How cool is this? The Chateau de Guedelon, in Burgundy, France, is a new medieval castle. Say what? That’s right: the castle was started in 1998 and is being built entirely by hand using medieval techniques. The stone is quarried from the site, the nails are made by blacksmiths right then and there, and they even make their own mortar! I love how the project is reviving ancient skills, and scholars are fascinated by the small historical mysteries that are solved by seeing the hands-on process. Best of all, the architects had to invent a historical “owner,” so that the design would have some soul!