Monastery of Saint Michel. Monastery island of Mont Saint Michel. Time to visit

Mont Saint Michel is a small rocky island turned fortified island on the northwestern coast of France. This island is the only inhabited of the three granite formations of the Bay of Saint-Michel. The city on the island has existed since 709. Currently there are several dozen residents. Since 1879, the island has been connected by a causeway to the mainland. As a result of the activities of several generations of builders, a unique microcosm was created here, reflecting in architectural forms the evolution of the worldview from the Middle Ages to the present. This natural-historical complex is one of the most famous places to visit. Already in 1874 it became a recognized historical monument, and since 1979 it has been classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage of Humanity.
History of the castle
During the time of the ancient Romans, Mont Saint-Michel was not yet an island. The gloomy uninhabited rock, washed by the waves of the Atlantic, was then called Grave Mountain - perhaps the Celts used this place for their burials. The Druids came here to worship the setting sun, and the Romans subsequently preserved this ritual for a long time. In the rays of the sun plunging into the sea, dazzling legends were born: according to one of them, it was on Mogilnaya Gora that Julius Caesar was secretly buried - in a golden coffin, wearing golden sandals...
In the 5th century, part of the coast sank under water, Mogilnaya Gora turned into an island, separated from the mainland by an almost six-kilometer strip of sea. Only twice a day, at low tide, did the sea expose the muddy bottom and open a dangerous passage to the island.
Story Mont Saint Michel began in 708, when the Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to one bishop from the town of Avranches and ordered to build a chapel on Mogilnaya Gora. At first, Aubert—that was the name of the bishop, who was later canonized—was seized with doubts: neither the first nor even the second appearance of the archangel convinced him. For the third time, Archangel Michael, having again invaded the priest’s peaceful sleep, was surrounded by a menacing and majestic radiance: repeating his previous order, he hit the hesitant Norman on the forehead with his radiant finger. Waking up from sleep, Ober felt a dent on his skull and, without hesitation, went to Grave Mountain.
Miracles accompanied the construction of the chapel. A huge boulder that occupied a platform at the top of the mountain rolled down at the touch of a child’s foot. The rocky island in the middle of the sea was deprived of fresh water. But Saint Ober, having already felt the miraculous touch of the archangel, struck the rock with his staff, and a healing spring began to flow from under it. And Michael himself, surrounded by heavenly radiance, occasionally appeared to the builders on dark, stormy nights.
Many died in the quicksand of the bay, drowned in tidal waves, never reaching their cherished goal. There is a legend about a woman who, in the last month of her pregnancy, went alone to Mont Saint-Michel. Coming to the shore of the bay and seeing the close and alluring silhouette of the Mountain ahead, she, succumbing to the illusion, walked across the sands, but did not calculate her strength: the distance turned out to be too great. The tide has begun. The wind intensified, and foamy tongues of the rapidly approaching sea appeared from behind the Mountain. The woman realized that she was dying, lay down on the sand, preparing for death and begging the Virgin Mary for support. The roaring sea closed around her, but - lo and behold! - Having formed a kind of water tower, the waves did not even touch the poor woman. Remaining inside this wonderful “well,” the woman gave birth to a boy and, when the sea subsided, baptized her baby with sea water. Fishermen who went looking for her body were shocked to find her safe and sound with a child in her arms. In memory of this miracle, which occurred in 1011, Hildeber, then abbot of the abbey, erected a huge cross in the bay. For a long time it rose in the middle of the sand and waves, until the sea swallowed it... Mont Saint-Michel Bay has always been famous for its tides - the difference between the highest and lowest sea levels here reaches a record value of 15 meters. Due to the shallow depths and flat bottom, the sea at low tide retreats from the coast by 15-20 kilometers, but usually returns back at a walking speed - about 4 km/h, although, they say, in some places with a strong tailwind this speed can increase and up to 30 km/h. Legends about tides catching up with the rider, stories about carts disappearing without a trace along with horses in huge quicksands, descriptions of the terrible death of travelers dragged into wet sand. The low tide in the bay always begins somehow unexpectedly: just recently, everywhere you look, a whitish-muddy sea splashed, and sand of the same color appeared everywhere, the treachery of which almost all the French classics were “hypnotized” - from Hugo to Maupassant. This sand seems quite harmless until you descend onto its treacherously unsteady surface, covered in puddles from the recently receding water. The fact is that the sand of the bay is more like silt; it is dense when it dries, but when mixed with water, it turns into a viscous clay mass.
The tradition of pilgrimage to Mont Saint-Michel dates back to the time of St. Ober, but even today people go to the Mountain not only as a tribute to fashion - many try to stay here for several days. In the evenings, when buses full of tourists leave Mont Saint-Michel, the Grand-Rue street leading up becomes less busy and the halls of the monastery become empty. These early evening hours are the best time to explore the architectural ensemble of Mont Saint-Michel. Construction of the monastery church began in 1023 and lasted for almost a century. The tower and nave, built in the Romanesque style, have retained their original appearance. The Church rose high above the Mountain and was immediately attacked by lightning. Every 25-30 years, major fires broke out on the island. And after France annexed Normandy in 1204, the obstinate Mont Saint-Michel was set on fire by the will of the people. The old abbey completely burned down, and in 1211 the French king Philip II, apparently wanting to atone for his sin before the Archangel Michael and his burned monastery, began construction of the famous La Merveille Abbey. In just 17 years—an incredible period for that time—an architectural masterpiece was created, which is now considered a generally recognized example of medieval Gothic.
On the ground floor there was a hall for the poorest pilgrims, here they had to live and eat. Above them - in the guest hall - the abbot received and treated high-ranking persons; the third floor was a refectory for the monks. In the western section, the first floor was occupied by a storage room. On the second floor was the Knight's Hall, which, with its huge stoves, actually served to heat the monastery. This hall, originally called the scriptorium, was intended for working with manuscripts, but it was too dark, so the monks carried out all handwritten work in the refectory, where an even and clear light poured from unusually narrow, high and closely spaced windows. The third floor in the western wing was occupied by a covered gallery - a kind of “shelter of tranquility”, intended both for reading and reflection, and for walks of the monastic brethren. The unique architecture of this gallery, as if hanging between heaven and earth, in the words of one of the chroniclers of the monastery, “allowed the Lord to descend to man without losing his greatness.”

