Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Musée
Historique
Highlights are the
garden periscope, 14th-century monks'
bath
(above)
, 17th-century riding boots,
and recreation of the prisons.
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Logis Tiphaine
Chief of the king's armies Bertrand du
Guesclin built this house in 1365 for his
wife, Tiphaine - a safe haven while he
was away at war.
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Entrance
Archéoscope
A large model of
the Mont rises from a
huge tank of water in a
spectacle of sound and
light, with a historical
commentary in French.
Église St-Pierre
The most
interesting feature
of the parish
church, begun
in the 11th
century but not
completed until
the 17th, is the
apse that
straddles a
narrow street. Its
treasures include
a silver statue
of St Michael.
Chapelle St-
Aubert
Legend tells of a huge
rock blocking the
entrance to a cave where
the abbey now stands.
Nobody could move it
until a small boy
miraculously pushed it
into the sea with his
foot. This tiny 15th-
century chapel
(right)
was built on the site
where the rock was
supposed to have landed.
Tides
Mont-St-Michel has the
highest tides in conti-
nental Europe, with a
difference of up to 15 m
(49 ft) between low and
high water in March and
September, when the
spring tides occur.
When the tide is out, it
exposes around 250 sq
km (97 sq miles) of
sand. The tide is also
unusually strong,
running across the flat
expanse of sand at a
speed of some 10 kph
(6 mph). The strongest
tides occur two days
after a full or new
moon, when the sea
reaches its highest level
at 8 or 9 am and pm.
Maison de la Baie,
Relais de Vains
Less technological and
more child-friendly than
its namesake at Courtils,
this exhibition examines
“life in the bay” (flora,
fauna and environment),
as well as the past lives
of fishermen and salt
workers, through models
and computers. d
Map B5
Maison de la Baie,
Relais de Courtils
Films and displays offer a
fascinating insight into
the bay of Mont-St-Michel
- its formation, evolution,
eco-structure and the
planned project for its
survival. d
Map B5
For more on St Michael
See page 11
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