Step into the year 1289, where King Philip the Fair of France has decided to fortify his kingdom's borders with a brand-new castle. Guess what? You're one of the master builders! Caylus, currently a humble village, is about to transform into a bustling construction site and a hub of opportunity, drawing workers and artisans from all corners. As the royal castle takes shape, an entire city begins to sprout around it, and that's where you come in.

In Caylus, your mission is twofold: help erect the majestic royal castle and, at the same time, develop the surrounding city. Every successful action earns you prestige points and the coveted royal favor. The player with the most prestige when the castle is finished wins the game. But don't think it's just about placing workers and being done with it! Each round, you pay to allocate your workers to different village buildings. These locations allow you to gather resources, earn money, or use those resources to construct and upgrade other buildings. And of course, you can also contribute directly to the castle's construction, securing points and royal favors that translate into even bigger bonuses.

Building a structure not only gives you immediate points but can also generate a steady income throughout the game, as you receive bonuses whenever other players use your properties. Your building choices are crucial, as they define the actions available to everyone at the table. As new buildings emerge, they stretch along a road leading away from the castle, but beware: not all buildings can be used every turn. You have some control over which buildings are active by influencing the movement of the Provost marker. The Provost's final position determines the newest building that can be used that round. Furthermore, the Provost also dictates the pace of the Bailiff marker, which signals the end of the game. If everyone is building at full throttle and the Provost is generous, the game might end faster than you expect. Oh, and the second edition already includes the Caylus Expansion: The Jeweller, adding even more layers of strategy!