During the Hundred Years' War(1337-1453) Mont Saint-Michel, which was never taken by the British, inspired the famous Joan of Arc to her exploits, and after the war his fame went far beyond the borders of France. During this period, the inexplicable mass pilgrimages of children reached their peak. Leaving their homes and parents, thousands of boys and girls aged 7 to 15 headed to Mont Saint-Michel. A mysterious heavenly call gathered them from all over Europe - from Poland and Flanders, Germany and Switzerland. In 1469, King Louis XI established the knightly order of the Archangel Michael, and in 1472 he placed an iron cage for especially dangerous criminals in one of the dampest cells of the monastery - the infernal invention of Cardinal Balu. The cage was a palisade made of thick wooden rods bound with iron; it was suspended on chains from the vault, so that with every movement of the prisoner the cage began to swing. The unfortunate people trapped in this cage had nothing to hope for - despite the efforts of the monks who sympathized with them, pretty soon they went crazy and died of hunger and cold. The cage served the French kings well for 300 years; one of the last to suffer in it was Victor Dubourg, a journalist convicted in 1745 for a pamphlet on Louis XV. Dubourg died a year after his imprisonment, and in 1777 the terrible cage was finally destroyed. Under Napoleon, the monastery served as a state prison, and only in 1863 the prison was closed and Mont Saint-Michel was declared a national treasure. Mont Saint-Michel received the last important detail of its appearance in 1897 - the cathedral tower was crowned with a neo-Gothic spire and a 500-kilogram gilded figure of Michael the Archangel.
History of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel
In 966, Benedictine monks, with the permission of the Pope, founded an abbey here and built a monastery with the money of the Duke of Normandy, Richard I. In 1017, Abbot Gilderbert II began construction of the central monastery building, the construction of which was fully completed only five centuries later. Thanks to the work and faith of the Benedictine monks, a simple chapel over this long period of time turned into a majestic abbey, built from granite quarried on the Chauzet Islands. At the beginning of the 12th century, Abbot Roger II began construction of a tower on the northern slope, which now includes the Knights' Hall and the Refectory. At this time, the abbey was already one of the pilgrimage centers of Europe. The influence of the monastery is growing. In 1204, King Philip Augustus of France captured Normandy. The ally of the French king, Guy de Tours, captured and burned the settlement near the monastery, as a result of which the monastery itself was seriously damaged by the fire. Philip Augustus, in order to atone for his guilt, donates a huge sum to the abbey, and also finances the construction of a structure on the northern slope, later called the Miracle. In 1128, the construction of the Miracle was completed. Until the 14th century, the architecture of the monastery did not change. Successive abbots gradually built up the island. The Hundred Years' War that breaks out between England and France leads to the fact that the abbey is deprived of income from its English possessions. In 1356, the British attempted to take the monastery, but the siege was unsuccessful. In 1386, the abbot of the monastery, Pierre Roy, for security purposes, significantly strengthened the entrance to the monastery, and also built three towers. Subsequently, Abbot Robber Jolivet, who replaced Roy, erected fortress walls at the foot of the monastery. In 1469, the French king Louis XI established the knightly order of St. Michael in the abbey. In 1523, construction of the Gothic choir began. This year, the monks are deprived of the right to choose the abbot of the monastery. Now only the king has this right. Appointed by the king and not by clergy, the so-called “abbots” are completely devoid of spirituality. This leads to the monastery's treasury being spent for other purposes. All this deprives the monks of the desire to live in a monastery. The flow of pilgrims to the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey is gradually drying up. By 1580, only 13 monks lived in the monastery. Fourteen years later, the bell tower is completely destroyed by a lightning strike. Due to the small number of monks, the temple remains dilapidated for decades.

In 1176, there was another fire that destroyed the Romanesque entrance to the temple. The current system of choosing monastery abbots continued to have its destructive effect until 1870. During the French Revolution, the abbey was closed and turned into a prison. The monks are expelled, and all things from the monastery are sold. With the arrival of Napoleon III, Mont Saint-Michel regains its former glory, the prison is abolished, and the monastery is declared a national treasure of France. Work begins on its restoration. The famous abbey of Mont Saint-Michel embodies the entire medieval history of France. After the French Revolution, the Benedictine abbey served as a prison, and today it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists. Nestled on a small rocky island on the northwestern coast of France and connected by a causeway to the mainland, Mont Saint-Michel has been recognized as a monument of world significance since 1979. The island, crowned with the spire of the abbey, amazes with its grandeur. During high tide (and here is the highest tide in Europe - up to 10 m) the water arrives at a speed of 20 km/h, and the fortress built on a high rock (78 m) can only be reached by boats. At low tide you can simply walk on dry land without even getting your feet wet. The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is one of the main attractions of France and the real pride of the province of Normandy.
In the 10th century, Benedictines from Saint-Vendria moved to Mont Saint-Michel. And right up to the 16th century they built, built, built. There were means - the island of the Miracle of St. Michael became one of the most popular places of pilgrimage. This is still the case today. One of the special places in Christianity is occupied by the image of St. Michael. This is not just an archangel, but a warrior and intercessor. He accompanies the souls of the righteous to Heavenly Jerusalem, helps them on their way and protects them from lurking demons. In addition, it is he, according to the Apocalypse, who must stand at the head of the heavenly army in the last battle of good and evil. According to biblical legend, Archangel Michael fought with Satan in the form of a dragon and plunged him into the abyss of water. The battle ended on a mountain that later received the name Mount St. Michael. This is probably why temples high in the mountains are traditionally dedicated to St. Michael. The famous abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, which is located on a small (about 900 meters in circumference) rocky island of the same name and which was destined to become one of the main pilgrimage centers of medieval Europe, was built on the same principle.
In the 18th century, the abbey fell into disrepair and was closed during the French Revolution. From the time of Napoleon I until 1863, Mont Saint-Michel was a state prison, and then it was declared a historical monument and restored. Now Mont Saint-Michel is one of the main tourist centers in France. Over the past centuries, the sea has receded and now most of the time Mont Saint-Michel is surrounded by shifting sands, and only during high tides does it become an island. Such tides are observed here during the autumn and spring equinoxes - the water level rises by 10 meters per day - these are the strongest tides in France, and at low tide the sea moves 25 kilometers from the coast. Now a dam has been built and a highway connects the island to the mainland, making it convenient for visiting.

