How I watched the tide at Mont Saint Michel. Mont Saint-Michel Island: impregnable castle Normandy castle Saint-Michel

On the border of two French counties, Brittany and Normandy, in the middle of the Cusnon River there is an island-castle with huge rocky shores rising 80 meters above the water surface.

It is called, which is translated into Russian from French as Mount St Michael.

The Legend of the Castle Island

Legend has it that the construction of Mont Saint-Michel, which was an abbey in the Middle Ages, was started by Aubert, a French archbishop, after the Archangel Michael appeared to him three times in a dream in 709. The winged guest said that a fortress should be built on a rock that rises above the sea.

Twice Aubert did not listen to the angel, and Mont Saint-Michel would never have been built if the archangel’s patience had not run out. During the third visit, the heavenly messenger decided to reinforce his words with a click on the forehead, during which the angel’s sword burned through the priest’s cassock. Ober considered this argument weighty enough to overcome his laziness and fulfill Mikhail’s request.

Pyramid in the ocean

Mont Saint-Michel was built by the Normans, contemporaries of William the Conqueror. The kings of all Europe, in search of heaven on earth, made pilgrimages to him. During the Hundred Years' War, the great castle did not surrender to the English conquerors for 30 years of siege.

Twice a year, on the days of the autumn and spring equinox, the water of the Cusnon River rises to the level of the castle walls. The tide comes in extremely quickly, so unwary tourists have a chance of not having time to reach the fortress. The water turns the castle into an island connected to the continent by a causeway.

Visited this magical place Victor Hugo, master of the pen and father of Notre Dame Cathedral, considered the architectural complex “Miracle” located on the island the most beautiful in Europe, and Mont Saint-Michel himself dubbed it a pyramid in the ocean.

Visit to the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel

For several dozen centuries, people have been going to this place along a road called the “Way of Paradise.” They go for a reason, but to ask for help and consolation from Archangel Michael.

If you are traveling on a tour package to Paris, then your tour operator can organize you an excursion trip to the island of Mont Saint-Michel, but only for one day.

It’s much better to go there on your own to wander through the medieval streets of this island-castle, discover different hidden corners and imagine how history comes to life before your eyes...

You will have to stay in a hotel with a three-star comfort level, since there is no choice - there is only one hotel in the castle. And this hotel is also involved in history - after all, it was built in the sixteenth century.

Currently, Mont Saint-Michel is visited by crowds of tourists; in its popularity it has clearly eclipsed both Versailles and even Paris. It’s no joke - more than three million people every year!

Recently, restoration work was carried out on this island, and the top of the tower is decorated with a gilded statue of the Archangel Michael, the work of the famous sculptor Fremier.

Mont Saint Michel Castle - tourist attraction

There were troubled times in the history of the Mont Saint-Michel castle - at first it was a monastery, which was closed in one thousand seven hundred and ninety, and instead of a monastery it was turned into a state prison for the most dangerous criminals and repeat offenders.

And for fifty years the castle was not a place of pilgrimage for people, but, as it was called, a “Provincial Bastille.”

But, fortunately, the authorities came to their senses, Mont Saint-Michel was restored, a major overhaul was carried out, after which tourists were again able to visit this beautiful place. But this happened only in one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.

Tourists will be interested to see the abbey, the Gothic complex of buildings “Miracle”, the Grand staircase, which are located in the city of Mont-Saint-Michel, Grand Rue lane.

To get to the inner part of the island, which, by the way, consists of only one street - Rue Grande, you need to pass the Royal Gate.

As you walk through them, you will see small, charming houses standing close to each other on both sides of the street.

Previously, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, these houses were residential, but now you can find souvenir shops, shops or cafes there.

The most famous miracle of the abbey is the “Monastery Court”, which hangs between earth and sky.

It contains six rooms, as well as a passage to the former refectory, which today is used as a place for various meetings, symposiums or banquets.

Participants in these celebrations can taste the monastery cider.

Stone buildings conceal centuries-old cold. And drafts do their job, so when going to the island of Mont Saint-Michel, you need to take warm clothes with you. It will definitely come in handy, especially for those who want to take a walk outside the castle, for example, to walk around it.

Due to the proximity of the sea, there is a strong wind outside, so it is very easy to freeze, despite the fact that you only need to walk one kilometer to go around the castle.

Going on such a walk is only allowed at low tide, when you can walk on the sand, and not alone. The soil of the island is such that there are voids in it, and if your foot gets stuck there, it will be impossible to get out on your own.

You will need to be sure to know the tide schedule if you plan to walk around the island. After all, the water at high tide can rise fifteen meters!

The schedule, written in various languages, is on a board at the entrance to the city.

