Mont Saint Michel
An Unforgettable Sight On The North Coast Of France

"Friends have told me we should see Mont Saint Michel.
Is it worth it?"  Claudia

Mont Saint Michel. Do you know what to expect? We did...

...and we didn't when we first went.  Expect it to be crowded.  It probably is always crowded.  It probably always has been crowded. But it's worth dealing with the crowds.

People write glowing, poetic descriptions of this Abbey church... and for good reason...

As you approach it, the abbey DOES seems float on the horizon...

...the church spires reaching toward heaven (that was sort of the point!).

St. Michel crowns the highest spire and glints gold in the sun...

It has attracted pilgrims for hundreds of years. Today it attracts more visitors than ever... mostly tourists... but that's what we are... tourists and travelers. We encourage you to visit.

Where Is Mont Saint Michel?

Cars will no longer be in the picture!

The island sits on the north coast of France... on the river that defines the border between Normandy and Brittany.

The river that flows into the English Channel below the church marks the historic boundary...

It has changed course through the years... at one time, Mont Saint Michel was in Brittany, now it is just inside Normandy.

Getting There

Plenty of tours include Mont Saint Michel in their itineraries, but it's easy to do on your own. It's certainly attracted us a couple of times.

You can even get day tours from Paris but it would be a long day... it's a little over 200 miles. Most sites we've looked at say it takes about 3-4 hours to get there from Paris. It would be better to include it in a tour of Normandy.

The way we did it was to include it in driving trips to Normandy and Brittany.

WHAT is Mont Saint Michele? - The Legend

The legend is that a bishop in the 8th century heard the voice of the Archangel Michael telling him to build the Abbey.

There had been churches on the site before, but the striking Abbey of Mont Saint Michel was what started drawing pilgrims.

As glowing as all the descriptions are about it seeming to float on the horizon, the truth is, it is a tidal area and a mudflat...

The land around the island is a flood plain, and it is often surrounded by water at high tide.

There was a causeway that led to the island, but that was demolished in 2014.

It Will Be An Island Again

It is no longer as isolated as it once was because the causeway had stopped the flow of tides around the island and much of the bay silted up... but that is changing.  See our note at the bottom about that.

The Abbey church is only the top most building on this little island.

It is surrounded high on the hill by monastic buildings.

The granite rock it sits on is 275 feet (84 meters) high.

Mont Saint Michel is pure granite, so it has resisted time and the tides... holding steady as... well steady as a rock.

The view of the Abbey is grand from afar,

...but inside the Abbbey itself, it is very simplistic, almost stark.

The Reality

The rest of the island has been developed through the centuries with a warren of small houses and shops on its lower levels.

The village that grew up around the abbey lies crowded within fortifications of crenelated ramparts and towers.

The lower parts of Mont Saint Michel were built as a medieval castle for defense.

OK... here's where we should prepare you for what you'll find...

Once you enter the gate, the main road winds up the hill through what has become a gauntlet of tourist shops.

Don't be put off by this...

There have always been stalls selling things.... remember that this island monastery has been attracting visitors for centuries.... as we said earlier, first pilgrims, then eventually tourists...

Pilgrims had to eat too, so there have always been food stalls and inns. It's probably been chaotic on these lower levels for centuries.

Wade Through The Tourist Shops - It's Worth It

You can still find religious souvenirs among the t-shirts and keychains.

There are still pilgrims to the site, but most visitors are tourists like you and me who just want to see the Abbey. Just don't let this gauntlet stop you. Once you get through all of this and up to the Abbey, you'll find it is worth it.

There is only one main street winds up to the church, but we had fun exploring little side alleys and walkways overlooking the tidal areas.

Allow enough time to explore it all. The town is like a maze with staircases going up behind the shops. Walkways snake around and lead to surprising vistas looking over the bay.

Most tourists visit on day trips, but...

We spent the night on the island, and we recommend you do too. The crowds will go home, and you'll have a different perspective to remember it by.

Eating and Sleeping

Some food shops have gained a certain notoriety....

La Mere Poulard is the one we had heard about before we went. At the entrance to the restaurant, waiters beat eggs for omelets with a catchy cadence that attracts hungry tourists. The omelets are cooked over fires.

The menu is pricey, but you can watch for free.

We first saw it on a TV travel show, and we got it in our heads that we HAD to eat there.... just like the many celebrities whose photos line the restaurant's rooms. If you feel like a splurge, go ahead and have an omelet and cider.

If you'd rather... there are also plenty of sea food restaurants with views of the bay. Actually, finding one of those for yourself is what we'd recommend.

Sleep There If You Have Time

Stay on the island if you can....

An overnight in one of the many hotels and B&Bs will give you the time you need to wander to all the lookouts and back alleys.

The day trippers will go home, and you can explore in peace....

You'll almost feel you have the island to yourself.

Parking Has Changed!

This photo from years ago is historical footage now...

We used to say... Whether you drive in for the day or to spend the night, park in the pay lot near the entrance.

Be forewarned, it's not worth trying save money and park off on the lower edges.

High tide can bring water all the way up to the causeway... 

Now there is NO causeway!

In 2014 they began dismantling the causeway and building a pedestrian brigdge.  You will be parking on the continent so to speak.  We haven't done that, so we can't tell you details, but it will be better.

This new approach should allow circulating tides to make Mont Saint-Michel an island again, and that would be wonderful.

I think part of the draw is just that Mont Saint-Michel is such a beautiful sight as it seems to float on the horizon.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it! Judy and Mark

Curious about what else we've written about?  Search our site for a destination or travel tip.

But... We'd love to have you share this page or comment on it…
Thanks, Judy and Mark

Return to International Travel Tips l Europe Travel Tips
Hotel and B&B Tips l Packing Lists
Go from Mont Saint Michel to MouseToursTravels Home Page

ShareFacebookTwitterPinterestTumblrRedditWhatsAppMessenger

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Did it help with your travel planning and preparation? Eager to leave on that next vacation? Please leave your tips or comments in the box below.