Press Release

Ozark Medieval Fortress Voted 10 top places to visit in Arkansas from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

For immediate release

On the 175th anniversary of Arkansas’ statehood, the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism announced that the OZARK MEDIEVAL FORTRESS tops the list of the state’s visitor attractions. arkansas.com

The OZARK MEDIEVAL FORTRESS is a new attraction in Arkansas, which opened to the public for the first time in May 2010.

The OZARK MEDIEVAL FORTRESS is a thrilling educational, scientific, and emotional experience, a soaring flight into ages past and a living history book!

In front of visitors, authentically dressed masons, carpenters, stone carvers and dedicated artisans will work for the next 20 years raising a genuine, full-sized, fortified castle with towers ranging from 40 to 70 ft in height, a drawbridge, 6 foot wide stone walls which surround an expansive inner courtyard.

Artisans using tools, techniques, and rules from 700 years ago, recreate the Middle Ages in Europe in a green environment: no electricity, no engines, just bare hands and the natural resources of the site.

OZARK MEDIEVAL FORTRESS wants everyone who visits to interact with artisans and take away with them a new experience.

OZARK MEDIEVAL FORTRESS’ goal is to invite Americans to adopt this project so that it will become a place unique on American soil where everyone can learn about castle heritage without needing a passport.

The man behind the Ozark Medieval Fortress is passionate about castles: Michel Guyot. As a teenager, he spent his vacation helping to restore national heritage sites in his home country of France. In 1997 he set up a team along with volunteers and scientific experts. He created the concept of « Guédelon » consisting of building a real medieval castle from scratch, recreating at the same time the old skills required for such a construction and getting to finance the project thanks to the visitors’ fee.
In September 2008, Jean-Marc and Solange Mirat two French citizens who live in the United States since 1990 visited Guédelon. They were impressed with the project and thought that their land in rural Arkansas might also be suitable to serve as a similar construction site. They contacted Guyot and offered a portion of their land for sale, an admirable place to build a fortress.
Ground was broken in June 2009 and the Ozark Medieval Fortress is open to the public since May 2010.

Ozark Medieval Fortress is located about halfway between Little Rock, AR, and Springfield, MO, close to Harrison, AR or Branson, MO. GPS coordinates 36.436, -93.062.
Open Wednesday – Sunday. The site may be closed by severe weather conditions. Check Website (http://www.ozarkfortress.com) for operating dates and hours.
Gift shop and picnic facilities available on site. 
Ideal destination for families, field trips, and group tours.

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