The site is based on a parchment architectural drawing created in Switzerland around 820 AD.
Workers use only hand tools like axes, saws, and chisels, often forged on-site by the resident blacksmith.
The project includes an operational farm using ancient crop varieties and rare heritage livestock breeds.
Construction occurs at a slow pace, as even simple structures require months of manual labor to complete.
The wood used is sourced from the surrounding forest, which is processed on-site using medieval logging techniques.
The project serves as a permanent, long-term experiment in experimental archaeology rather than a static exhibit.
Campus Galli is a unique experimental archaeology construction site located in Meßkirch, Germany. The project aims to build a functional Carolingian monastery based on the famous 9th-century Plan of St. Gall using only medieval tools and techniques. Master craftsmen and volunteers work in situ, simulating the daily lives, labor, and building methods of the early Middle Ages. Visitors observe the manual carving of timber, stone masonry, and traditional agriculture on the 25-hectare site. The goal is to complete the complex over several decades, functioning as both a construction site and a living history museum. There is no heavy machinery or electricity used in the building process. The site is intended to serve as a research tool for historians to better understand the logistics of medieval architecture.
From the elevated observation points overlooking the main monastery foundation and the timber-framed workshop area.
Wear sturdy, closed-toe footwear suitable for uneven, muddy, or dusty unpaved ground.
Dress in layers, as the site is entirely outdoors and exposed to fluctuating forest weather conditions.
Check the website for current construction projects, as specific trade demonstrations change depending on the building phase.
Do not expect a completed medieval building; appreciate the site for the ongoing, unfinished construction process.
Open seasonally from spring through late autumn; typically closed during the winter months due to weather.
Maintain a safe distance from active construction areas and do not touch tools or materials without permission from the craftsmen.
