Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
onersmarched twoabreast inthe wheel—hamster-style—powering two-ton loads ofstone
and supplies up Mont St-Michel. Spin the rollers of the sled next to the wheel.
FinishyourvisitbywalkingthroughthePromenadeoftheMonks,undermoreGoth-
icvaults,andintothevast
Scriptorium Hall
(a.k.a.KnightsHall),wheremonksdecorated
illuminated manuscripts. You'll then spiral down to the gift shop, turn right, and follow
signs to the
Jardin
. The room after the shop holds temporary exhibits related to Mont St-
Michel.
• Exit the room and walk out into the rear garden. From here, look up at the miracle of
medieval engineering.
The “Merveille”:
This was an immense building project—a marvel back in 1220.
Threelevelsofbuildingswerecreated:thelowerfloorforthelowerclass,themiddlefloor
for VIPs, and the top floor for the clergy. It was a medieval skyscraper, built with the so-
cial strata in mind. The vision was even grander—the place where you're standing was to
be built up in similar fashion, to support a further expansion of the church. But the money
ran out, and the project was abandoned. As you leave the garden, notice the tall narrow
windows of the refectory on the top floor.
• Stairs lead from here back into the village. To avoid the crowds on your descent, turn
rightwhenyouseetheknee-highsignfor
MuséeHistorique
andfindyourownroutedown
or, at the same place, follow the Chemin des Ramparts to the left and hike down via the...
Ramparts:
Mont St-Michel is ringed by a fine example of 15th-century fortifica-
tions. They were built to defend against a new weapon: the cannon. They were low, rather
than tall—to make a smaller target—and connected by protected passageways, which en-
abled soldiers to zip quickly to whichever zone was under attack. The five-sided Boucle
Tower (1481, see map on
here
) was crafted with no blind angles, so defenders could pro-
tect it and the nearby walls in all directions. And though the English conquered all of Nor-
mandy in the early 15th century, they never took this well-fortified island. Because of its
stubborn success against the English in the Hundred Years' War, Mont St-Michel became
a symbol of French national identity.
After dark, the island is magically floodlit. Views from the ramparts are sublime. For
the best view, exit the island and walk out on the causeway a few hundred yards.
Near Mont St-Michel
German Military Cemetery (Cimetière Militaire Allemand)
Located three miles from Mont St-Michel, near tiny Huisnes-sur-Mer (well-signed east of
Mont St-Michel, off D-275), this somber but thoughtfully presented cemetery-mortuary
housestheremainsof12,000GermanWWIIsoldiersbroughttothislocationfromallover
