Where is the castle of san michel. Mont Saint-Michel: an impenetrable castle

You can find analogues - but Mont Saint-Michel is absolutely unique. There is simply no rival in the world to a lonely mountain in the middle of a perfectly flat plain; a mountain crowned with a severe monastery and surrounded by impregnable walls; mountain, whose slopes sheltered the whole medieval city with tiny winding streets; grief, which the highest tides in Europe twice a day turn into impregnable island, and the surrounding plain - into the raging ocean. The path to it is not easy, but from year to year millions of people flock here - to feel at least for a few hours a part in a true miracle.

UNESCO added Mont Saint-Michel to the List of World Heritage Sites world heritage, guidebooks proudly call it the "eighth wonder of the world", and the French themselves call their favorite attraction simply the Mountain.

But this is redundant

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How to get to Mont Saint-Michel

The easiest and most economical way to get to Mont Saint-Michel is to take a direct bus from Paris. On Saturdays and Sundays, Flixbus buses start from the Defense quarter in the early morning and return to the capital in the late evening. The journey takes about 5 hours, passengers are delivered directly to the walls of Mont Saint-Michel. A round-trip ticket will cost less than 50 EUR, you can book it at the office. carrier website. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

On weekdays, getting to the Mountain is a little more difficult: first you need a network on high-speed train TGV at Gare Montparnasse, get to Rennes, and then transfer to the Keolys local network bus. A combined train-bus ticket can be bought at the office. website of the SNCF company, which is in charge of all railways France. Travel time is comparable to the bus option, and for a one-way ticket you will have to pay at least 50 EUR.

The third way to get to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris can be safely classified as exotic: at the Rennes railway station, you need to transfer to a local train to the town of Pontorson, and then use the minibus to Mont Saint-Michel (travel time is about 20 minutes, ticket price 2.50 EUR). For those who travel to Mont Saint-Michel from Normandy, this method is quite acceptable: several trains run daily from Rouen to Pontorson.

Mont Saint-Michel can also be reached by car - the road from Paris along the A13 toll motorway takes about 4 hours and costs 15 EUR. The path through Alençon on the free N10 highway is shorter in mileage, but longer in time and very tiring for the driver - the road runs through many towns with narrow intersections, pedestrian crossings and frequent speed limits up to 50 km / h.

Search for flights to the city of Paris (nearest airport to Mont-Saint-Michel)

A bit of history

In Gallo-Roman times, on the site of the current Gulf of Saint-Michel, a dense forest rustled, and the future Mount was a low hill. The first Christian hermits chose it as a place of solitude and prayer. locals they brought food to the ascetics, and in due time they buried their remains. The previously unnamed hill began to be called the Grave Hill. By the 7th century, the ocean swallowed up the land, and the Mountain took on its modern shape, and in 709 the first monastery was founded on the top. Over the centuries, it has grown, changed owners several times, survived many wars and sieges, was once burned to the ground and rebuilt stone by stone - until it was closed during the French Revolution. The monks were expelled, their cells turned into cells for political prisoners. The darkest period of Mont Saint-Michel lasted almost 100 years, and only at the end of the 19th century the prison was closed, and Mont Saint-Michel received the status national museum. In 1966 part of the monastery was returned catholic church, and now the Benedictine brothers celebrate mass daily in the chapel of the abbey.

Transport

The transport system of Mont Saint-Michel is somewhat exotic, but very convenient and quite consistent with the special atmosphere of this place. 3 km from the monastery, next to the 24-hour paid parking(half an hour is free, a ticket for a day will cost the owners of passenger cars 11.50 EUR) there is a stop for unusual electric buses. They were designed specifically for Mont Saint-Michel, and they do not have the usual "front" and "rear" - the driver's cabs are located on both sides. They overcome the path to the mountain in 12 minutes, along the way making stops at hotels and restaurants in the town of La Сaserne on the shore of the bay. Buses run from 7:30 to midnight with an interval of several minutes, travel is free.

For lovers of antiquity, there is an alternative: crews pulled by a pair of Norman heavy trucks reach the mountain in 25 minutes. Capacity - up to 24 passengers, a one-way ticket costs 5 EUR.

Beautiful Mont Saint Michel

Communication and Wi-Fi

problems with mobile communication there is no Mont Saint-Michel - 3G and 4G networks are available anywhere on the island. The situation with Wi-Fi is less rosy, you can only find a free access point by chance. In this sense, it is easier for hotel guests and restaurant customers than for tourists who have stopped by for a few hours - free wifi has long become the standard in such establishments. The password to the hotel chain is usually written either on the wall of the room or on a special laminated card - it is placed on the table before guests check in. Finding the password to restaurant chains is not always easy - it is not customary to post it openly. Sometimes it is printed at the bottom of the menu, but in most cases you will have to ask the waiter for help.

