I will update the text and links in my black and white series, no pictures. The anecdote of this is that my sons saw it first as they went on school trips!!! I have heard about it but never got the effort to visit, and after they came back from it ,I got the itch. Back in 2015, the family made it together for the first time to the Mont Saint Michel. There has been several trips afterward and always looking forward to come back.
No other words are needed when we speak of this marvel of our world, the Mont Saint Michel in Normandie, but Bretagne has a said…. And ,yes is overloaded, small space too many people and away from it all the prices are higher but the sights, the feeling, the architecture,the history of it all, makes you forget the rest. Enjoy it!
We of course came by car from the Morbihan in my lovely Bretagne. Each way a different route for the heck of it and seeing more on the road, as we are road warriors ::) Going we took the D768 to the N24 direction Rennes, all the way to the périphérique/beltway coming around the nord as if going to Paris but once on the A84 get off on the exit 33 for the Durcey Mont Saint Michel exit on the D175 or N175. Coming back we took off by Pontorson on the D43 and went to the D766 , N176, N164, and by Josselin back on the N24 home. We came into the parking area P10 , which was ok but been in the countryside or provence the prices were a bit high me think, 12,50€ for 6 hours (and they have gone up!) The compensation is that you have a long bus navette that makes the run to the foot of the front entrance to the mount for free. they go instantly almost like every 4 -5 minutes intervals. There is another service that you pay almost like a bus type but drawn by horses, the Maringote. We took the bus navette faster and easier and free. You can ,also, walk about 40-50 mins.
Info on the parking, bus, and horse carriage is on this webpage just go to accessing the site in English:https://www.bienvenueaumontsaintmichel.com/en/preparing-your-visit/prices
Once inside there is a laberinth of narrow street, steep stairs, and hilly terrain which you must be in shape to do. It is semi circular and if you go to the ramparts you have great views over the sea. By the way, the area had the big waves or grand marée recently but today it was all sandy and plenty of walkers even a tour group in the sand on foot coming over. The walking on the sand to the mount is handle by expert guides as they can be very dangerous. Waves come back at 15 meters within minutes to surround the mound like an island! It is a sight to see too
We have purchase trinkets and gifts, especially in the La Porte du Roy, La Siréne,(créperie and boutique),le Grand Bazaar(no longer there), and the boutiques of the Mére Poulard. This time we just went for the walk and to spend more time in the abbey and church.
We stopped for lunch of the many choices all touristy priced and not the greatest culinary exhibition of France we chose the La Vieille Auberge a hotel restaurant on the Grande Rue. This is a very nicely decorated resto with terrace and first floor overlooking the bay of Mont Saint Michel. The service was nice and prompt , the prices we control with a main dish, bottle of rose wine, extra dishes of fries, and coffee expresso, I had the menu at 18€ with salad entrée, steak =entrecote, fries and a tarte normande or apple pie that was the best of it all. All came out to 23.40€ per person. webpage: https://www.lavieilleauberge-montsaintmichel.com/en/
As we got out, we notice the parrish Church of Saint Peter. saw first time. Small but as usual very nice church. Masses are celebrated Sundays to Fridays at 11H Saturdays 18h and in July and August an additional mass at 17H on Sundays. The church has construction from the 11C but was renovated in the 15C and 16C. It has a roof covered with tiles and a small bell on the nave. In the interior the retable columns are from 1660, Virgin of the Child, and education of the Virgin (Sainte Anne teaching Mary) dating from the 15-16C and a copy statue of Saint Michael in silver. There is a nice view from here down to the Grande Rue and the entrance to the Mont Saint Michel bay.
We then were ready to climb the Abbey Church . It is huge , inmense ,with a great feeling of peace. All stone, not much decoration but the simplicity of the place in such a marvel of Human monument over imposed any doubts on its beauty, a must to see here by all on Earth. There are several masses done here all week and on special religious dates. It has about 20 rooms open for visitors to see with one of the most remarkable examples of religious and military architecture of medieval times. See the wonderful cloister, the refectory, the monk’s promenade, the gardens of la Merveille,and western terrace overlooking the bay. A wonderful big wheel or grande roué; the guest’s hall or salledes hôtes, chapel Sainte Madeleine (with its black Madonna), the Crypt of Saint Martin,chapel of Sainte Etienne (St Stephen), the north south stair or escalier nord-sud, Gentlemen room or salledes chevaliers.
The city of Mont Saint Michel: https://www.bienvenueaumontsaintmichel.com/en
The tourist office of Mont Saint Michel: https://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/je-decouvre/visiter-le-mont-saint-michel/je-visite-le-mont-saint-michel/
The Normandy tourist office on the Mont Saint Michel tides: https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/the-tides-of-the-mont-saint-michel/
The Abbey of Mont Saint Michel from the national monuments of France: http://www.abbaye-mont-saint-michel.fr/en/
All magical ,and to think this wonder is only about 1h50 from my house by car !!!Hope you get the brief tour and do visit , its still well worth it. Mont Saint Michel the name says it all. Enjoy it when you can.
And remember, happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 