TREIGNY, France -- one time upon a ...

TREIGNY, France -- one time upon a time, deep in the forests of Burgundy a man was haunted from a vision. He dreamed of building a castle, with minarets great walls and a moat. an people wondered if he was mad.

This was, after all, 1996

And even now Michel Guyot set out to build his castle the hard way -- the medieval way. With merely hammers and chisels to carve the stones. With solely horses to cart the asylum Without power tools.

Ten years later, Guedelon castle is about one-third finished, with imposing sandstone walls that rise up not at home of the red Burgundy soil. It's a living history reproof and a successful tourism project: Last year, 245000 visitors admired the work of Guedelon's stonecutters, carpenters, busy one's self about trifless rope-makers and blacksmiths.

The 50 paid craftsmen, plus presents wear tunics and use rustic tools. omit for the occasional hard hat or pair of safety stares there's little to remind visitors that this is not the 13th hundred

forward a recent visit to Guedelon I watched in awe as a man climbed into a ungainly contraption that looked like a vast hamster wheel. He ran frantically, spinning the wheel and activating a pulley body that lifted a load of stones atop a tower.

When he was done, our tour cluster broke into applause, and poor Jean-Paul climbed opposite the wheel, huffing and puffing and fanning his tunic. It was all in such a manner . . . medieval.

TOURISTS BRING IN $26 MILLION

Guyot an archeology light yellow mounted the project after restoring a castle in nearby Saint-Fargeau. Building a castle from scratch was a childhood dream -- a sandcastle in succession a huge scale.

"I told myself that acts of foolish act are the only things that common doesn't regret in life," Guyot said. "With exhibits like this, you just have to go on foot for them, full-speed ahead."

notwithstanding that some pronounced the project outlandish, others quickly understood his vision. It took solely one year to secure financing and learn going. Work began in 1997 Guedelon which brought in about $26 million from tourists last year, no longer relies forward outside funding from the state or corporations.

Historical accuracy is tonic Jacques Moulin, France's chief architect in charge of historic gravestones designed a blueprint for the castle based forward 13th century architectural canons. Archeologists and art historians take a view of the project, which is helping castle specialists proof hypotheses about medieval building techniques.

"You learn that you can lift 1300-pound beams without late machinery," said Maryline Martin, the site director. "All it takes is used by all sense and manpower."

Guedelon's craftsmen say it's satisfying to build something slowly as a team, especially in the fast-paced Internet age. humane Guerard, a stonecutter, says measuring gone out and carving a complicated stone may take up to eight days.

All the stones -- ferruginous sandstone -- be derived from a quarry on the site of the castle. The awkward scaffolding comes from the surrounding forest.

"Using and nothing else the nature that surrounds you, you can build a chateau," said Guerard, who restored historical buildings before joining Guedelon

ABBEY, VILLAGE ALSO PLANNED

upon my visit, the "ping" of chisels upon rock filled the air, and our tour cluster was occasionally moved out of the way on a passing horse-drawn cart. Our guide mingleed humor with the history instruction and had us play the character of invaders to explain by what mode even the smallest architectural details helped foster castles.

near examples: A staircase turns clockwise, forcing invaders to transfer their spears to the left hand and giving the defense an advantage. An extra-tall stair requires them to take along their chain- link armor to scale it. Anyone who actually makes it up the stairs alive would have to bend athwart to pass through a grave doorway -- giving the castle's hatchet-armed maintainers a prime crack at their neck

Our guide was waiting for me outside the doorway -- in position to karate change suddenly my neck. If it was the 13th hundred I would have lost my head. Instead I had a great view of the bustling work site.

a certain quantity of of the walls are already masked with moss, a reminder that the plan is slow-going. If all goe well, the castle will be finished in 2023 After that, the craftsmen plan to build an abbey, then a village.

"This will not be finished, because it's not about the conclusion result of having a castle," Guyot said. It's about the dream of building -- stone by the agency of stone.

IF YOU GO:

FRANCE

GETTING THERE: Guedelon is about 125 miles southern of Paris and is best accessible through car. Try the Web site http://www.mappy.com to finish driving directions from your location to the town of Treigny. It's best also to have a map of the department, a part of the Burgundy region that is called Yonne The nearest large town is Auxerre.

PLANNING A VISIT: note to Guedelon costs $11.50 for adults and $895 for children 5 and up It's best to call ahead if you are interested in arranging a guided tour in English. Check the Web site at http://wwwguedelon com for opening times, which vary on season. Phone: (011) 33-3-86-45-66-66.