One of the most popular tourist attractions in France, just behind the Eiffel Tower and Versailles castle is the monastery of Mont Saint Michel. The unique feature of the island is not only in the 15th and 16th century architecture, but also in the location and ebb and flow of the tide here.
If you are planning to make this trip to the island of Mont Saint Michel , you should read some useful information below to have more unforgettable experiences when coming to this beautiful island!
Introducing the island of Mont Saint Michel
One of the most popular tourist attractions in France, just behind the Eiffel Tower and Versailles castle is the monastery of Mont Saint Michel . The unique feature of the island is not only in the 15th and 16th century architecture, but also in the location and ebb and flow of the tide here. Mont Saint Michel is a small island in the province of Manche, in the Basse Normandie region, France. The island is famous for a monastery right on the island, bringing cultural value, history and stunning Gothic architecture in the Middle Ages.
(Photo: @_youngyyy)
Since 1979, Mont Saint Michel has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in France after the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles . Anyone who has ever been to France or loved this country, will surely memorize the fairy tales or classical literature associated with many famous churches like Notre – Dame de Paris . But just about 350km from the magnificent Paris, there is also an equally magnificent monastery: Mont Saint Michel.
Located in the middle of Saint Malo Bay, just 1km from the southwest coast, this is the third most popular tourist attraction in France, just behind the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles, this place is becoming more and more a destination. attract tourists to France . Millions of years ago, this was a land area, but gradually the sea "carved" into a rocky island lying in the middle of the bay and also the smallest island in France called Mont Tombe.
The history of the island is also covered with a mysterious magical color. Back in the 8th century, when this place was just a stone fortress in the middle of the sea, once Bishop Bishop Aubert d'Avranches dreamed of St. Michel - the Archangel of God dreaming of building a monasteries on the island three times, and in 708 he sincerely did so. Two years later, a small chapel to worship St. Michel was completed and from there, the island was renamed to Mont Saint Michel .
For over 1,300 years, the island of Mont Saint Michel has experienced many ups and downs of French history. After being built, experiencing many mutations and conquests of the Norman, many of the first structures of this chapel were damaged. Therefore, in 966, the Duke of Normandy, Richard I, rebuilt a Benedictine monastery on the island. But the irony of it burned again in 1203. French King Phillip Augustus spent a great deal of his money rebuilding the church. After the Hundred Years' War of England and France, the new monastery continued to build more Gothic-style buildings that the basic architecture still retains to this day.
More mysteriously, unlike any other island, the rocky island of Mont Saint Michel changes with the strong tides of the tide. Here, the tide changes quickly in just a few hours. When the water receded, the island was like a solid fortress on land. But when the tide can reach as high as 13m, this place becomes a mysterious lonely castle in the vast ocean. Previously, there was only one bridge connecting the island to the mainland, when the rising water the bridge also disappeared and it had to wait for the tide to recede to be able to reach the island by road. However, due to the increasing number of visitors to the island, in 1879, the government built a breakwater. And then, a modern dam was built in 2009 to prevent seawater from flooding the island and also to allow visitors to visit the island at any time.
How to move to Mont Saint Michel
Planes
From Charles De Gaulle airports in Paris, you can buy tickets to Rennes Saint Jacques airport - about 75km from the island. Currently Air France has daily non-stop flights in the morning, lunch and dinner. To Rennes, you can catch a bus to go to the bottom of the island of Mont Saint Michel.
Train
The French railway system has been growing in recent years, due to the arrival of the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) train system. To travel from Paris to Mont Saint Michel, visitors can travel from Montparnasse station in Paris to Pontorson, 10 km from Mont Saint Michel. Passengers can stop by train at Rennes, Follygny or Dol de Bretage, the journey time is about 3 hours 30 minutes with the ticket price of 60 - 80 EUR.
There is also the Intercite train from Paris Saint Lazare Station to Pontorson, with a stop at Caen. Fares range from 40-50 EUR but the time will take longer, about 4 hours 30 minutes. In Pontorson, there will be buses to take you to Mont Saint Michel, the fare is 2 EUR / one way.
Alternatively, a more economical option is to take the Keolis bus from Rennes (1 hour 30 minutes) or Dol de Bretagne (30 minutes) directly to Mont Saint Michel. The fare from Rennes is 6.20 EUR and from Dol de Bretagne is 11.80 EUR for one way. Children under 12 will be free, the price is reduced by 25% for young people under 26 years old and people over 60 years old.
