Mont Saint-Michel

very tourusty place, be sure not to visit in July or August. BUT it is worthwhile to visit because it is so beautiful... and inspiring. make sure you know when the tide is coming (it's a spectacular sight from top of the rock) and never walk alone beyond the rock - join a group with a guide.

48° 38′ N , 1° 31′ W Der Mont Saint-Michel ist eine felsige Insel im Ärmelkanal an der Mündung des Couesnon etwa 1 km vor der Küste der Normandie , nahe Avranches und der Grenze zur Bretagne . Die Insel ist berühmt für das auf ihr erbaute Benediktinerkloster , das die nur ca. 55.000 m² (Umfang ca. 830 m) große Insel dominiert. Es ist eines der besten Beispiele für französische mittelalterliche Architektur und für eine befestigte Abtei. Mont-Saint-Michel ist auch eine Stadt ( Département Manche , Region Basse-Normandie ), die schon 708 gegründet wurde, im Mittelalter von Pilgern und heute vom Tourismus lebt. Im Kloster leben und arbeiten noch heute etwa ein Dutzend Benediktinermönche , und der Mont hat sich wieder zu einer großen Touristenattraktion und auch erneut - noch in geringem, aber wachsenden Umfang - zu einem Pilgerort entwickelt, unter anderem im Zusammenhang mit dem Jakobsweg . Er wird jährlich von etwa 3,5 Millionen Menschen besucht. Dies zeigt, wie attraktiv der Ort (wieder) ist; als Kehrseite der Medaille muss die extreme Belastung, der die baulichen Einrichtungen ausgesetzt sind, erwähnt werden. Der Berg und seine Bucht gehören seit 1979 dem Weltkulturerbe der UNESCO an. Zusätzlich wird er auch seit 1998 als Teil des Welterbe „ Jakobsweg in Frankreich“ aufgeführt. Der Mont Saint-Michel kommt auch in der Artussage vor: Hier soll ein Riese gelebt haben, den Artus erschlug. The Mont Saint Michel is a rocky island in the English Channel in the mouth of the Couesnon about 1 km before the coast of Normandy, close Avranches and the border to Brittany. The island is famous for on her built Benedictine's cloister which dominates only approx. 55,000 m ² (extent approx. 830 m) big island. It is one of the best examples of French medieval architecture and of a fastened abbey. Mont Saint Michel is also a town (Département some, region bass Normandy) which was already founded 708, in the Middle Ages lives on pilgrims and today on the tourism. Still today in the cloister about one dozen Benedictine's monks live and work, and the Mont has developed again to a big tourist attraction and also once more - still in low, but growing extent - to a pilgrim's place, among the rest, in connection with the Jakob's way. He is visited yearly from about 3.5 million people. This shows how attractive the place (again) is; as a reverse of the medallion the extreme load to which the architectural facilities are put out must be mentioned. The mountain and his bay belong since 1979 to the world cultural heritage of UNESCO. In addition, it is also performed since 1998 as a part of the world heritage „Jakob's way in France“. The Mont Saint Michel also seems in the Artussage: Here a giant whom Artus killed should have lived.

Mont Saint-Michel A rocky tidal island off the coast of Normandy, the first site of Mont Saint-Michel is quite spectacular. Formed during coastal erosion, Mont Saint-Michel is a 80m granite rock outcropping that resisted the wear and tear that broke down the other nearby rocks. Once connected to the mainland via thin natural land bridge part of the time, an accumulation of tidal silt has meant that the nowadays, the tidal island is almost always connected to land. Construction on the granite rick started in 708, when a dream led the bishop of Avranches to create a shrine to Saint Michel on site, leading it to become a major pilgrimage destination. In 966, the Benedictine monks of Saint Wandrille took control of the sanctuary, and constructed a Romanesque monastery on top of the hill. When the abbey was partially destroyed in 1204, it was replaced by the "bâtiment de la Merveille," a Gothic style Benedictine Abbey built between the 11th and 16th century. The abbey is considered a representation of medieval architecture, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is the most popular tourist attraction for French natives...on a little "ilot" stands an ancient walled town with a cathedral at the top...the steps wind up around the walled town...Go to "La Mere Poulard" for traditional French omelettes made in copper pans...go to a local restaurant or cafe for the local lamb chops which are naturally seasoned by the sea grass that they munch...Very tasty! Careful where you park, be aware of high and low tide schedule...there are areas of quicksand around Mont-Saint-Michel. Safe for women,families, everyone to visit this town... just don't go into the bay to check out the sands and try to get a better photo of the tiny island.

It's like a Medieval Castle built on an island in a rock (84m height).It's made of granite. You can walk around the narrow streets and see the small houses, shops and the Gothic church and monastery. The Mount is a symbol of freedom, for the allied landed on the Normandy during the World War II. While visiting the Island, you have to be informed about the tides, because they vary quickly and can attain 14 meters.

Che meraviglia. Pochi posti al mondo credo siano capaci di donarti teli sensazioni di pace, serenità e benessere. Mont-Saint-Michel è uno di questi, dove la dimensione spirituale supera quella umana, dove veramente ci si può sentire più vicini al divino. Merita andarci, ancor di più, se possibile, dormirci.. una passeggiata entro le mura di notte.. beh, non ha prezzo.

We were told you could get lost, but all of the doors that looked cool were locked. So, no getting lost. But there was a lot of interesting history. For example, the monastery was at one point used for munitions storage. It is once again a monastery, though perhaps not as large a population as it once had.

A "must see" at the Mont Saint-Michel is the abbey built on the top and inside de mount. The architecture (XI to the XVI th century) presents a huge church, a cloister offering a view on the sea and rooms built deep under the ground.

The tide was out so we were able to walk to Mont-Saint-Michel.  It was loaded with small stores winding up to the top.  Quite spectacular!

Mont-Saint-Michel is the most visited place in France, and deserves its reputation because of its unique site and architecture.

A beautiful cathedral on top of a rock, surrounded by nice houses and cafes. Stunning view to the sea from the top.

It's a small city completely built on this small island that adjoins the mainland when the tide is low.

it's a very breath taking place. i have only been there for a day but it's memory it's everlasting.

Lovely to visit, already from afar nice to look at and absolutely worth a detour... :)

i love the architecture and the history...

To be visited once in the lifetime!