Myths and facts
Unlike other castles in France, which were built as defensive structures, or for the pleasure of the nobility, Mont Saint-Michel was founded as a monastery. Its history began with a legend: in 708, the Archangel Michael appeared in a vision to the Bishop of Avranches Saint Aubert and ordered the construction of a temple on the rock. But the bishop was not sure that he had interpreted the sign correctly and decided to wait. And only after the archangel appeared to him for the third time and, as proof, burned a hole on his head with his finger, the bishop had no more doubts and began construction. Today, from the original temple in the form of a grotto, depicting the cave in which the appearance of St. Michael, nothing has survived except one wall, and the skull of Saint Aubert is now kept in the Basilica of Avranches. For two centuries, the legendary island attracted pilgrims and soon became famous throughout the kingdom. Fearing the popularity of the community of canons, Duke Richard I of Normandy expelled them, replacing them with Benedictine monks in 966. The Benedictines were good builders. To accommodate pilgrims, they built a small town at the foot of the abbey, and on the top of the cliff, thanks to numerous donations, they erected a large temple with adjacent buildings. By the 13th century, hundreds of monks lived in Mont Saint-Michel. The monastery's 119 knights successfully resisted England when much of western France fell during the Hundred Years' War.
Interesting Facts:
- In 1874, Mont Saint Michel was recognized as a State Historical Monument.
- In 1972, UNESCO added Mont Saint Michel to the List of World Heritage Sites.
- The French consider Mont Saint-Michel and its bay “the eighth wonder of the world,” and Europeans consider it “the wonder of Western Europe.”
- When the tide goes out, you can go around Mount Saint-Michel, but you need to be careful and don’t go too far from the foot of the mountain - there is a high probability of getting into quicksand.
- The island-castle Mont Saint-Michel was the prototype of the fortress of Minas Tirith in the popular film “The Lord of the Rings”.
- Nowadays, Mont Saint-Michel 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

Address: France, Normandy, Manche department
The beginning of the abbey's history: 708
Coordinates: 48°38′9.6″N,1°30′41.04″W
Main attractions: abbey built in the 11th-16th centuries

Content:

In France, off the coast of the historical region of Normandy, on the top of an 80-meter cliff, washed by the waves of the Atlantic, is the ancient abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. Only a 2-kilometer dam connects the island with the mainland.

At high tide, Mont Saint-Michel is completely surrounded by water, and at low tide it is surrounded by quicksand.. This place has long been shrouded in a mystical aura: the Celts called the island Grave Mountain and used it as a cemetery, and the Druids came here to worship the setting sun. One of the legends says that it was on Mogilnaya Hill that Julius Caesar was buried in a golden coffin and golden sandals.

Mont Saint Michel at sunset

Mont Saint-Michel - abode of the Archangel Michael

The history of the abbey itself dates back to 708, when the Archangel Michael appeared to Bishop Aubert from the city of Avranches in a dream and ordered to build a temple on Mogilnaya Hill.

The place was not chosen by chance: according to legend, on this island the Archangel Michael, together with his heavenly army, defeated Satan, who took the form of a seven-headed dragon. Three times the Archangel Michael visited the bishop, repeating his order, but the incredulous Norman did not heed the sign.

General view of Mont Saint Michel

And only after the heavenly messenger, angry, hit the priest on the forehead with his finger, Ober began construction. Those who doubt the authenticity of this legend can check for themselves: there is indeed a noticeable dent on Auber’s preserved skull.

In 966, the Norman Duke Richard I gave Mont Saint-Michel to the Benedictine monks, who founded an abbey here. Over five centuries of construction (XI - XVI centuries), an ensemble of Romanesque and Gothic buildings rose above the island, rising up the mountainside to the elegant turret of the monastery church crowning the entire structure.

Mont Saint Michel from above

Despite numerous alterations, the church has largely retained its Romanesque appearance - rounded arches, massive walls and vaults. The choir, completed in the 15th century, is made in the “flaming Gothic” style. At the tip of the spire at an altitude of 155.5 meters above sea level there is a gilded figure of the Archangel Michael with a drawn sword.

Gothic complex "Miracle"

In 1203, France annexed Normandy. King Philip II Augustus, wanting to atone for his sin before the Archangel Michael for burning part of the monastery during the siege, built the Gothic complex of La Merveille (translated as “miracle”) on the northern side of the island.

City buildings

In record time - just 17 years - a monastery was created that ideally meets the requirements of ascetic life. La Merveille consists of two 3-storey sections. On the ground floor on the east side there is a room for overnight pilgrims. Above there was a hall for guests, where the abbot received high-ranking persons, and the third floor was given over to the monastery refectory. In the western wing of La Merveille, the first floor is occupied by a storage room, above which there is a scriptorium - a workshop for copying manuscripts.

View of the abbey temple

In 1470, when Louis XI founded the Knightly Order of St. Michael, the scriptorium was converted into a meeting hall. The upper floor of the western section is framed by a cloister - a covered gallery. The cloister was intended for solitary reflection and prayer, and was also used for liturgical purposes.

Mont Saint Michel - fortress island

During the 10 centuries of Mont Saint-Michel's existence, no one conquered it. The high speed of the tidal wave and the steepness of the rock made the monastery impregnable. The island occupied an important strategic position and for many years repelled Viking raids, and in 1091, during a conflict between the sons of William of Normandy, it withstood its first siege.

Street in Mont Saint Michel

During the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), Mont Saint-Michel became an arena of struggle between England and France. The British were never able to take the island. The knights guarding the fortress captured two bombards (cannons) and installed them at the city gates as a warning to any enemy. To this day, the bombards stand in the same place.

Visit to Mont Saint Michel

In 1863, Mont Saint-Michel was declared a national treasure of France and opened to tourists.. The ascent to the “mountain of the Archangel Michael” begins at the royal gates, leading to the only street on the island - Grand Rue, lined with medieval houses.

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.”

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.

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 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.

You can find analogues - but Mont Saint-Michel is absolutely unique. There is simply no rival in the world to a lonely mountain in the middle of a perfectly flat plain; a mountain crowned by a stern monastery and surrounded by impenetrable walls; a mountain whose slopes sheltered an entire medieval city with tiny winding streets; a mountain that the highest tides in Europe twice a day turn into an impregnable island, and the surrounding plain into a raging ocean. The path to get there is not easy, but from year to year millions of people flock here - to feel involved in a true miracle, at least for a few hours.

UNESCO included Mont Saint-Michel on the List of World Heritage Sites, guidebooks proudly call it “the eighth wonder of the world,” and the French themselves simply call their favorite attraction the Mountain.

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How to get to Mont Saint Michel

The easiest and most economical way to get to Mont Saint-Michel is to take a direct bus from Paris. On Saturdays and Sundays, Flixbus buses leave from La Défense early in the morning and return to the capital late in the evening. The journey takes about 5 hours, passengers are taken directly to the walls of Mont Saint-Michel. A round-trip ticket will cost less than 50 EUR, you can book it at the office. carrier's website. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

On weekdays, getting to the Mountain is a little more difficult: first you need to connect to the TGV high-speed train at Montparnasse station, get to Rennes, and then change to a bus from the local Keolys network. A combined train-bus ticket can be purchased at the office. website of the SNCF company, which is in charge of all French railways. The travel time is comparable to the bus option, and for a one-way ticket you will have to pay at least 50 EUR.

