Huge castle built by locals with 1.5 tons of cardboard boxes – only to smash it down next day

A huge castle was built by locals with 1.5 tons of cardboard boxes – only to smash it down next day

The stunning fort stood for just one night on the town square before being flattened by the stampeding population.

Organisers spent 18 months preparing for the castle’s construction and demolition.

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The bizarre project was organised by council officials, local associations, residents and schoolchildren in the town of Graulhet near Toulouse in southern France.

The authorities said they wanted to bring a legendary 10th-century castle back to life for just one day.

Project manager Hugo Planès said: “There are very few traces of the castle left, no drawings, no archives.

“It was built as early as the 10th century as we know that in 960, the then Lord of Graulhet went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela leaving his son a legacy of seven castles including this one in Graulhet.”

Over the years, the castle fell into disrepair. It was finally knocked down and a new one built just outside of the town in the 16th century.

According to Planès there were three stages to recreating the original.

He said: “Part one was prefabrication. Two construction managers helped us with the prefab of all the modules.

“We made 1,300 boxes, weighing almost a ton and a half and standing 66 feet (20 metres) high.

“Part two involved construction of the castle on the square in the centre of Graulhet.

“Residents were invited to help throughout the day.

“As time went on, the building became heavier and required more and more people to help out.

“Part three was the demolition the following day.

“After it fell, the public happily trampled and jumped all over the cardboard boxes.”

Planès said the event was a “great participatory success”.

The castle was recreated with the help of French visual artist Olivier Grossetête and his Participatory Monumental Constructions in Cardboard, as reported by What’s the Jam.

He has organised similar events in the past and his website states: “The aim of the project is as much about sharing the experience of a collective construction as the final work of art.

“The population is also invited to assist in the demolition of the building.

“After it has been pulled down, the public is asked to trample and jump all over the boxes.

“This is an integral part of the project, this symbolic moment is fun.”

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