porwolf]

Here is a Google translation of the story:

[stuartj]

Originally Posted by tevake

Was just in Orvieto Italy and was blown away by the detail they had developed by the 14th century, still late Middle Ages

isn't that an amazing place? The cathedral is something else, with the external demonic reliefs, the Whore of the Damned fresco on the inside. Its full on.

The town is amazing...a true medieval city, yet people living a modern life. Yet I don't recall seeing a satellite dish, a power pole- even a wheelie bin.

[porwolf]

It is quite common in Europe that people love to restore and preserve their old towns. Just for their own enjoyment. And they don't necessarily expect a lot of tuorists either. I once happened to drive by the town Hanovers Gmuenden in Northern Germany. The whole town including the surrounding Medieval wall looks straight out of the 1600's. Hardly a building is less than 200 years old! And I was the only stranger in town!

[kiwiokie]

This one in France has been underway for some time.

Guédelon’s official site. Guédelon: a castle in the making.

Very cool.

[john70t]

This was a favorite book as a child.