Mont Saint-Michel Castle
Mont Saint-Michel is a fortress island rising above the vast sands in Normandy, northwestern France. The attraction is loved by tourists – it is visited by about 3 million people a year (more interest is shown only in Paris). In Mont Saint-Michel you can see with your own eyes the powerful tides, walk through the ancient streets and admire the delightful views.
Video: Mont Saint-Michel
” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen> Contents- Highlights
- Creation of the fortress
- Pranks of the sea
- Mont-Saint-Michel welcomes visitors
Walking around the abbey - The picturesque nature of the bay
- Lunch within the fortress walls
- Checking the schedule
- How to get there
Highlights
Creation of the fortress
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Pranks of the sea
An interesting feature of the area is the tides. The change occurs once every lunar day – after 24 hours and 50 minutes. The tides are considered the strongest in Europe and the second strongest on the planet. In terms of speed they are even compared to a horse galloping. But this is erroneous: the tide is maximally “accelerated” to 6 km / h, and the average speed of the horse – from 21 to 60 km / h. Because of the shallow depths and flat day, the sea “runs away” for 15-20 km from the castle, and then returns.
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The “games” of water allowed the castle of Mont-Saint-Michel to remain impregnable. Enemy ships could get close to the island, but would run aground while the sea was leaving. An inhospitable reception awaited the infantry. At first they had to move on quicksand, and then the tide came – and the enemies drowned. Fog, a frequent phenomenon in these parts, also served as a natural defense of the fortress. Local fishermen were guided by the sound of the bell, which was rung especially for those who got lost. Enemies were simply lost in the thick fog.
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In the 19th century, Mont Saint-Michel lost its impregnability. To connect the site with the mainland, they built a dam. But it disrupted the circulation of water in the bay, and the unfavorable ecological situation in the bay forced to look for an alternative option. Soon the dam will be removed and a bridge will be built instead. In March 2015, due to the eclipse of the sun, the tide was so strong that it flooded the dike. The height of the water reached 14 meters – that’s almost a 5-story building. This phenomenon happens about once every 20 years – on the days of the spring or summer equinox.
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Mont-Saint-Michel welcomes guests
The second township is more ‘spiritual’, monastic. From the settlement to the abbey there is a climb up the southern slope of the mountain. There is a harder road that doesn’t cover the main street and museums. You need to turn left after the post office. A steep path will lead directly into the gardens. This is the only place on the island where you can picnic in the shade. Another path goes through the staircase, which is on the right – near the Royal Gate. The stairs are used by tourists to climb up to take in the magnificent view. The stairs easily access the fortress walls and tower. The third way leads through the bustling town – the main road with souvenir shops and restaurants. This road is suitable for those with time to spare.
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Walking around the Abbey
In the eastern part of the “Miracle” there was a refectory for monks, a room for accommodation and food for the poorest pilgrims, and a place for the reception of high-ranking guests. The western wing was reserved for the storeroom and the Knights’ Hall. Monks spent a lot of time there, working and studying. Books and manuscripts were copied here. The northern part of the “Miracle” had to be reinforced with buttresses, but it did not spoil the building in any way – on the contrary, it turned out to be a marvelous artistic effect. And Victor Hugo, admiring the “Miracle” from the sea, noted: “this is a view of the most beautiful wall in Europe.”
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A walk through the top floor of La Merwei will be unforgettable. This is home to a covered gallery that offers views of the ocean. The observation deck has earned the fame of “the garden between heaven and earth”. Adding to the experience are the limestone statues that adorn the gallery.
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Lunch within the fortress walls
How to get there
It is 285 kilometers from the capital to the fortress island. Tourists rush here by trains, buses and their cars. The way to Rennes by rail costs 55.8 EUR. Then it is necessary to transfer to a bus, which departs directly from the train station, and get to the destination point. The ticket costs 11,4 EUR. The journey will take a little over three hours in total. Towards the Abbey, tickets are purchased from the cashier, and when traveling back, from the driver. The brown “Landmark” signs are great to help tourists.
.The location of the rock island does not allow buses and cars to drive right up to the site. Vehicles are put in a parking lot, a few kilometers away from the attraction. There is a narrow path to the abbey, so the rest of the way tourists walk the rest of the way or use special buses that run here. Previously, the peculiarities of the road did not even allow them to turn around. Because of this, the vehicle had two entrances, like subway cars – on the sides. Now the path has been slightly widened..