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Mont Saint-Michel Hotels

Local hotels are clearly divided into two groups: hotels from the first are located inside the city fortifications (intra muros), from the second - in the town of La Caserne in the immediate vicinity of Mont Saint-Michel. The rooms in the hotels are cramped, not the most pleasant smells come from the bottom of the restaurants, you will have to get to the accommodation first by minibus, and then walk up the Grande Rue clogged with tourists. But - proximity to all the sights, the ability to watch the tide from the "own" windows are worth it.

Hotels in La Caserne are designed in modern times, there is a higher level of comfort in reasonable prices- at early booking a 2 * hotel room will cost only 55 EUR. Among the advantages of staying overnight in La Caserne are convenient parking at hotels, a breathtaking view of Mont Saint-Michel at night, as well as a vibrant and varied nightlife.

What to bring

The choice of souvenirs in Mont Saint-Michel is huge: shops along main street they fight for each client, offering the widest range of goods for every taste and budget - from magnets for a couple of euros to a complete set of knightly armor at the price of an average car.

In addition to the usual tourist set, it is customary to take away from the Mountain elegant plates with the image of the abbey, small copies of the statue of the Archangel Michael that adorns the monastery spire, funny stone figurines of musicians and jugglers made in medieval technology, models of sailboats, Norman porcelain figurines, as well as souvenirs. replicas of edged weapons.

Of the culinary products, crunchy butter cookies "from Mother Poulard", Queen-Aman pies from neighboring Brittany, as well as local salty caramel are especially popular - they are packaged and sold by the piece.

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Cuisine and restaurants of Mont-Saint-Michel

People go to Mont Saint-Michel not for gastronomic pleasures, fine expensive restaurants here would simply go bankrupt. The local cuisine is simple, tasty and inexpensive - exactly what a weary traveler needs.

All bars, cafes, eateries and pancakes are located exclusively on Grande Rue - it is useless to look for food elsewhere on the island. These establishments are used to quickly serving the tourist flow, and you can count on a short, dense snack at a price of 12 to 25 EUR. Snacks and sandwiches to take away will cost 3-4 EUR per piece.

There are few restaurants in Mont-Saint-Michel, they exist only at hotels and sometimes live in the rhythm of the guests - they serve them for a long time, but it is there that you can taste the signature dish of the Mountain at an affordable cost - lamb fillet grown in local water meadows (it is believed that ocean salt naturally soaks the meat and gives it a unique taste). Dinner in such a restaurant will cost 80-120 EUR and take several hours, but while waiting for food, you can watch the ebb and flow - all restaurants here have panoramic terraces overlooking the bay.

Guides in Mont Saint-Michel

Entertainment and attractions

Mont Saint-Michel is an attraction in itself. The majestic city-fortress on a lonely mountain, surrounded alternately by the ocean, then by a wet sandy plain, invariably makes a strong impression on travelers.

By the way, it was the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel that became the prototype of the fortress of Minas Tirith in the film The Lord of the Rings.

Access to Mont Saint-Michel itself is free, and any tourist can enter the city through the Royal Gate, inspecting a cannon from the Hundred Years War along the way, marvel at the two-meter width of the local Grande Rue and pick up souvenirs there. If your complexion allows, you can take a chance and climb to the upper tier along crooked alleys - in some places you will have to squeeze sideways. At the top, passing the gates of the abbey and passing along the walls, you can thoughtfully pick up an "observation post" and meet the tide with a camera in your hands. On the way back, it is worth looking into the tiny city ​​church and complete the tour with a walk along the fortress walls of the lower tier, returning to the King's Gate. If you have time and energy left, you can walk along the granite blocks along the island to the small chapel of Saint-Aubert - earlier it served as a place of prayer vigils.

An adult tourist will have to pay 10 EUR for the entrance to the abbey (off site in English), children are allowed in for free.

The "House of the Constable", "Archeoscope", the Historical and Maritime Museums are somewhat lost against the background of other attractions, but they are also interesting in their own way. A combined ticket to visit all 4 will cost 18 EUR, Additional information can be obtained at website (in English).

5 things to do in Mont Saint Michel

1. Walk under the echoing vaults of the abbey and go down to its heart - the Notre-Dame-Sous-Terre chapel.
2. Meet the tide by standing at the stone parapet of the upper fortifications.
3. At low tide, go out onto the wet sand of the bay and view the Mountain from all sides.
4. Buy souvenirs in the shops on Grande Rue.
5. Taste the famous omelette "from mother Pulyar"

Weather

The climate in northern France is mild. In general, you can focus on the weather forecast for Normandy, but it is worth considering some features of the bay: the ocean has leveled the surface for kilometers around the Mountain, so the west wind walks around Mont Saint-Michel as it wants - this is especially felt on the upper observation decks. The tides constantly wet the surrounding sand, so in winter there is a high risk of fogs, and in summer the high humidity, combined with the scorching sun, makes many tourists faint.

