Campus Galli - Karolingische Klosterstadt Meßkirch, Open-air medieval construction museum in Messkirch, Germany
Campus Galli is an open-air museum in Messkirch that demonstrates the construction of a medieval monastery using Carolingian methods from the 9th century. The project employs only tools, materials, and techniques that were available during that era.
The project is based on the architectural plans of Saint Gall Abbey from 830, which show the fundamental structure of a medieval monastery. These historical blueprints serve as the template for the current reconstruction of the complex.
Craftspeople work daily at different stations demonstrating traditional skills like weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and wood carving using period-accurate methods. Visitors witness how these activities shaped the everyday life of a medieval monastic community.
The site is walkable with paths leading through various construction areas and workshops. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the terrain is uneven and the grounds can become muddy in wet weather.
The complex is being built across roughly 20 hectares (49 acres) where workers extract raw materials like wood, stone, and clay directly from the land. This approach makes it possible to witness the entire process from resource gathering to finished structure.
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