An interesting fact - if you think that you have already seen the castle of Mont Saint-Michel somewhere, then you will be right - it was he who served as the model for the fortress of Minas Tirith, from the film “The Lord of the Rings. Return of the King".

Tourists have free access to the island itself, however, parking nearby is paid everywhere. Entrance to the abbey is also paid for adults, but for children it is free. Well, also, organized tours with a guide are paid.

Time to visit:

summer period, from nine in the morning to seven in the evening;
winter period, from half past eight in the morning to six in the evening.

The castle of Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most popular attractions in France, striking with its unusualness and literally fabulous view! After all, a monastery on a rock sticking out of the watery abyss simply cannot help but look stunning

At the very top of the rock, at an altitude of almost 80 meters, the walls of the ancient abbey rise to the sky, and at the end of its spire, located at an altitude of 155.5 meters above sea level, stands a golden figurine of an archangel with a sharpened sword. Mont Saint Michel protected by the sea on all sides and only a 2-kilometer-long dam connects the mainland with the island

Victor Hugo was so impressed by Mont Saint-Michel that he nicknamed it “The Pyramid in the Ocean”

The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is the most visited place in France after Paris. Two regions are arguing over the territorial affiliation of this unique corner - Brittany and Normandy. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that the border between them is drawn along the Coueson River running in the coastal sands, which does not testify in favor of Brittany. There is even a French proverb about this: “Couenon went crazy, so Mont Saint-Michel ended up in Normandy.”

The entrance to the castle starts at the Royal Gate. From here, the only street extends into the interior of the island - Grande Rue. In tiny, almost toy houses of the 15th-16th centuries, huddled together on two sides of the street, today there are cafes, restaurants, hotels and tents with a variety of souvenirs.

There are several versions of the origin of the island of Mont Saint-Michel. The first, the most plausible, states that at the beginning of the 8th century, after a strong storm in this part of the English Channel, the coastline changed. Part of the coastal meadows and forests disappeared under water and then covered with sand, and two rocky hills became islands. The largest among them, Mont Tombe (French for “Tomb Hill”), now bears the name Mont Saint-Michel. The little one is named Tombelen (“Little Grave”).
According to the second version, both rocks were dragged into the sea by giants - Gargantua's parents. Grangousier, his father, as is customary among men, carried the heaviest of the stones - Mont Tombe, and Gargamelle, Gargantua's mother, carried Tombelen. But the giants got tired and threw these stones close to the shore. Gargantua also contributed to the contours of the local relief, creating the Couesnon River. How, according to legend, he did this, I won’t tell you, you can guess for yourself...

With a lock Mont Saint Michel There are a huge number of legends associated with it. According to one of them, in 708 the Archangel Michael came to Archbishop Aubert in a dream. The Archangel ordered the bishop to dedicate to him the rock, already almost completely covered by the sea. Ober did not carry out this order, for fear of becoming a victim of his imagination. The same vision was repeated many times in the future. Then the archangel could not tolerate such disobedience and stuck his finger into Ober’s head. In order to finally convince the bishop and other Christians, he created many miracles here. By the way, the legend is a legend, but in Ober’s skull, scientists actually found a hole) It could have been caused, for example, by a battle wound or trepanation during brain surgery, or maybe the archangel actually poked his finger :)

The Monastery of St. Michael was built for a very long time - from the 11th to the 16th centuries. The Vikings settled here, William the Conqueror set out for England from here, and many kings lived here. During the Hundred Years' War between France and England, Mont Saint-Michel was the last French stronghold in Normandy, never captured by the enemy... It was never conquered, once even surviving a 30-year siege - in history it remained an impregnable castle. The castle was conquered only by tourists - today it is visited by more than 3 million tourists every year - only Paris and Versailles are more popular

The monastery of Mont Saint-Michel was closed a long time ago - back in 1790! Several decades later, ironically, the most dangerous criminals and scoundrels were imprisoned here - the castle turned into a state prison for half a century. Because of this, it is popularly called the “provincial Bastille”. Only in 1863, after a major restoration, did it open its Royal doors again, but for tourists.

Tourists admire not only the architectural delights of Mont Saint-Michel - the reason is that nowadays it becomes an island only 2 times a year. This happens due to the fact that over the past centuries the sea has receded - now most of the time the castle is surrounded by sands, but 2 times a year (during the autumn and spring equinoxes) during strong tides it becomes an island. In just one day, the water level rises by as much as 10 meters - these are the most powerful tides in all of France, and at low tide the sea retreats from the shores by 25 kilometers!

