We said goodbye to Normandy by driving to a tour of Mont Saint Michel Monastery and tidal island. This is among the most popular tourist attractions in France and it did not disappoint. And much like the temples of Southeast Asia, Mont Saint Michel makes you work to experience it.
The Monastery is built on an island that is connected to the mainland by a bridge. The water levels are affected by the tides. We happened to visit on one of the 20 days each year when the road becomes submerged by the tides. Many visitors took their shoes off to wade across the bridge.
The site’s history began in 708 AD when the archangel Michael appeared to the bishop Aubert asking him to build a sanctuary on the island. He complied with this vision:
Over the centuries, the buildings on the island top were expanded by building on top of what was already there.
The Abbey Church was built in the 11th and 12th centuries. The true marvel of the Monastery is how the abbey was anchored to the top of the rock. The summit is about 90 feet long, and the abbey measures around 150 feet in length. A series of arches were built below the Abbey floor to act as anchors for the construction on top.
While the Abbey has been a significant pilgrimage destination due to the story of its inception, the island also was built as a major fortification and withstood my sieges and attacks. It was besieged twice by the English during the One Hundred Years War … The Abbey was sparsely inhabited by monks at the time of the French Revolution and was then turned into a prison. A movement, supported by Victor Hugo, led to the closing of the prison in the 1860s and the beginning of a movement to restore the Abbey.
The spire was the last part added in the 13th century
Throughout history, the Abbey was only accessible at low tides which contributed to its security and controlled when visitors could make pilgrimages. The road and pathway that we used to walk into the complex was built in the last 50 years. Despite being almost entirely covered by the tides on our arrival, two hours later the water levels had receded about two feet leaving the road completely dry.
The Abbey is reached by ascending over hundreds of steps. Below are restaurants, a couple hotels, and souvenir shops. About 200 people live here.
This visit to Mont Saint Michels was a unique experience … not necessarily for its beauty, but more for the history, location, architecture, and uniqueness. We knew beforehand that this would be special, but the visit was more than we expected.
The Adventures of Barry Brink 