Mont Saint-Michel (pronounced: [mɔ̃ sɛ̃ mi.ʃɛl]; English: Saint Michael's Mount) is a rocky tidal island 247 acres (100 ha) in size, and is a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre (just over half a mile) off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The island's highest point is 92 metres (301 feet) above sea level. The population of the island is 44, as of 2009.[1] The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times, and since the eighth century AD been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. One of France's most recognisable landmarks, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites[2] and more than 3 million people visit it each year.[3]
From Rick Steves:
The actual abbey of Mont St. Michel is the reason to visit. Saint Michael, whose gilded statue decorates the top of the abbey's spire, was the patron saint of many French kings, making this a favored sight for French royalty through the ages. St. Michael was particularly popular in Counter-Reformation times, as the Church employed his warlike image in the fight against Protestant heresy.
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| Tough prison sentence? During the French Revolution, the atheistic government kept 300 priests here. |
Mont St. Michel has been an important pilgrimage center since A.D. 708, when the bishop of Avranches heard the voice of Archangel Michael saying, "Build here and build high." With brilliant foresight, Michael reassured the bishop, "If you build it...they will come." Today's abbey is built on the remains of a Romanesque church, which stands on the remains of a Carolingian church. Visiting the abbey, imagine the headaches and hassles the monks had when they built it. They ferried granite from across the bay (without the causeway back then) and hiked it uphill.
Monks built on the rock to get as close to heaven as possible. The downside: not enough level ground to support a sizable abbey and church. The solution: Four immense crypts were built under the church to create a platform supporting each of its wings. In 1421, the crypt that supported the apse collapsed, taking its end of the church with it. Today's crypt boasts immense columns (15 feet around), rebuilt with a determination not to fall again.
We found the set up once we arrived to be quite unusual. They have you park 2.5 kilometers away from the Mount itself. You have to walk through the parking lot, then through a small town before you finally reach the shuttle buses that takes you to your final destination. Because of the way the causeway was constructed, they have special buses that has a driver's seat on both ends, so it doesn't have to be turned around!
We walked up the hill and went into a few of the cute little shops...
The entire Mount is surrounded by quicksand:
As we went up we went through a wax museum.......
The drive in seen from above! You can see people walking to the shuttle bus area on the pathway!
After our tour, we headed back to the hotel in Saint Malo.
We got a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, which was delicious!
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