Mont Saint Michel, an architectural marvel, is twice listed as a UNESCO heritage site. Located in Normandy to the east of the bay of the same name. This site is one of the most visited in France. To the west of this bay, you can discover the towns of Cancale or St Malo "the corsair city", but also the wild tip of Grouin. A trip not to be missed and breathtaking photo spots. A thousand years of history separate us from its construction to the present day. In the year 708, the Archangel Gabriel appeared in a dream to St Aubert Bishop of Avranches asking him to build a sanctuary in his name. Over the years and centuries, the abbey and the fortress were built stone by stone. Passing from military construction to the English during the Hundred Years War, to prison during the revolution to finally be a tourist place since the end of the 19th century.
I come back for the 2nd time to Mont Saint Michel. The emotion is the same when the Abbey emerges from the bends of a few trees under the blue sky. Of course, there have been a few changes since 2015. A footbridge allowing access to the car parks at the rock has been erected. From these car parks (paying) a shuttle bus service (free) will take you there in less than a quarter of an hour. You can choose to go there by horse-drawn carriage (paying) in 25 minutes...it can be nice. Or on foot with a guide in 45 minutes through the polders where the famous salt-meadow sheep graze.
Previously, you could reach the Mount by car and park at the foot of the ramparts....Beware of the tides :)...It must be recognized that in addition to improving the circulation of the tides around the rock and avoiding its silting up, the removal of cars so close to this site gives it all its charm. So we arrive by bus through the footbridge.
We get off our shuttle. Still 3 or 400 meters on foot before passing the front door of this millennial site. The tide is low impossible to see the ocean which is already kilometers away. As soon as you enter, you feel the weight of the history of this place. How not to say that knights of the Middle Ages trod these cobblestones, that sans-culottes of the revolution came here or that during the Belle Epoque, ladies in their Sunday best came to visit this place as we do today . The Mont is also steps that lead us to the abbey at the top. Shops (La Mère Poularde among others)...small gardens give rhythm to our stroll through these alleys.
Do not hesitate to stop on the few benches or edges of low walls which mark out your "pilgrimage"... the ascent can be difficult under the sun even if many streets are in the shade. Arrival at the top what a show !! From the top of the ramparts you can admire the bay... immensity where the sand and the sky merge.
In the distance, groups of walkers and their guides thread their way through the quicksand So much beauty and tranquility.
The visit to the Abbey lasts approximately 1 hour and will cost you 11 euros for over 26s plus 3 euros for an audiophone (optional). There again, as in many churches and even more so in the cloisters, there reigns an atmosphere of peace. Whether one is a believer or not, this is often what visitors feel.
We come back down for lunch. The tide is rising, soon the Mount will be surrounded by the ocean as before without the hordes of tourists who roam these streets in July and August.
I advise you if possible to visit this magical place out of season to soak up its charm. Don't forget your camera to capture your time travel. A little gift to finish: Maps to prepare your visit to Mont Saint Michel