By the way, if Mont Saint-Michel seemed familiar to someone, it is probably due to the fact that the island-castle was the prototype for the fortress of Minas Tirith in the popular film “The Lord of the Rings”

Mont Saint-Michel is a castle with a truly rich history, the roots of which go back to the beginning of the 8th century, when a small chapel appeared on the top of a granite rock-island. Although, if you believe the legends, the island on which this shrine rises has long been considered a sacred place. Druids worshiped the setting sun here and Celts were buried here, and some legends even say that Julius Caesar was buried on the island in a golden coffin.

The origin of the island is also shrouded in many legends. According to one legend, two rocks were dragged into the bay by giants. But the most realistic version of the formation of the island where the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is located claims that the coastline in this region was significantly modified after a strong storm.

Part of the coastal meadows disappeared under water, subsequently being covered with sand, and two rocky hills turned into islands. On the largest of them, Mont Tomb, a monastery arose, the name of which is translated as “Mount of St. Michael.”

One of the French legends says that the idea of creating a monastery on the rock of the island came to Bishop Aubert in a dream. Archangel Michael, who appeared to the holy father, wished that a temple dedicated to him be created on a rock surrounded by the sea. Ober considered the dream to be nonsense, but the visions did not stop appearing to him. So the bishop had to begin to implement the idea that haunted him in his dreams. In 966, the first Benedictines appeared within the walls of the Mont Saint-Michel monastery.

A shrine, an impregnable outpost and... a prison

Construction of the abbey here began in 1023, and 17 years later (a record period for those years!) a majestic castle in the best traditions of medieval Gothic appeared.

At an altitude of 80 m, the majestic walls and impressive turrets of the ancient monastery rise to the sky. The top of the spire that crowns this majestic castle rises 155.5 m above sea level and is decorated with a golden figurine of an archangel. Mont Saint-Michel is surrounded on all sides by sea waters, and only a 2-kilometer dam, which arose here at the end of the 19th century, serves as a connecting thread with the French mainland.

During the Hundred Years' War, Mont Saint-Michel withstood a 30-year siege by the British, gaining fame as the last stronghold of France, never captured by enemies and forever remaining in history as an impregnable citadel.

At the end of the 18th century, the monastery that existed within the walls of the castle was closed, but its building itself became a prison for especially dangerous criminals for several decades, for which it acquired the name “provincial Bastille.” But since 1863, after major repairs and restoration of this unique architectural structure in France, the entrance to the Mont Saint-Michel castle became available to tourists.

Insanely beautiful, incredibly dangerous

For centuries, the majestic Mont Saint-Michel has attracted pilgrims. Fascinated by the beauty of the holy monastery, travelers rushing to its walls often became victims of the insidious elements of the sea. The bay in which the monastery was located has long been famous for its strong tidal currents. The water retreats from the shore by 10-15 m, but during high tide it returns at a speed of about 4 km/h, reaching speeds of up to 30 km/h in strong winds.

The ebb of the tide in the bay always begins suddenly, and the sand that reveals itself to the eye, showing the ghostly illusion of solid land, is actually like viscous silt. Therefore, numerous legends about carts caught in the quicksand of the bay heading to the monastery, and travelers who died in the waters of the bay that suddenly overtook them, may have a completely realistic basis.

The most impressive difference between low and high tide levels on the entire European coast still remains here, but the sea has already moved far away from the shores of the island on which the Mont Saint-Michel castle is located. Now the island is more often surrounded by sand than water, and the tides reach their peak only twice a year - on the day of the spring and autumn equinox. During this period, the water level rises by 10 m in just one day.

But even though now there are no longer those impressive ebbs and flows as in the Middle Ages, it is still rare that anyone dares to head to the walls of Mont Saint-Michel through the sands. And there is no particular need for this now, because there is at least a rather thin strip of land connecting the castle on the island with the mainland, accessible for transport passage.

The bay itself around Mont Saint-Michel is a unique natural reserve, in which up to 10 thousand mussels are grown per year, and the same huge number of Norman sheep graze on the coastal meadows.

An architectural masterpiece for the ages

Invariably one of the ten most beautiful castles in the world, Mont Saint-Michel is considered by the French to be the real “eighth wonder of the world.” Therefore, it is not surprising that residents of two historical regions of France - Brittany and Normandy, on the border of which the island with the castle is located, for a long time did not stop arguing about the right to classify the impressive landmark as their territory.

Everyone wants to be the most involved in such a beautiful architectural masterpiece. Nevertheless, Normandy was the winner, since the Couesnon River flowing here clearly defines the conventional boundaries of the two historical regions. On this occasion, the residents of Brittany sadly joke that the river has gone crazy, giving such a beautiful castle to Normandy.

