A Rocky Islet that looks like a Ship in vast Sandbanks-Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. The island lies approximately one kilometre off the country’s north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River and is 7 hectares in area. The Island’s position is just a few hundred metres from the mainland making it accessible at low tide. A Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the Archangel St Michel Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides on this Island. The Benedictine abbey is a wonder of the West. It was founded in 966 and erected on a sanctuary dedicated to the Archangel Michel since 708. Mont-Saint-Michel and its surrounding bay were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 for their unique aesthetic and importance as a medieval Christian site. nearly 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France as monuments and historiques.
Mont-Saint-Michel is surrounded by a beautiful bay which offers one of the most spectacular views of European tides. This phenomenon occurs twice a day, with tides reaching heights of more than 14 meters, both in the morning and in the evening. Mont Saint-Michel island is in the middle of the sea, connected to the mainland via a pedestrian bridge. This walkway allows you to cross the bay and reach the medieval town on foot. It is prohibited to venture along the sandy path due to the tides and the rapid rise in water levels. Mont Saint-Michel is a wonderful tourist attraction with its extraordinary scenery and magical tide, making it one of the most fascinating places on earth.
Geography
Mont Saint Michel occupied dry land in prehistoric times but is now a rocky tidal island. As sea levels rose, erosion reshaped the coastal landscape, and several outcrops of granite emerged in the bay. This granite resisted the wear and tear of the ocean better than the surrounding rocks. These included Lillemer, the Mont Dol, Tombelaine, and Mont Tombe, later called Mont-Saint-Michel. Mont-Saint-Michel consists of leucogranite which solidified from an intrusion of molten magma about 525 million years ago, during the Cambrian period. It is the younger part of the Mancellian granitic batholith. Mont has a circumference of about 960 m and its highest point is 92 m above sea level.
Mont Saint-Michel History
An unmistakable icon of the northern French coast, the UNESCO-listed Mont-Saint-Michel is a magical island crowned by a lofty medieval monastery, looming dramatically on the horizon and defying some of the highest tides in Europe. The long history of the Mount is thought to date back to 708, when Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, built a sanctuary on Mont-Tombe in honour of the Archangel. Boats transported granite from quarries in Chausey, in the islets off the Normandy coast, which was then cut into blocks and hauled to the top of the Mount.
Legend says, the Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop of Avranches, Aubert, in the 8th century and told him to build a church in his honour. Bishop Aubert ignored him, so Saint Michael asked him again, and again he was ignored. This continued until the Archangel burnt a hole in the bishop’s skull with his finger, and Aubert agreed to build the church. Mont Saint Michel really is a symbol of France, up there with places like the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles. The castle church rises up the side of the mountain island, the water surrounding it at high tide, reflecting on the surface.
From 966 onwards, the dukes of Normandy, followed by the French kings, supported the development of a major Benedictine abbey on Mont-Saint-Michel. Magnificent monastic buildings were added throughout the Middle Ages. The Abbey of the Mont-Saint-Michel became a renowned centre of learning, attracting some of the greatest manuscript illuminators in Europe. Vast numbers of pilgrims visited, despite the endless cross-Channel conflict. In fact, the ramparts at the base of the island were built to keep the English forces out. Other fine buildings line the steep village street, now converted into museums, restaurants, hotels and shops for today’s tourists.
Mont-saint-Michel abbey
The Benedictine Abbey was founded in 966 and erected on a sanctuary dedicated to the Archangel Michel in 708. The monument conserves some vestiges of the Romanesque period. The older part of the present abbey, a Romanesque church with a double nave, Notre-Dame-sous-Terre, in granite masonry and flat bricks, dates back undoubtedly to the 10th century. The contribution of the Romanesque period is still visible in the nave of the abbey church, whose crossing is supported by the rock summit.
The Benedictine is a master artist of the Gothic period, invented the high walls, the soaring masses, the open volumes, the airy pinnacles and the sharp silhouette of the rock. The new body of the conventual buildings was built in 1204 and named Marvel for the elegance of its conception. Above the chaplaincy of the 12th century, it comprises the celebrated rooms known as the ‘Hotes’ and the ‘Chevaliers. The Mont-Saint-Michel, the sanctuary is located in a difficult place of access, in accordance with the tradition of places of worship dedicated to Saint Michel. Mont-Saint-Michel Paris is an outstanding example of human art because of the co-existence of the abbey and its fortified village within the confined limits of a small island. Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most important sites of medieval Christian civilization.
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Things to do in Mont Saint-Michel
One of the most visited places in France, the Mont Saint-Michel France welcomes approximately 2.5 million guests a year. With over one thousand years of history under it, the island is Iconic and important to be savvy with your planning.
An evening in the area
The Mont Saint-Michel is situated on the border of the Brittany and Normandy regions, both of the best attractions in the region. visitors can base themselves in Rennes, the capital of Brittany. Make a day trip to Mont Saint-Michel and plan to spend an evening in the area. Rennes is a 1.5-hour train ride from Paris, with buses to Mont Saint-Michel approximately 60 km. away. Another option is Saint-Malo- A coastal town that is also 60 km. away from Mont Saint-Michel and a great place to spend an evening by the sea.
The tides read up
The tides of the Channel are ever-changing, constantly rising and falling around the island. Both scenarios are amazing. During high tide, the Mont Saint-Michel appears surreal, as though it were hovering above the water and the light, creating a mirror reflection. Low tide is surrounding the commune with sand, allowing visitors to walk around its perimeter and observe it from a different vantage point. This can be dangerous so visitors can book a professional guide.
Walking and Climbing stairs
The climb up to Mont Saint-Michel France is the best activity. The pathway leading to the top is steep, narrow and cobblestoned. There are also a good amount of stairs you need to climb, especially when venturing up to the Abbey. Be sure to bring a good pair of walking shoes for a better climbing experience. For rewarding vistas of the coast, one can walk through Porte Echauguette, located to the left of the main entrance gate. This is the best walk to see the Abbey ramparts. The Terrasse de l’Ouest offers a stunning panorama over the bay.
HOW TO GET TO MONT-SAINT-MICHEL
There is often confusion as to whether it belongs to Normandy or neighbouring Brittany, but it’s Normandy. It belongs to the Manche department and is situated 26km southwest of Avranches and 330km west of Paris. To get there from Paris one can take a train from Paris-Montparnasse to Pontorson–Mont-Saint-Michel. from the station one can take a Navette (shuttle bus) to the Mount itself.
