Learning a way of life more than 700 hundred years old, that's the mission at the Ozark Medieval Castle.

The project is the vision of Frenchman Michel Guyot.
Himself the owner of an ancient castle, he started a similar project in France 12 years ago, building a castle from scratch using only authentic tools and methods from a time gone by.

Friends persuaded Guyot to start another castle project on their land here in Arkansas.

Guyot's wife, Noemi Brunet says, "We've been spending six months building to offer a good vision to the visitors, to actually try to have a feel of the atmosphere first, and little by little everything will become more consistent, more deep, more profound."

Only the foundations and beginnings are visible now.
But over the next 20 years, it will slowly build into a structure typical of those that dot the French countryside, medieval communities where the peasants traded their sweat and talents for the security of the castle and its knights.

An important factor for any castle is the proximity of raw material. Only yards away is the site's rock quarry.

Using authentic methods, even the visitors have a chance to help shape the pieces of the castle wall.

Those with a more skilled touch are in charge of the finer parts of the castle, things like a doorway arch that require pieces of exact size and angle.

But the attraction is very interactive, and visitors several chances to try their own hand at various skills.

Bobby Brazeal is from Lowell. "It takes a little bit to get used to. But as long as you have a little time and wanted to try it, it's not hard at all," he says.

The 20-year timetable means the workforce here will evolve, new craftsmen will be added in time. And the methods and skills will be passed down just as they would in ancient times.

Julie Sonveau is the PR representative for the castle, "We have our general staff that we have now, but we have the possibility that people that who want to work on the castle but don't necessarily want to have a job here, can come and work on the weekend, or a week, or their vacation and help build the castle."

"We've always been interested in medieval life and how things worked," says Dan and Nancy Allen, who are from Conway. They made a point of visiting after reading several articles about the project.

Don Allen says, "Basically the blocks and putting them together. Getting this group of artisans to really put it together. It's amazing."

The Ozark Medieval Castle near Lead Hill, it's something else that may leave you amazed by Arkansas.