The third way to get to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris can easily be considered exotic: at the Rennes railway station you need to change to a local train to the town of Pontorson, and then take a minibus to Mont Saint-Michel (travel time is about 20 minutes, ticket price 2.50 EUR). For those traveling to Mont Saint-Michel from Normandy, this method is quite acceptable: several trains run daily from Rouen to Pontorson.

Mont Saint-Michel can also be reached by car - the road from Paris along the A13 toll motorway takes about 4 hours and costs 15 EUR. The route through Alençon along the free highway N10 is shorter in mileage, but longer in time and very tiring for the driver - the road runs through many towns with narrow intersections, pedestrian crossings and frequent speed limits of up to 50 km/h.

Search for flights to Paris (the nearest airport to Mont Saint-Michel)

A little history

In Gallo-Roman times, a dense forest rustled on the site of the present Bay of Saint-Michel, and the future Mountain was a low hill. The first Christian hermits chose it as a place of solitude and prayer. Local residents brought food to the ascetics and buried their remains in due course. The previously unnamed hill began to be called Grave Mountain. By the 7th century, the ocean swallowed up the land, and the Mountain acquired its modern shape, and in 709 the first monastery was founded on the top. Over the centuries, it grew, changed owners several times, survived many wars and sieges, was once burned to the ground and rebuilt stone by stone - until it was closed during the French Revolution. The monks were expelled, their cells were turned into cells for political prisoners. The darkest period of Mont Saint-Michel lasted almost 100 years, and only at the end of the 19th century the prison was closed and Mont Saint-Michel received the status of a national museum. In 1966, part of the monastery was returned to the Catholic Church, and now the Benedictine brothers celebrate Mass daily in the abbey chapel.

Transport

The transport system of Mont Saint-Michel is somewhat exotic, but very convenient and fully corresponds to the special atmosphere of this place. 3 km from the monastery, next to the 24-hour paid parking (half an hour is free, a day ticket will cost car owners 11.50 EUR) there is a stop for unusual electric buses. They were designed specifically for Mont Saint-Michel, and they do not have the usual “front” and “rear” - the driver’s cabins are located on both sides. They cover the path to the mountain in 12 minutes, making stops along the way at hotels and restaurants in the town of La Caserne on the shore of the bay. Buses run from 7:30 to midnight at intervals of several minutes and travel is free.

For lovers of antiquity, there is an alternative: carriages pulled by a pair of Norman heavy trucks reach the mountain in 25 minutes. Capacity is up to 24 passengers, one-way ticket costs 5 EUR.

Beautiful Mont Saint Michel

Communications and Wi-Fi

There are no problems with mobile communications in Mont Saint-Michel - 3G and 4G networks are available anywhere on the island. The situation with Wi-Fi is less rosy; you can only discover a free access point by chance. In this sense, it is easier for hotel guests and restaurant clients than for tourists visiting for a few hours - free Wi-Fi has long become a standard in such establishments. The password to a hotel chain is usually written either on the wall of the room or on a special laminated card - it is placed on the table before guests check-in. Finding the password to restaurant chains is not always easy - it is not customary to post it openly. Sometimes it is printed at the bottom of the menu, but in most cases you will have to ask the waiter for help.

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Mont Saint Michel Hotels

Local hotels are clearly divided into two groups: hotels from the first are located inside the city fortifications (intra muros), from the second - in the town of La Caserne in the immediate vicinity of Mont Saint-Michel. The hotel rooms are cramped, not the most pleasant smells can be heard from the restaurants downstairs, you will have to first take a minibus to get to your accommodation, and then walk up the Grande Rue, crowded with tourists. But the proximity to all the attractions and the opportunity to watch the tide from your “own” windows are worth it.

Hotels in La Caserne are designed in modern times, there is a higher level of comfort at reasonable prices - with early booking, a room in a 2* hotel will cost only 55 EUR. Among the advantages of staying overnight in La Caserne are convenient hotel parking, a stunning view of Mont Saint-Michel at night, as well as a vibrant and varied nightlife.

What to bring

The choice of souvenirs in Mont Saint-Michel is huge: shops along the main street fight for every client, offering a wide range of goods for every taste and budget - from magnets for a couple of euros to a full set of knightly armor for the price of an average car.

In addition to the usual tourist set, it is customary to take away as souvenirs elegant plates with images of the abbey, small copies of the statue of the Archangel Michael decorating the monastery spire, funny stone figurines of musicians and jugglers made in medieval technology, models of sailing ships, figurines made of Norman porcelain, as well as souvenirs replicas of bladed weapons.

Among the culinary products, the most popular are crispy butter cookies “from Mother Poulard”, “Quin-aman” pies from neighboring Brittany, as well as local salted caramel - it is packaged and sold individually.

Cuisine and restaurants of Mont Saint-Michel

People don’t go to Mont Saint-Michel for gastronomic pleasures; sophisticated, expensive restaurants here would simply go out of business. The local cuisine is simple, tasty and inexpensive - exactly what a weary traveler needs.

All bars, cafes, snack bars and pancake houses are located exclusively on Grande Rue - it is useless to look for food in other places on the island. These establishments are accustomed to quickly serving the tourist flow, and you can count on a short, hearty snack at a price of 12 to 25 EUR. Snacks and sandwiches to take away will cost 3-4 EUR each.

There are few restaurants in Mont Saint-Michel, they exist only at hotels and sometimes live at the pace of the guests - they serve for a long time, but it is there that you can taste the Mountain's signature dish at an affordable price - lamb fillet raised in the local water meadows (it is believed that Ocean salt naturally permeates the meat and gives it a unique flavor). Dinner in such a restaurant will cost 80-120 EUR and will take several hours, but while waiting for food you can watch the ebb and flow of the tides - all restaurants here have panoramic terraces overlooking the bay.

Guides in Mont Saint Michel

Entertainment and attractions

Mont Saint-Michel is a landmark in itself. The majestic fortress city on a lonely mountain, surrounded alternately by the ocean and by a damp sandy plain, invariably makes a strong impression on travelers.

By the way, it was the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel that became the prototype for the fortress of Minas Tirith in the film “The Lord of the Rings”.

Access to Mont Saint-Michel itself is free, and any tourist can enter the city through the Royal Gate, simultaneously examining a cannon from the Hundred Years War, marvel at the two-meter width of the local “Grand Rue” (Grande Rue) and pick up souvenirs there. If your build permits, you can take a chance and climb to the upper tier along crooked alleys - in some places you will have to squeeze through sideways. At the top, after passing the gates of the abbey and walking along the walls, you can thoughtfully select an “observation post” and meet the tide with a camera in your hands. On the way back, it’s worth stopping by the tiny city church and ending the tour with a walk along the fortress walls of the lower tier, returning to the Royal Gate. If you have time and energy left, you can walk along the granite blocks along the island to the small chapel of Saint-Aubert - it used to serve as a place for prayer vigils.