Car
While not the most convenient means of transportation in the city, cars are the best choice to go to other regions like Mont Saint Michel . Especially in 1879, a floating levee was built linking the island of Mont Saint Michel to the mainland. The journey from Paris to Mont Saint Michel will take about 4 hours 30 minutes. However, now the parking at the foot of the island is no longer allowed as before but a new parking lot has been built 2.5 km away. Walk or bus to visit the island.
Visit the island of Mont Saint Michel
With Gothic architecture, Mont Saint Michel castle will take you into a fairytale world full of mysteries. 2 majestic large towers in front of the castle entrance have created one of the most impressive images for the visitors coming here. Above are the monastic buildings built about 73m from the sea and 170m high.
Most of the castle's buildings are built of granite, only some monasteries are made of limestone. Inside the castle you can admire the statues or sculptures extremely sophisticated, including the statue of Michel confronting the evil dragon, or the relief that captures the image of the Archangel. Michel indulged in the heads of the bishops to make a mark, along with the 13th-century paintings of The Meeting Held on Three Deaths and the Three Lives that all created a very mysterious space inside the castle.
The most beautiful angle of Mont Saint Michel is probably not on the highest peak of the castle, nor the grandeur when standing from the foot of the castle looking up but rather the panoramic view from afar when it is indeed a snail island wandering in the ocean. Because from that distance, you can not see clearly the road connecting the island with the land, how the scene is so magical, making any moving heart can't help but sob, just want to advance. hurry to that place to start your journey to France with new discoveries.
Mont Saint Michel Island has made the list of the world's natural wonders, becoming the most attractive tourist destination in Europe. Catering and accommodation services with many restaurants, hotels and souvenirs sprouting like mushrooms are also understandable. But like most of the rest of Europe, the courteous civilization of the locals doing service does not make us uncomfortable because of industrialization but on the contrary, retains the traditional indigenous character. The system in everyday activities is full of fun.
Normandy's signature architecture, with its ancient stone walls, curving lines from bending door details and signs, will definitely make you have to press the camera repeatedly to capture the best of the calendar. history. The spiral architecture with steep roads will lead you into the streets, the nooks and corners leading to any "landing" from which you can climb up and sit on the walls and zoom. eyes out to sea.
In contrast to the bustling bustle at the foot of the castle, the deeper you go inside and the higher you go, the more you will find the four quiet sides, only the sound of the waves and the sound of the gulls or the gulls flapping pleasing to you.
Visit some of the locations at Mont Saint Michel
Grand Rue
Grand Rue is a fairly narrow street, but always crowded with people. You can find many souvenir shops on this street.
In addition, tourists will enjoy many restaurants with unique interior architecture and excellent food. However, the prices in these places are often quite expensive.
In addition, tourists will enjoy many restaurants with unique interior architecture and excellent food. However, the prices in these places are often quite expensive.
Running along the Grand Rue are the houses with quite old, but with a unique architectural style, Western style. The houses here were built between the 15th and 16th centuries.
Enjoy the sea view from Mont Saint Michel
Surrounding Mont Sanit Michel are high walls, which prevent water from overflowing. There are terraced paths, so tourists can both explore the island and watch the beautiful ocean. Especially as there are few places in the world, the tide changes as strongly as here. There are 53 days in a year, and the tides rise and fall, reaching a height of nearly 13 m, rising and falling in just a few hours. The change of the water level makes Mont Saint Michel like a hill on land, but at other times Mont Saint Michel becomes a real island floating in the ocean.
The higher you go, the more you can enjoy the panoramic view of the island with old roofs in the village or Mont Saint Michel Bay . At the end of the Grand Stairs is the monastery of Mont Saint Michel.
Monastery of Mont Saint Michel
(Photo: @ d.signers)
Mont Saint Michel Monastery was built before the 1000s. The monastery is located at the top of the island, 73 meters from the sea. Visiting the monastery will give you a panoramic view of medieval architecture. Inside, there are prominent arches and quite high windows. The monastery collapsed in 1421 and was rebuilt with Gothic architecture after 100 years of war.
Cuisine
Mont Saint Michel has two dishes that many tourists from far away have come here to try.
The first is the Omelette à la mère Poulard , which costs so much of the tourism industry's ink and paper, which is still sold in La mère Poulard. In the restaurant, there was a pretty girl dressed in nineteenth-century clothes standing frying eggs in a very thick cast iron pan.
The second dish is Mouton de Pré-salé . Made from sheep-grazed sea grazing on coastal mangrove fields, the meat is firmer and richer than other sheep.
France not only has exciting moments but also brings quiet moments that make people strangely peaceful. In particular, when you set foot in a relic like Mont Saint Michel , which used to be a witness to the ups and downs of history and now lies peacefully in the middle of the sea as a symbol to lead people to peace. and holy from the bottom of the soul.
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