Well, the rock was already there, the stones are local. Enterprising group of monks thought - good place to attract rich tourists (kings etc.) - apparently they made a profit by inventing a saint and selling indulgences. Human nature hasn’t changed much.
The effort to build such places, before the Industrial Revolution, must’ve been incredible.
The castle-building project in France really shows what it took.
Well, the rock was already there, the stones are local. Enterprising group of monks thought - good place to attract rich tourists (kings etc.) - apparently they made a profit by inventing a saint and selling indulgences. Human nature hasn’t changed much.