Ozark Medieval Fortress was a project designed to construct an accurate replica of a 13th-century French castle in Lead Hill, Arkansas.[1] Construction was carried out on the site using only materials and techniques appropriate to the 13th century.[2] The ground was broken in 2009, with the expectation that completion would have taken about 20 years.
| Ozark Medieval Fortress | |
|---|---|
| Lead Hill, Arkansas, between Springfield, Missouri and Little Rock, Arkansas | |
.jpg) Ozark Medieval Fortress in 2011 | |
  Ozark Medieval Fortress | |
| Coordinates | 36°26′06″N 93°03′42″W / 36.4349389°N 93.0615583°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Michel Guyot (first owner) |
| Open to the public | No |
| Condition | Under construction (Paused indefinitely) |
| Site history | |
| Built | 2009-January 2012 (originally intended for completion around 2029) |
| Materials | Medieval materials: wood, stone, lime,... |
The project was inspired by Guédelon Castle in France, which is the first attempt to build a medieval castle using accurate construction methods, started by Michel Guyot. Two French citizens living in Arkansas offered to sell Guyot part of their land for the building of a similar fortification. Guyot accepted, and construction began in June 2009.[3]
In May 2010, Ozark Medieval Fortress opened to the public. Visitors had the opportunity to observe the ongoing construction and talk to the costumed workers. Additionally, starting in 2011 a collection of medieval siege weapons was to be on display. The site was open every day from 10AM to 6PM.
In January 2012 the project closed indefinitely, requiring a buyer or an investor.[4][5] The site is now permanently closed to visitors and only the unfinished ruins of the Ozark Medieval Fortress remain today.
See also
edit- Guédelon Castle - the original project to build a medieval French castle
References
edit- ^ "Ozark Medieval Fortress". Bransonshows.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ "Building It Medieval-The Ozark Medieval Fortress in Arkansas". Scatoday.net. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2 August 2017.
- ^ Aimee Levitt (March 18, 2010). "Medieval Castle Under Construction in Ozarks". Riverfront Times. Archived from the original on 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ Schulte, Bret (27 May 2013). "Buyer Sought for Stalled Tourist Castle Near Branson". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2 August 2017 – via NYTimes.com.