Mont St. Michel's Guided Tour

Learn Fascinating Facts About France's 1,300 Year Old Wonder Abbey

Aug 13, 2009

Topping the list of France's most visited attractions, architectural marvel Mont St. Michel is worth every cent for a view from the top and guided tour.

Perhaps the most stunning view of Mont St. Michel is from the road. A first spotting of the dark hulking mass framed by a typical gray Normandy sky and electric green grass dotted with fluffs of sheep will leave a lasting impression on almost anyone.

The view alone may be worth the trip, however visitors would be cheating themselves not to take a guided tour of Mont St. Michel's Benedictine Abbey that sits in a stabilizing cross-shape above a medieval village on the granite pyramid rock base below.

Getting to Mont St. Michel by Car or Bus

By car, visitors can arrive from Paris on the L'Autoroute de Normandie or A13/E05. No matter where one's departure location, driving experiences vary according to season and it's always wise to research itineraries ahead of time to forsee toll fees, alternate routes, distance, time and other helpful information.

As Mont St. Michel sits one kilometer off the shore atop a large granite rock in the mud flats of Mont St. Michel's Bay, drivers must pay attention to signs warning of high tides and their times in the parking lots off the causeway or else risk the vehicle swallowing bay. This sounds worse than it really is. Cars must pay 4 EUR / 6 USD to park.

Alternatively, buses arrive to Mont St. Michel from Rennes, St. Malo, and Pontorson. Travelers can reach these cities by train from Paris.

Navigating Mont St. Michel and Reaching its Abbey

It may be worth ascending the medieval cobbled streets of the main entrance only to gawk at other tourists and grab a quick postcard. However, if sensory overload threatens system breakdown, visitors can happily enter Mont St. Michel unfettered at a more peaceful, lesser known entrance located to the left of the tourist trapping main gate.

Stairs lead to the guided tour office where visitors can choose to see the Abbey by either guided tour in French, English or German lasting approximately 2 hours for 8.50 EUR/ 12 USD or with an audioguide in several languages at a slightly lower cost.

Although there are several restaurants located in the village below the Abbey and off the rampart walkways, many visitors bring picnic lunches to accompany spectacular views of the barren, yet enticing and horse-trodden bay. The ramparts are particularly pleasant for a pre-tour stroll or post lunch wander.

Benefits of a Mont St. Michel Guided Tour

Although language and cost may restrict certain visitors from enjoying a guided tour, those who can participate will immediately realize the benefits of learning about the age-old Benedictine Abbey's stories and secrets with an expert guide's personal touch.

With a guide, visitors can ask questions and are more likely to remember chunks of information, like how the word barbecue orginated, daily activities of the monks, the story behind Archangel Michael (Michel), the Mount's namesake, why a bridge making Mont St. Michel a complete island hasn't yet been built, and how the Abbey affects people today.

Surprisingly, only a small sliver of Mont St. Michel's annual 3.5 million tourists reach the sacred walls of its gothic abbey, a place that pilgrims risked their lives in the temperamental waters of the bay to see.

Mont St. Michel's Opening Hours

Busiest in the summer months, it's wise to visit Mont St. Michel early in the morning or in the evening, when the lights transform Mont St. Michel into a glowing wonder.

When coming great distances to see Mont St. Michel, visitors should remember to make the final stretch to the top.

The copyright of the article Mont St. Michel's Guided Tour in France Travel is owned by Katherine Kocisky. Permission to republish Mont St. Michel's Guided Tour in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.