Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mont-St-Michel
One of the most spectacular sights in Normandy, this
craggy rock crowned by a magnificent abbey appears to
erupt from the surrounding landscape - a broad expanse
of sand or sea, depending on the dramatic tides. The
region's star attraction since pilgrims first flocked here
1,000 years ago, it now draws some three million visitors
each year - and has perhaps 50 true inhabitants.
Top 10 Features
1 Abbey
2 Ramparts
3 Grande Rue
4 Musée Historique
5 Logis Tiphaine
6 Archéoscope
7 Église St-Pierre
8 Chapelle St-Aubert
9 Maison de la Baie, Relais
de Courtils
0 Maison de la Baie, Relais
de Vains
View of Mont-St-Michel
Cafés and restaurants
line the Grande Rue.
Try Mère Poulard
(see pp54, 56)
.
Contact Chemins de
la Baie (02 33 89 80
88) for a guided bay
walk from Genêts to
Mont-St-Michel.
Abbey
This splendid building
(above right)
is a pleasing
jumble of architectural
styles. Its jewel is the
Merveille, built during
the abbey's heyday and
incorporating cloisters,
knights' hall, refectory
and guests' room.
• Map B5
•
Office du Tourisme:
blvd de l'Avancée. 02 33
60 14 30
• Abbey: 02 33 89 80
00. Open May-Aug:
9am-7pm; Sep-Apr:
9:30am-6pm. Adm
charge (under 18s free)
•
Maisons de la Baie:
(1) rte de la Roche Torin,
50220 Courtils. 02 33 89
66 00. (2) 50300 Vains.
02 33 89 06 06. Open
Apr-May & school hols:
2-6pm; Jun, Sep:
10am-6pm: Jul, Aug:
10am-7pm. Adm charge
• Musée Historique: 02
33 60 14 09. Open 9am-
6pm daily. Adm charge
•
Logis Tiphaine. 02 33
60 23 34. Open 9am-
6pm daily. Adm charge
• Archéoscope: 02 33 48
09 37. Open mid-Feb-
mid-Nov, Christmas hols:
9am-6pm. Adm charge
Grande Rue
Through the fortified
Porte du Roy, its portcullis
still visible, the Grande Rue
(below)
winds steeply uphill.
Pretty and cobbled, it was
the 12th-century pilgrim's
way, and remains the only
route to the top - though
now you have to run a
gauntlet of souvenir shops
and overpriced restaurants.
Ramparts
Punctuated by
imposing towers, the
longest section was built
to repel the English
during the Hundred Years'
War. The abbot's soldiers
lodged in the Tour de
l'Arcade
(above)
.
8
A project is under way to replace the causeway to the island with a
bridge, allowing the river and tides to scour away accumulated silt.
