Mont Saint-Michel. A Mediaeval Oasis
10/27/2016
Arriving late at night...the whole place silent, except for the carousing of the town drunk in the tavern, you will find yourself winding through the small, twisted passages, exploring the cemetery and finally finding the inn. The huge windows in your room can open up, to an amazing moonlit gastropub.
Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most incredible places on earth.You can climb the 900 steps all the way to the top, with a few breaks, of course, and it is well worth it. You feel like you're in heaven up there.
Some days there is torrential rain, such that the steps to the abbey became a waterfall. Not everybody makes it to the top, but, if you give up, there are plenty of souvenir shops and pubs to keep you amused.
During the summer night tour (10 pm to midnight), the special effects, in the form of a light show, can be great fun for kids. Night and Day passes are available. You can experience the high and low tides; sunrise and sunset. Mont Saint-Michel is located about 2 hrs from Paris by train, then half an hour on a bus. So it can be done as a day trip from Paris.
There are about fifty shops, for 3 million tourists, while only 25 inhabitants sleep every night on the Mount (monks included), while more stay in hotels. Only 50 families live there.
During WW2, Nazis occupied the Mount, and moved its ancient manuscripts and artifacts to another town, for safe-keeping, in case a battle would ensue.Sadly, the other town was destroyed, along with the priceless artifacts, during the Allied Invasion of Normandy. Another wrong move by the Nazis.
Variously controlled by Franks, Bretons, and Normans, the site eventually became part of the Kingdom of France enduring an English siege during the Hundred Years War, which inspired Joan of Arc.
Originally founded by an Irish Monk, and dedicated to the Arch-Angel Michael. The original Monastery dates from the 8th Century. Called "St. Michael in peril of the sea" by medieval pilgrims, this had some truth as the journey across the sands could be treacherous, with a fast incoming tide, which could leave you stranded..or worse.
Arriving late at night...the whole place silent, except for the carousing of the town drunk in the tavern, you will find yourself winding through the small, twisted passages, exploring the cemetery and finally finding the inn. The huge windows in your room can open up, to an amazing moonlit gastropub.
Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most incredible places on earth.You can climb the 900 steps all the way to the top, with a few breaks, of course, and it is well worth it. You feel like you're in heaven up there.
Some days there is torrential rain, such that the steps to the abbey became a waterfall. Not everybody makes it to the top, but, if you give up, there are plenty of souvenir shops and pubs to keep you amused.
During the summer night tour (10 pm to midnight), the special effects, in the form of a light show, can be great fun for kids. Night and Day passes are available. You can experience the high and low tides; sunrise and sunset. Mont Saint-Michel is located about 2 hrs from Paris by train, then half an hour on a bus. So it can be done as a day trip from Paris.
There are about fifty shops, for 3 million tourists, while only 25 inhabitants sleep every night on the Mount (monks included), while more stay in hotels. Only 50 families live there.
During WW2, Nazis occupied the Mount, and moved its ancient manuscripts and artifacts to another town, for safe-keeping, in case a battle would ensue.Sadly, the other town was destroyed, along with the priceless artifacts, during the Allied Invasion of Normandy. Another wrong move by the Nazis.
On 22 July 2014, the new bridge, by architect Dietmar Feichtinger, was opened to the public. The light bridge allows the waters to flow freely around the island and improves the efficiency of the new dam. The €209 million project was officially opened by President François Hollande. The dam was added to make Saint-Michel an Island again. The site was originally not an Island, but soil erosion made it so.
Variously controlled by Franks, Bretons, and Normans, the site eventually became part of the Kingdom of France enduring an English siege during the Hundred Years War, which inspired Joan of Arc.
Getting there by Air. Numerous airlines fly into Paris including American Airlines, Delta , Aer Lingus , British Airways and Air France. Budget Airlines include Flybe, Easyjet , Ryanair and Jet2.