The famous writer Victor Hugo was so impressed by the appearance of the castle that he called it “The Pyramid in the Ocean.” To modern visitors, the outlines of the castle may seem very familiar, and not by chance, since it was this architectural landmark of France that served as the prototype for the castle from the film saga “The Lord of the Rings”.

For many centuries, Mont Saint-Michel has retained its glory as one of the most striking architectural pearls of France, second in popularity only to Parisian attractions and being the most visited ancient castle in this country after Versailles. So, it is best to visit this attraction in spring or autumn, since in summer there are almost no crowds of tourists here.

A tour of the castle includes a visit to the Sault Gaultier terrace, which offers impressive views of the surrounding area, and the active temple - the Abbey Church. The most interesting is a visit to the upper tier of the castle, called La Mervelle (i.e. Miracle), where you can admire various religious relics. The small houses of the abbey, built around the castle in the 16th and 17th centuries, now house cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops.

One of the most popular attractions in France is the Mont Saint-Michel castle.
How often have you seen a monastery on a rock sticking out of the watery abyss?
It looks stunning.

The city on the island has existed since 709. Currently there are 80 inhabitants. Since 1879, the island has been connected by a causeway to the mainland. The island is a granite formation approximately 930 m in diameter and 92 m above sea level. Mont Saint-Michel is famous for its Benedictine abbey, built between the 11th and 14th centuries.

At the very top of the rock, at an altitude of almost 80 meters, the walls of the ancient abbey rise to the sky, and at the end of its spire, located at an altitude of 155.5 meters above sea level, stands a golden figurine of an archangel with a sharpened sword. Mont Saint-Michel is protected by the sea on all sides and only a 2-kilometer-long causeway connects the mainland to the island

Victor Hugo was so impressed by Mont Saint-Michel that he nicknamed it “The Pyramid in the Ocean”
The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is the most visited place in France after Paris. Two regions are arguing over the territorial affiliation of this unique corner - Brittany and Normandy.

Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that the border between them is drawn along the Coueson River running in the coastal sands, which does not testify in favor of Brittany. There is even a French proverb about this: “Couenon went crazy, so Mont Saint-Michel ended up in Normandy.”

A huge number of legends are associated with the Mont Saint-Michel castle. According to one of them, in 708 the Archangel Michael came to Archbishop Aubert in a dream. The Archangel ordered the bishop to dedicate to him the rock, already almost completely covered by the sea. Ober did not carry out this order, for fear of becoming a victim of his imagination. The same vision was repeated many times in the future.

Then the archangel could not tolerate such disobedience and stuck his finger into Ober’s head. In order to finally convince the bishop and other Christians, he created many miracles here. By the way, the legend is a legend, but in Ober’s skull, scientists actually found a hole) It could have been caused, for example, by a battle wound or trepanation during brain surgery.

The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is an architectural marvel of France. This site is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This unique monument of nature and architecture is a city built on a rock located in a small bay. During high tides, the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is cut off from the mainland.

Ancient architecture has been preserved on the island, despite the numerous sieges that it has experienced over the 1,500 years of its existence. The chapels and fortress walls are of great interest not only from a historical, but also from an engineering point of view. After all, inaccessible cliffs in the Middle Ages were almost always cut off from the land by high sea waves, so the ancient builders had to overcome nature itself and show miracles of ingenuity to build this unique complex.

Expert opinion

Knyazeva Victoria

Guide to Paris and France

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Today France considers the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel one of the country's main tourist sites. It is the second most visited city in the state after Paris. Its population is less than 100 people, but every year the monastery and surrounding areas are visited by up to 3.5 million tourists from different parts of the world.

general information

The island of Mont Saint Michel is easy to find on the map. It is located 285 km northwest of Paris, in the province of Normandy, almost on the border with Breton. The city on a rock is surrounded by a small bay, against which it rises more than 70 m. The bay seems to encircle the mountain on 2 sides, cutting it off from the flat land.

Twice a lunar day, which is 24 hours and 50 minutes, you can see a wonderful picture of how sea water recedes, exposing the foot of the mountain and creating a natural passage to the island along the sandy bottom, and then floods it again.

However, walking in these places on your own is strictly not recommended. This is only possible when accompanied by a certified guide. Such strict rules are explained by the fact that the bay has an unstable bottom. In some places it is formed by quicksand.

In addition, you should carefully study the tide schedule. After all, within a few hours the water will begin to arrive at the rocks at the speed of a galloping horse. The height of the waves can reach 14 m. In the area of the Mont Saint-Michel castle, the tide is considered the most powerful in all of Europe. Therefore, it is better to observe this amazing natural phenomenon at a safe distance.