The region's many attractions like nearby Silver Dollar City and Big Cedar Lodge on Table Rock Lake are now being joined by a unique new project that will be twenty years in the making.  The Ozark Medieval Fortress near Lead Hill, Arkansas was begun last summer and is now rising slowly from a wooded hillside overlooking an extensive valley below.  The story of this project, both attraction and educational enterprise, is a fascinating one.

The enterprise of Michel Guyot,  the French owner and restorer of the castle of Saint-Fargeau in Normandy, the Ozarks project was proposed by Jean Marc and Solange Mirat, a French couple who retired at Lead Hill twenty years ago to be near their granddaughters.  The Mirats had visited Guyot's restored castle in France and were inspired to invite him to consider building a castle in the wooded hills on their farm.  Guyot saw the potential, put together a group of investors, purchased fifty acres of the Mirat's property and began construction that will take an estimated two decades to complete.

The Medieval Fortress is an authentic project, being built with hand labor, tools and techniques used in 13^th century Europe.  The architect for the castle is Christian Corvisier, a restorer of medieval castles, who has been joined by Dr. Andrew Tallon, professor of medieval art and architecture at Vassar College, as historical consultant for the work.  Their goal is to assure the design and construction meets every standard of historical accuracy and both men inspected the site recently for the grand opening of the project.  An architect from Little Rock serves as a buffer with local authorities in assuring the project satisfies current code requirements unknown in the 13^th century.

The project is now open for tours and the opportunity to see the work in progress.  Skilled craftsmen---stone cutters, carpenters, bakers, blacksmiths, potters, rope makers, masons---along with apprentices and enthusiastic volunteers, are at work daily on the construction site.  The tools and techniques are true to the times which inspired this latter day rendition and the workers and signage interpret the process underway and the culture a castle like this supported.  

Although this enterprise is not about water quality in the Ozarks per se, it has an important dimension involving sustainability.   The material being used---the stone, the earth and wood---are from the site itself.  All can be replaced as necessary from the resources immediately at hand.  Water will be captured from rainfall or drawn from wells dug on the site.  The lessons and implications for society today are abundant and a tour of this fortress abuilding would be a worthwhile way to spend a day in the Ozarks. 

For more information and description of the project, visit their website at www.ozarkmedievalfortress.com