An adult tourist will have to pay 10 EUR to enter the abbey (office site in English), children are admitted free of charge.

The Constable's House, Archaeoscope, Historical and Maritime Museums are somewhat lost against the background of other attractions, but they are also interesting in their own way. A combined ticket to visit all 4 will cost 18 EUR, more information can be obtained at the office. website (in English).

5 things to do in Mont Saint Michel

  1. Walk under the echoing arches of the abbey and go down to its heart - the chapel of Notre-Dame-Sous-Terre.
  2. Meet the tide while standing at the stone parapet of the upper fortifications.
  3. At low tide, go out onto the damp sand of the bay and look at the Mountain from all sides.
  4. Buy souvenirs in the shops on Grande Rue.
  5. Try the famous omelet “from Mother Poulard”

Weather

The climate in northern France is mild. In general, you can rely on the weather forecast for Normandy, but it is worth taking into account some features of the bay: the ocean has leveled the surface for kilometers around the Mountain, so the westerly wind blows around Mont Saint-Michel as it wants - this is especially felt on the upper observation decks. Tides constantly wet the surrounding sand, so in winter there is a high risk of fog, and in summer high humidity combined with the scorching sun makes many tourists faint.

The ocean not only affects the microclimate of the Mountain - often the life of a tourist depends on it. The tide comes suddenly and moves the water at the speed of a running person, so before going for a walk you should definitely study the tide schedule at the office. website (in English).

If fairy tales live somewhere, then this place is located on the northwestern coast of France on the border of Normandy and Brittany in the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. I was there several years ago and am still incredibly impressed, regretting that I never tried the famous “Mother Poulard omelette” (La Mère Poulard). But more on that later.

This magnificent ancient abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, sits at the very top of a rock island that was once called Mont Tombe. Twice a lunar day (24 hours and 50 minutes) high and low tides occur around the abbey, the strongest on the entire coast of Europe!

At high tide, Mont Saint-Michel with its Gothic spiers appears from afar, like a mystical island floating above the surface of the water. And at low tide, the water can move 18 km away from the island, exposing sand dunes. By the way, you can walk along them under the guidance of a knowledgeable guide, because the water comes back at the speed of a galloping horse. There is no point in describing the abbey - it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. I, in turn, will try to give you all the information that I have.

How to get there

Unfortunately, there is no direct transport connection between Russian cities and Mont-Saint-Michel. Therefore, let's agree that we will consider the city as the starting point of our journey. You can read about how to get from Russia to Paris.

Although the road to the abbey no longer poses such a danger as in the Middle Ages for wandering pilgrims, it takes quite a lot of time and, at first glance, does not seem too trivial.

By car from Paris you have to travel 3.5 hours one way. You can also take the train to the Breton city of Rennes and then take the bus to the abbey. In my opinion, the most convenient option is to book a day tour on a bus departing from the center of Paris. But let’s talk about everything in more detail, and you will choose the option that is acceptable for you.

By plane

Due to the unique location and tiny size of the abbey, it is impossible to reach Mont Saint-Michel by plane. As I said above, you can fly to Paris, and then rent a car, use the services of French railways, or take a bus.

In addition, one of the closest airports is Rennes–Saint-Jacques Airport, but there are no direct flights from Russia.

By train

Both on weekdays and on weekends, you can get to the abbey using the services of the company SNCF. You just need to take the high-speed train departing from the 15th arrondissement of Paris from Montparnasse station ( Gare Montparnasse). It will take you to the city of Rennes ( Rennes) or Dol de Bretagne, and then you can transfer to the train or bus going to the famous abbey.

A one-way ticket will cost, at best, 52 EUR. Trains run every 40 minutes to an hour depending on the time of day. After this you need to transfer to a shuttle bus. Travel time will be approximately 4 hours. On the site SNCF You can purchase a combined train + bus ticket.

There is another option, a little energy-consuming, but very interesting. By train from Paris (this time from Saint-Lazare station) you can get to the city of Caen in Normandy, and then transfer to the train to the town of Pontorson, located 10 km from the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel . Then you should take a shuttle bus or rent a car. The schedule for a direct shuttle bus from the town of Pontorson to the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel can be found. The cost of a one-way ticket is 2.8 EUR. Please note: on the bus and to the abbey they won't let you bring a dog.

Electric trains run to Pontorson from the Breton city of Rennes and from the Norman city of Rouen. In the first case, the travel time will be 50 minutes, the ticket will cost 14.7 EUR. There are 2 trains daily from Rouen to Pontorson, departing at 12:04 and 14:04. A ticket for them will cost 48 EUR, and you will spend at least 4 hours on the road.

By bus

In my opinion, a day tour to Mont Saint-Michel (for example, with a group) would be a great idea for solo travelers Viator). This tour will take 14.5 hours and cost about 170 EUR. It includes:

  • the way to the abbey(departure from the very center of Paris from the metro station Pyramides or from the door of your hotel);
  • lunch in one of the coastal restaurants overlooking Mont Saint-Michel;
  • guided tour by the city, abbey and ramparts;
  • free time for a walk and the way back.

Another option is to use the services of a company Flixbus. Her buses are leaving on weekends from Paris metro stations ( La Defense or Porte Maillot) and arrive back in the evening. A ticket will cost you 24.90 EUR one way. Departure from Paris occurs at 7:30 am, from Mont Saint-Michel - at 17:20 pm. Travel time will be about 5 hours. Please note that on Saturday and Sunday buses depart from different metro stations!

By car

How to get there from Paris

The most convenient way to get to the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey is, of course, by car. If you are coming from Paris, take the A 13 to Caen, then take the E 401 to Avranches and via Pontorson on the D 976 directly to Mount Saint-Michel. Please note that the road, as well as parking near the abbey, is paid.

The cost of parking for 24 hours is 11.70 EUR, less than 2 hours - 6.30 EUR. Please be careful and do not lose your parking ticket; you will have to pay 23.40 EUR for a lost ticket.

There is a beautiful idea to recreate the maritime character of the road to Mont Saint-Michel, which in the Middle Ages was overcome by pilgrims on their way to the abbey. Therefore, the parking lot is located quite far (about 35 minutes on foot over the new bridge) from the only entrance to the abbey - the Porte de l'Avancee gate.

Path to the abbey from the parking lot

Once in the parking lot, head to the Place du barrage and from there walk across the new bridge to the abbey, then you can take wonderful photos.

