Mont-Saint-Michel
Sunday, July 8th
One of Karen's bucket list items was to visit and stay on Mont-Saint-Michel. It is very unique, spectacularly rising 264-ft from the sea floor, and almost circular with a circumstance of 3,000-ft. During high tides in the spring, the mont is completed surrounded by water.
In the year 708, a Bishop decided to have a sanctuary built here high on the mont to honour the Archangel Michael. Then in the 10th century, the Benedictrines settled in the Abbey which sits on top with a town wrapping around the mont below with over 60 bldgs. The original structure was completed in 1134 and by the 14th century it had extended as far as the foot of the rock below. Mont-Saint-Michel was classified as a historic monument in 1874.
After breakfast off we went to tour the abbey. This was a good way to beat the crowds and we enjoyed the unhurried tour and the views from high up. Up, up, up we went on hundreads of more steps. Unbelievable.
Next we walked on the dry ocean floor around the mont and strolled the ramparts for even more views.
One of Karen's bucket list items was to visit and stay on Mont-Saint-Michel. It is very unique, spectacularly rising 264-ft from the sea floor, and almost circular with a circumstance of 3,000-ft. During high tides in the spring, the mont is completed surrounded by water.
Mont-Saint-Michel at low tide.
The Abbey on top.
In the year 708, a Bishop decided to have a sanctuary built here high on the mont to honour the Archangel Michael. Then in the 10th century, the Benedictrines settled in the Abbey which sits on top with a town wrapping around the mont below with over 60 bldgs. The original structure was completed in 1134 and by the 14th century it had extended as far as the foot of the rock below. Mont-Saint-Michel was classified as a historic monument in 1874.
Village main street.
Narrow passage ways.
Narrow passage ways.
Our breakfast crepes being made to order.
After breakfast off we went to tour the abbey. This was a good way to beat the crowds and we enjoyed the unhurried tour and the views from high up. Up, up, up we went on hundreads of more steps. Unbelievable.
Lots of stairs.
Enter.
Oh yea, more stairs.
The Abbey.
The Abbey.
The Cathedral.
The Cloister and Cathedral (Karen across the quad).
Next we walked on the dry ocean floor around the mont and strolled the ramparts for even more views.
Looking out from the raparts (low tide).
Looking up from the floor of the sea (our patio deck is right of the building with the blue/green shutters)
Looking up from the floor of the sea (our patio deck is right of the building with the blue/green shutters)
For lunch we purchased some baguette sandwiches and enjoyed a little picnic in our room with a nice cooling breeze.
In an effort to make sure our travels tomorrow go smoother than they did yesterday, we visited the tourism office to make sure our tickets were in order. They suggested that we not wait to get to the train station tomorrow to print our tickets, so we followed their directions and took a short bus ride to a nearby train station to print our tickets. That was a great idea and less stress for us. We are grateful for the help these people provided for us.
Tonight we had dinner at Du Guesclin, a beautiful restaurant with a great views from the mont. Karen enjoyed her Tagliatelles aux legunes while Bill had Pork Filet mignon with fries.
We shared a sorbet duguesclin for desert. A wonderful way to finish our Mont-Saint-Michel adventure.
Tonight was our night to stay up till midnight so we could see the abbey lite up. Good thing we didn't have to get up till 9am Mon.
In an effort to make sure our travels tomorrow go smoother than they did yesterday, we visited the tourism office to make sure our tickets were in order. They suggested that we not wait to get to the train station tomorrow to print our tickets, so we followed their directions and took a short bus ride to a nearby train station to print our tickets. That was a great idea and less stress for us. We are grateful for the help these people provided for us.
Tonight we had dinner at Du Guesclin, a beautiful restaurant with a great views from the mont. Karen enjoyed her Tagliatelles aux legunes while Bill had Pork Filet mignon with fries.
Dinner.
We shared a sorbet duguesclin for desert. A wonderful way to finish our Mont-Saint-Michel adventure.
Yummy desert.
Tonight was our night to stay up till midnight so we could see the abbey lite up. Good thing we didn't have to get up till 9am Mon.
The abbey at midnight.
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