€150k bid to turn castle ruins into working attraction

A retired doctor and former chairman of the UK Federation of Small Businesses is spearheading a campaign to restore and rebuild part of a medieval castle at Pouancé in the Maine-et-Loire using medieval building techniques in the same way as the successful project at Guédelon in Burgundy.

Dr Bernard Juby said the existing ruins of the medieval castle would be ideal for such a project as there are ready-made footings in place to rebuild the old drawbridge and portcullis and its flanking drum towers. The Guédelon project started in 1996 when the owner of a castle, Michel Guyot discovered that his property had been built on an existing medieval property.

It is now a major tourist attraction where visitors can see craftsman at work building a 13th-century style castle stone by stone. Dr Juby would like to see this happening at Pouancé but on the site of an already existing château which could be partially restored using old techniques so that people could see what it looked like originally.

He and his wife, Pamela, have lived near and in Pouancé for 17 years and have both long been interested in medieval history. They have taken part in several historical enactments both in the UK and in France, and joined La Ghylde de la Foreyst set up by the local Syndicat d’Initiative, which promotes local tourism, five years ago. There are 12 in the group who are all enthusiastic about the project and they have the backing of the SI.

Dr Juby said the idea would give a boost to the town: “As well as being a huge tourist attraction it would encourage stone masons, carpenters and builders, together with apprentices to learn the old crafts and help soak up some unemployment at the same time.

“Our advantage is that we already have the footprint and footings on which to build. It would also attract people to the town centre which is much needed since the local authority has moved many of the town’s facilities to the periphery.”

The project would need initial funding of between €100,000 and €150,000 and that afterwards it would fund itself using revenue from paying visitors.

A well-established local group of enthusiasts are willing to be involved and that he has been writing to as many people as he can to raise awareness and gain support, Dr Juby added.

“I have written to the Minister of Culture in Paris, the recently formed Ombrée d’Anjou Director of Culture and Tourism and I am in touch with the Duke of Cossé-Brissac, a leading light in tourism in the Angers area.”

Dr Juby is confident that the idea could really work for Pouancé. “The future looks bright”, he said.