Mont St-Michel in Normandy is the most popular visitor attraction in France.
The elegant spire of the Abbey Church soaring above the tiny rock island just off the coast of Normandy is a truly breathtaking sight, visible for miles around.
Three and a half hours by road from Paris, Mont St-Michel is accessible from the mainland via a causeway; the island is surrounded by sands which are covered by the high tide. The car parks situated either side of the causeway can also sometimes be covered by the tide – signs in the car parks clearly indicate when and where this will happen!
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mont St-Michel became a Benedictine monastery over a thousand years ago and is still home to a small monastic community. The Archangel Michel appeared in dreams to the Bishop of Avranches three times during the year 708, each time instructing him to build a place of worship on the island. Buildings were added to the fortified abbey throughout the Middle Ages, representing a wide range of Medieval architectural styles. During the Hundred Years War Mont St-Michel resisted three sieges and was not captured by the English.
The Abbey is open to visitors, and is the highlight of a visit to Mont St-Michel. The Abbey Church was constructed between the 11th and the 15th century, and varies considerably in style. La Merveille (literally “the marvel”) comprises a group of gothic buildings on the northern face, fortified and impressive on the outside, and graceful and elegant on the inside. The views of the bay of Mont St Michel from the Abbey and the ramparts are spectacular. At night the Mont St-Michel is beautifully illuminated.
The tides are very strong in the bay of Mont St-Michel, the difference between high and low tide levels reaching up to 15m. The tide rises very fast on the flat sands surrounding the island and can be very dangerous, do not venture onto the sands without an experienced local guide.
Mont St-Michel is very popular, attracting over three million visitors each year. Even outside the main French summer holiday months of July and August it is wise to arrive early to avoid the biggest crowds. Practical information about opening times and tides is available in English on the official Mont St-Michel tourist office site www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/accueil_gb.htm
The small town of Pontorson, 8km from the Mont St-Michel, is a practical base for your visit, and has an SNCF railway station. Pontorson is a ‘real’ French town complete with everyday shops such as boulangeries (bakeries) and delicatessens. The Hotel la Tour de Brette in Pontorson offers good value, particularly the half board room rate which includes breakfast and dinner.
There are also many other interesting places to visit on a trip to the Coast of Lower Normandy.
Mont St. Michel has a sister site just off the coast of Cornwall, south west England. St. Michel's Mount Cornwall has a similar history to Mont St. Michel, and is also well worth a visit.
