Mont-Saint-Michel, which dates back to the tenth century, is situated on an island in a bay that is shared by the French provinces of Normandy and Brittany.
From the parking lots, visitors can take a shuttle bus or walk to the abbey. When the water is low, the rugged rock where the fairy-tale monastery is located is connected to land. You can witness the exceptionally swift tides turning Mont-Saint-Michel into an island if you’re there at the appropriate time, but don’t worry about getting stranded because the bridge is always connected.
Stay on the island and try the local specialties, such galettes and crepes, for a treat. Don’t forget to try Calvados, an apple brandy made exclusively in the Normandy region.
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The island, which is 7 hectares (17 acres) in size, is located at the entrance of the Couesnon River close to Avranches, about one kilometer (one-half nautical mile) off the northwest coast of France.
The commune’s entire area is 400 hectares (990 acres), with the mainland portion covering 393 hectares (971 acres). There are 29 people living on the island as of 2019.
Due to its location on an island only a few hundred meters from land, the commune was both defensible against threats on foot and accessible to the numerous pilgrims who came to its abbey during low tide. During the Hundred Years’ War, the island was not taken. In 1433, a small garrison repelled a full-scale English onslaught. Louis XI converted it into a jail after seeing the advantages of its natural defense. During the Ancien Régime, the abbey was frequently utilized as a jail.
Because of its distinctive beauty and significance as a Catholic landmark, Mont-Saint-Michel and the bay around it were included to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. It is the most popular tourist destination in France outside of Paris, drawing over three million visitors annually. In the commune, more than sixty structures are designated as historical monuments.
