Saturday 9 January 2016

Mont Saint-Michel – très touristy but fantastique!



Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most recognised tourist destinations in the world – not just in France.  Yes it's touristy but don't let that put you off.


Not only is the location of Mont Saint-Michel spectacular, the tides around it beggar belief.  The tidal movements can exceed 36 feet – which makes for great danger for walkers who think they will walk out to the Mount and don't realise just how fast the water can come in.

Mont Saint-Michel is just about on the boundary between Normandy and Brittany.

I can't imagine how they managed to build a huge abbey on this rock – this was back in the 8th Century.  Surely a think big project!


Saint Michel is French for the Archangel St Michael.  He is one of the 3 archangels.


There are still monks and nuns on the mount today.  And if you time it right you can watch them intone a service in the chapel.

Mont St-Michel was a place of pilgrimage – including some famous pilgrims including Richard II who was married there.  The Mont was besieged unsuccessfully by the English in 1424.

The monastery was closed as a result of the French Revolution and was used as a prison.  Many years later it was restored – thank goodness!

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