In general, there are 3 ways to get to the abbey, one of which is on your own feet (I mentioned this above). In addition, you can take advantage of public transport, incredibly appropriate for this fabulous place. There are two modes of transport connecting the car park and the abbey: one is ( Le Passeur)- this is a gray bus that is driven by electric traction, the second one ( La Maringote) is a cart pulled by Norman draft horses. A wonderful way of transportation for those who decide to try on the shirt of the Middle Ages.

In the first case, the journey will take approximately 10 minutes with several stops. Departure is from Place de Navette ( Place des navettes ), this type of transport is absolutely free. If you want to ride a horse-drawn carriage the old-fashioned way, a one-way ticket will cost 5.30 EUR, and it will take longer - about 25 minutes.

Clue:

Mont Saint Michel - time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 2

Kazan 2

Samara 3

Ekaterinburg 4

Novosibirsk 6

Vladivostok 9

When is the season? When is the best time to go

In the western part of France, where Mont Saint-Michel is located, winters are mild and summers are cool, because a temperate maritime climate prevails here. February, with an air temperature of +5–7 °C, is considered the coldest month, and August, with temperatures up to +20 °C, is considered the hottest.

Rain in Normandy is a frequent occurrence. There is a lot of rainfall here throughout the year, so I recommend taking an umbrella. It's hard to name the best time to travel. Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most visited places in France after Paris with its main jewel, the Eiffel Tower, so there are always a lot of tourists here, and prices for housing and food remain the same.

But, for example, the mussel season ends in February and begins only in July. Maybe this will somehow influence your choice of dates for your visit.

Mont Saint Michel in summer

July and August are considered the best months to visit Normandy due to the cool climate and less rainfall than usual. However, despite the fact that schoolchildren have their summer holidays in the summer, the number of tourists in Mont Saint-Michel does not change in principle - there are always a lot of them! On warm summer evenings, grandiose performances and classical music concerts are held within the walls of the abbey. You can sit on the outdoor terraces of the restaurants and enjoy fresh seafood delicacies with a glass of chilled Normandy cider.

In my opinion, summer is the best season to come to Mont Saint-Michel!

Mont Saint Michel in autumn

Early autumn in Lower Normandy, as throughout France, is good. The weather is still summer, and the flow of tourists decreases slightly, especially in October. November is considered the most depressing month, although at the end of the month the abbey, already dressed in Christmas decorations, certainly looks very festive and even, dare I say it, gingerbread.

Mont Saint Michel in spring

In spring and autumn (on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes), the most powerful ebbs and flows occur around Mont Saint-Michel, and for this reason alone it is worth coming here at this time of year. In addition, apple and cherry trees begin to bloom, and the air seems to be permeated with the aromas of flowers. The city is painted with bright colors, flower pots with primroses are displayed everywhere - spring is coming in Normandy.

Mont Saint Michel in winter

Winter in Normandy... rainy. If you decide to travel to Mont Saint-Michel in winter, then, strange as it may sound, take an umbrella with you, or even better, rubber boots. Please note that the abbey is closed to the public on December 25 and January 1. But this is the best time to try the freshest oysters and mussels!

But I'm afraid that for those who are not used to heavy rains, fog, and again this time heavy rains, a trip to Mont Saint-Michel in winter may be a disappointment. But if you go here in winter, it’s better to stay for 2 days. To see the ebb and flow of the tide and have time to admire the golden spiers of the abbey in the rays of the setting sun. And how beautiful the sunset is in these places!

Clue:

Mont Saint-Michel - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

For those who decide to stay in the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, there are two options to choose from: housing within the city walls and hotels located 2 km outside the city.

There are not very many intramuros hotels, the rooms are small and the prices are high. The cost of living for two per night will cost 90 EUR and more. However, you can admire the ebb and flow of the tide from the window of your own room, walk without thinking about the time, and drink wine or other spirits with dinner without worrying about having to drive. On a late summer evening, you can watch a performance or listen to a concert and take your time returning to the hotel.

If you are looking for more modern and comfortable conditions for an overnight stay, then you should definitely pay attention to the hotels located near the Mountain. The nearest town, as you can see on the map above, is called La Caserne. A room (often with a terrace and panoramic view of the abbey) will cost about 55 EUR if you book in advance. Keep in mind that in reality there are many more hotels in La Casserne and the surrounding area of ​​the Mountain than indicated on the map above. You can search for options and compare prices, for example. And it’s convenient to make a reservation at.

Often, from hotels located near Saint-Michel, free shuttle buses run throughout the day and evening to take you to the parking lot at the foot of the Mountain and back to the hotel.

There are no hostels, like in big cities, at the foot of Mont Saint-Michel. If your budget is limited, you can stay in the so-called auberges de jeunesse(youth hostels). Some hostels have age restrictions (e.g. up to 30 years old) and a discount with an ISIC student card is possible. Also very popular Chambres d'hotes, where tourists are given the opportunity to live on the territory of a private house, but in a separate room. Usually breakfast is included in the price of your stay, and often the hosts will keep you company, which can be extremely useful - you can chat with them and learn interesting things that only locals can tell.

What are the prices for holidays?

Accommodation

Being one of the most tourist places in France, Mont Saint-Michel's prices are absolutely not shocking. A night in a hotel within the city fortifications will cost 90–120 EUR, in the nearby town of La Caserne - from 55 EUR and above. The more beautiful the view of the abbey from the room window, the higher the prices. However, if you take care of booking a room in advance, you can save a lot.

Road

A train or bus ride from Paris will cost you an average of 50 EUR one way, but you won’t have to pay for parking. Entrance to the city is free, but the ticket to the abbey is expensive (10 EUR per adult), but free for those under 18 years of age.

Excursions

You can also save on museum tickets by purchasing a card for 4 city attractions at once, which will cost your wallet 18 EUR.

Nutrition

Lunch, for example, at a pancake house will cost on average 15 EUR if you order a main course, dessert and a jug of cider. And in the evening you won’t be able to eat for such a modest amount - the minimum price for dinner without alcohol is 25 EUR.

Main attractions. What to see

The city on Mount Saint Michael (that’s how Mont-Saint-Michel is translated), which bears, among others, the name La Merveille or “The Miracle”, is itself, so to speak, one big attraction. It was founded in 709, welcomed Benedictine monks into its walls, became a fortress with its own garrison in the 11th century, and survived several fires and the French Revolution.

The most interesting and main point of your visit will, of course, be abbey, which I will talk about below in the “Churches and Temples” section. However, there are other places in the city that are worthy of tourist attention. But first things first.

Top 4

Beaches. Which ones are better

The Saint-Michel Rock rises above the bay in the middle of the bay of the same name, so at low tide the city stands in the middle of a huge beach, which, however, must be walked carefully. Of course, there is no question of swimming here. The Bay of Saint-Michel is a so-called estuary - a flooded mouth of a river, so it experiences the highest and fastest tide in France!

