Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mont St-Michel is surrounded by a vast mudflat and connected to the mainland by a half-
milecauseway.Thinkoftheislandashavingthreeparts:thefortifiedabbeysoaringabove,
the petite village squatting in the middle, and the lower-level medieval fortifications. The
villagehasjustonemainstreetonwhichyou'llfindallthehotels,restaurants,andtrinkets.
Between 11:00 and 16:00, tourists trample the dreamscape (much like earnest pilgrims did
800 years ago). A ramble on the ramparts offers mudflat views and an escape from the
touristzone.Thoughseveraltackyhistory-in-waxmuseumstemptvisitors,theonlyworth-
while sights are the abbey at the summit of the island, and views from the ramparts and
quieter lanes as you descend.
The Causeway and Its Demise
In 1878, a causeway was built that allowed Mont St-Michel's pilgrims to come and
go regardless of the tide (and without hip boots). The causeway increased the flow
of visitors, but stopped the flow of water around the island. The result: Much of the
bay silted up, and Mont St-Michel is no longer an island.