On the days of the autumn and spring equinox, during the most powerful low tides, the mountain is surrounded only by raw sand. The sea retreats from it for several kilometers, but after 5–6 hours the water rushes to the lonely rock at the speed of a galloping horse (6–9 m/s).

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel (l’Abbaye)

To get to the abbey, you need to overcome the main gate of the city, the only street Grande Rue, and then climb a long staircase of 350 stone steps and enter Guardroom. The visit is possible daily (except December 25, January 1 and May 1) from 9:00 to 19:00, the ticket price for an adult is 10 EUR, for children under 18 years old it is free. You can find all the necessary information and plan your visit on the abbey’s official website.

Entrance is possible to almost all rooms of the abbey, which you can explore, for example, by renting an audio guide (4.5 EUR). However, it is worth noting that the ticket price includes a one-hour tour in English or French. Every day there are 6 excursions within the walls of the abbey; you can catch the last one if you arrive half an hour before closing.

The architectural complex of the abbey is located on several levels. A detailed map can be obtained from the tourist office or when purchasing a ticket.

I desperately recommend going out to the observation deck located on the terrace at the foot of the church. From there you have an incredibly beautiful view of the bay and islands Tombelaine and îles Chausey, where blocks and stones were quarried to build the abbey. Every year November 8 From this terrace you can watch the sun set behind Mount Dole. According to legend, it was on this day that St. Michael fought a dragon there.

My then future husband and I were lucky to attend a very interesting light show held within the walls of the monastery. At the same time, in each room of the abbey there were art objects and music was played, which was very memorable, because all the rooms themselves are very ascetic.

The heart of the abbey, which is spoken of in the legend of the bishop and St. Michael, is considered to be the chapel Chapelle Notre-Dame-sous-Terre. It is tiny in size, only 11 by 13 m², but this place is really worth a visit, because centuries-old history began here.

Among other must-see places, I would also like to mention knight's hall, called Scriptorium. It was there that medieval monks copied books and studied.

Abbey Church (Eglise Abbatiale)

This church is the top of the level system of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, as well as the rock itself. It was built in the 11th century and rises 80 meters above sea level. The interior of the church is very modest. The transept is oriented so that every year May 8 the sunrise is clearly visible behind the altar. Upon entering the church, you can notice a carved stone coat of arms with lilies and shells - this is the coat of arms of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. The church holds masses every day at quarter past one, which you can attend.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

There are four museums on the Grande Rue: the Archaeoscope, the Historical Museum, the Maritime Museum and the House of Tiffany. A visit to one museum will cost 9 EUR, and a single ticket to all three will cost 18 EUR. Museums are open daily from 9:30 to 17:00. It is worth noting that all of them (except Morskoe) are closed for the winter holidays, which differ in dates in each region of France, but conventionally take place in February. For visitors up to 18 years old entrance to museums free.


Tourist streets

Beyond Main Street Grande Rue, which is mentioned many times in this article, I advise you to take a walk through the small streets of the city, which often do not even have a name. Usually they are not very crowded - it is almost impossible to meet tourists who come on an excursion here. Peace and quiet reign here, and the most common buildings are so-called half-timbered houses - buildings that do not have load-bearing walls.

The load-bearing frame is provided by an internal wooden structure consisting of beams, posts and diagonal struts intersecting at right angles. The space between the beams is filled with clay and sand, the surface is plastered, and the protruding architectural elements in Normandy are painted in bright colors.

This walk will take you a little time, but an unforgettable experience is guaranteed!

What to see in 1 day

If you are lucky enough to visit Mont Saint-Michel for even one day, I ask you to familiarize yourself with the tide chart before starting your visit. This can be done online or at the local tourist office, on the outer wall of which there is a special table ( horaire des mares). In addition, the office sells a detailed map of the abbey. If you have the chance to see the tide with your own eyes, I consider it a huge success!


After such a long walk, you will probably get hungry. In addition, in France there is a full have lunch only possible with 12 to 14 o'clock, so I suggest you relax and try local cuisine in one of the restaurants in the city.

  • 12:30 Dinner. If you book a table in advance, it is quite possible that you will be able to try the famous omelette La Mere Poulard. If not, then try coming to this restaurant for good luck - maybe you’ll get lucky and there will be seats! Or, as a last resort, just look into the panoramic windows of the restaurant. In them, as in a theater, a real show will unfold in front of you in preparing the most fluffy omelette in the world, accompanied by the music of whisks beating the yolks separately from the whites.
  • 14:00 - Visiting of museum. I suggest you visit only 1 museum, the choice of which I will leave at your discretion.
  • 15:00 - If your legs are still strong, I suggest taking a walk through the few streets of the old city, turning off the main street anywhere, and also taking an unforgettable walk around the rock itself along the damp sands at low tide. It will take half an hour of your time, and will leave impressions for a year to come.
  • 16:30 - You may have a desire to buy souvenirs. This can be done, as you already understood, by Grande Rue. Don't forget to check out the souvenir shop La Mere Poulard and try the salted caramel. This is delicious!

It would be great if you could stay overnight in Mont Saint-Michel, because then you could taste the incredibly tender lamb meat Agneau de pré-salé, which I will talk about below in the “Food” section » , with a glass of red wine. If you are not a fan of meat delicacies, I suggest ordering a bowl of mussels, grown right at the foot of the City-on-the-Mountain, with a glass of white.

  • 19:00 - A delicious dinner on the terrace with a panoramic view and the opportunity to see the water arriving at incredible speed will leave an indelible impression of your holiday.

What to do with the remaining evening time is up to you to decide. I just wish: Bonne nuit.

What to see in the area

Food. What to try

Located on the border of two French provinces - Normandy and - Mont Saint-Michel, the cuisine offered here combines the best from both sides. Here you can meet traditional Breton crepes (Crepes), made on the basis of buckwheat flour, and the more familiar sweet ones pancakes, but with a complex filling of salted caramel or delicious Normandy cream, apple jam and cinnamon. They must be served with cider ( Cider).

I highly recommend that real meat eaters order meat " lamb from the salt fields" (Agneau de pré-salé). This is truly a local specialty that you can try either in Mont Saint-Michel or in Picardy in an area called Baie de Somme.

In addition to the above, it is definitely worth trying seafood, especially mussels(moules de bouchot de la baie de Mont Saint Michel), which are grown in close proximity to the walls of the abbey. It is noteworthy that they have French certification L'appellation d'origin protégée (AOP) like cheeses or wines. The mussel season begins in July and ends at the end of January.

What tourists come to Mont Saint-Michel for in terms of gastronomy is, of course, « Mother Poulard omelette". It was invented in the 19th century by a young woman named Annette, who did not share the family business with her relatives and opened an inn for tired pilgrims. Things were going poorly for her, and the only food in the kitchen was often eggs. According to legend, one of the guests told her a recipe for making an omelet right in the fireplace.

The secret of this dish is that the whites are whipped separately from the yolks into a fluffy white foam. The yolks are cooked first and then the whites are poured onto them. The omelet turns out unusually fluffy and folded, like a thick book.

Although legends are made about the famous “Mother Poulard omelette”, people go to Mont Saint-Michel not for gastronomic pleasures, but rather for impressions. The local cuisine is simple and tasty, but you probably shouldn’t expect amazing culinary delights from it. Local cafes and restaurants are accustomed to serving a large flow of visitors. Mont Saint-Michel is visited by 7 million tourists every year! Therefore, the price range, as in all tourist places, is significant. But let's talk about everything in more detail.

Budget

Among the budget restaurants, I’ll probably single out pancake shops. The simplest pancakes with butter, cheese or egg or sugar will cost you 2–3 EUR, spring rolls - 7–8 EUR.

  • La Sirene- traditional Breton pancake house, very tasty for a reasonable price! Address: Grande rue, 50170 Mont-Saint-Michel, France. Tel: +33 2 33 60 08 6
  • Creperie La Cloche. Address: rue Principale, 50170 Mont-Saint-Michel, France. Tel: +33 2 33 60 15 65

Mid-level

  • Le Relais du Roy-restaurant at the hotel, very tasty, traditional French cuisine, seafood. Address: 8 Route du, 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel. Tel: 02 33 60 14 25.
  • La Ferme Saint Michel Restaurant. Address: Route de Pontorson | La Caserne, 50170 Mont-Saint-Michel, France. Tel: +33 2 33 58 46 79.
  • restaurant at the Hotel du Guesclin. Address: Grande rue, 50170 Mont-Saint-Michel, France. Tel: +33 2 33 60 14 10.
  • Le Saint Michel. Address: rue Principale, 50170 Mont-Saint-Michel, official site of Mont-Saint-Michel.

    Safety. What to watch out for

    In terms of the human factor, I personally would call Mont Saint-Michel one of the safest places in France. Firstly, entry to the abbey is limited, and the ticket is quite expensive, and secondly, 72 people live in the city itself, where everything is visible.

    Perhaps the only things to be afraid of are holes in your pockets and tourists like us. We all know that sometimes you can meet dishonest people. However, please note that when parking, you must make sure that you lock your car and remove all expensive items under the car seats or take them with you. You will be able to leave valuables in a storage room at the entrance to the abbey. This service is free, but you need to have a 1 EUR coin with you to close the lock of the cell.

    For those who decide to walk along the sandy shores around Mont Saint-Michel on their own during low tides, I recommend paying close attention to the special schedule, which you can find on the official website of the abbey.

    This year the water level at high tide is very high and reaches 12.8 m in height, so the newly built road may be under water. In order to observe the high tide phenomenon, you must be in the bay 2 hours before the time indicated on the website. It's extremely dangerous to be here! The maximum tide speed can exceed 6 km/h! I kindly ask you to use the services of a certified guide for such walks.

    Things to do

    It is customary to walk in Mont Saint-Michel with your eyes wide open, enjoying the most picturesque views, breathing in the intriguing history of the “miracle of the West” along with the sea air.

    Here you can watch the high tidal waves rush against the rock of Saint-Michel, or walk on the wet sand around the incredible beauty of the abbey at low tide.

    This promenade takes about 30 minutes (distance about 1 km). It is better not to go far from the foot of the mountain, since, in addition to the returning water, you can end up in quicksand. The gray sand seems completely lifeless, but if you look closely, you can easily spot all kinds of mollusks flapping their shells and blowing bubbles.

    You can become a participant in an incredible light show taking place within the walls of an ancient abbey, or you can be a gourmet who will taste the most magnificent omelet in the world. The choice is yours!

    Shopping and shops

    The main and only street of the city ( Grande Rue) dotted with densely packed shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels. It is very short, you can pass it in a couple of minutes. However, if you stop out of idle curiosity and choose souvenirs, you can spend several hours there.

    Here, tightly huddled together, are half-timbered houses from the 15th–16th centuries, restaurants and cafes, and souvenir shops. On this same street there are entrances to all noteworthy churches and museums. In the souvenir shops you can buy the famous “Mother Poulard cookies”, knight’s armor and watercolors depicting the abbey.

    In fact, all shopping is limited to souvenir shops, but it will definitely not leave you indifferent!

    Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

    Among the possible souvenirs, I would probably highlight

    • biscuits or salted caramelMother Pulyar(La Mere Poulard) in a beautiful tin box. They are very tasty and very high in calories, but very tasty!

    • traditional alcoholic drinks from Normandy: cider (Cidre) or its equivalent, made from a pear rather than an apple - Poiret(Poire), Calvados (Calvados) And Pomo de Normandy (Le pommeau de Normandie).

    • copper utensils. Here it is sold in all kinds of sizes - from saucepans to saucepans. You can also find various frying pans, kettles and other utensils. Everything is very beautiful, and most importantly - practical!
    • collectible coins Monnaie de Paris, which in principle can also be purchased at any post office in France. Now on sale is a series with the little Prince Exupery. I have been dreaming about such a coin for a long time!
    • replica of a medieval weapon, but I’m not sure that it can be safely carried in luggage in our troubled times.

    How to get around the city

    Unfortunately, you can only get around the city on foot. It is worth noting that the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is not suitable for visitors with limited mobility, as you will have to overcome a 200-meter steep path to the top of the mountain and a staircase of 350 steps.

    The same applies to baby strollers. If you are traveling alone with a baby, it is best to take a sling or baby carrier with you.

    There is paid parking near the mountain (2.5 km), which is open daily. The cost of parking for a passenger car is approximately 12 EUR. If you lose your parking ticket, you will be asked to reimburse the full cost of daily parking and a small tax - a total of 23 EUR.

    The toll road fare from Paris will cost you 24 EUR, from Rouen - 8.90 EUR. You can pay for travel by credit card or cash. Don't be surprised, some sections of motorways may be free.

    Mont Saint-Michel: holidays with children

    In my personal opinion, a trip to Mont Saint-Michel with a toddler can be a disappointment. Children who have difficulty on their feet and try to run on slippery pavement stones are dangerous. On the other hand, a visit with a baby who obediently sits in a carrier and looks around, or with a curious teenager will really bring you pleasure. If you have an angel child, come to Mont Saint-Michel together without hesitation. Otherwise, take a first aid kit with you.

    In the summer in July and August there is a children's playground next to the church.