The ocean not only affects the microclimate of the Mountain - the life of a tourist often depends on it. The tide comes suddenly and drives water at the speed of a running person, so before a walk, be sure to study the tide schedule at the office. website (in English).

Castle and abbey of Mont Saint-Michel (Normandy region)

Saint Michel Castle is one of the most charming attractions France. Once upon a time, Mont-Saint-Michel was a center of pilgrimage for monks who dreamed of visiting here in order to bow to St. Michael.

However, not all righteous monastic pilgrims managed to get to the majestic 80-meter rock, separated from the land by water at high tide.

Medieval pilgrims faced death in quicksand or death by rising tide. Many lives were taken by natural disasters. The first buildings appeared here in the 8th century. According to legend, Bishop Avranches Ober in 708, at the behest of the Archangel Michael, erected a chapel on the rock, which subsequently collapsed.

In the 10th century, a Benedictine abbey was founded here, and in the 11th century, work began on the construction of a new Romanesque church. Gradually, new buildings were erected around it. Over the centuries, they were repeatedly rebuilt in Romanesque and gothic styles, and a fortification system was created around the abbey.

In that religious place before the Revolution, when the buildings of the abbey were requisitioned and turned into a prison, more than 40 monks never lived. In 1966, exactly one thousand years after the founding of the Benedictine Monastery by Duke Richard I, the monks returned to Mont Saint-Michel. And today a small monastic community lives here, which follows the traditions established by the Benedictines in 966.

For many years now castle saint michel(mountain) is not an island in literally this word. Today, Mont Saint-Michel is connected to the mainland by a causeway, along which an asphalt road passes. Due to the dam, which prevents the waves from rising, the bay began to gradually become polluted. In the near future, it is planned to destroy the dam, instead of which a pedestrian bridge will be built. This will make it possible not only to easily control the number of tourists, but also help to prevent pollution of the bay, while Mont Saint-Michel will become, as before, an island.

Abbey of Mont Saint Michel

The abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is architectural ensemble, at the head of which is a church crowned with a spire with a figure of the Archangel Michael and a Gothic monastic complex, known since 1228 as "La Merville" (the hall of the knights, the refectory, the covered arcade and cellars). It can be seen from all points of the strait, but as soon as you get closer, it begins to inspire fear.

Here is what Maupassant wrote about this: “I reached a large rock on which stands Small town with an outstanding church. Climbing up a steep narrow street, I entered the most wonderful gothic building that has ever been done for God on this earth. The building is as vast as the city, full of low-ceilinged rooms and tall galleries supported by pillars.

I found myself in an amazing giant room of granite, which is so skillfully made that it resembles lace work. Towers and slender bell towers crowned with chimeras, devils, fantastic animals and monstrous flowers and interconnected by an intricate network of arches, direct their peaks high into the sky.

The most high point the mountain (castle) of Saint-Michel lies below what is now the transept of the church, where the transition from Gothic to Romanesque is particularly evident in the naves. To create a church in the traditional form of a cross, with crypts, it had to be built on a hillside, and the entire structure of granite from the island of Schose had to be completely consistent with the relief. Space was limited, but the building has grown over the centuries with an architectural ingenuity that is particularly striking in its geometry. The construction of the monastery began with the gloomy Great Hall.

It is not surprising that the building of the monastery is not particularly smooth: the church, choirs, nave and tower were completed and remade. Along with the architecture, the style of decoration also changed. IN medieval era the walls of public spaces, such as the refectory, were decorated with tapestries and frescoes, but now you will see bare walls. To get an idea of ​​the development history of the abbey, look out for its curious models at the entrance, which depict four different eras.

The rest of Saint-Michel

The fortifications of the abbey can be penetrated through the Royal Gates, which lead to Grand Rue. Souvenir shops with overpriced goods are randomly scattered along its sides, which is a continuation of the ancient tradition of leaving pilgrims without money.

Grand Rue rests on a wide staircase with steep steps leading up. On a commemorative plaque next to the stairs, it is written that Jacques Cartier was introduced to Francis I here on May 8, 1532, and he was entrusted with research Canadian coasts. IN maritime museum you will get acquainted with the underwater animal and flora the Bay of Saint-Michel, while in the "Archeoscope" you can make a journey through space and time in 15 minutes.

Behind the 11th-century St. Peter's Cathedral is the Grevin Museum. Its expositions are devoted to the history of the monastery. Here you can see scenes from the life of former times, recreated with the help of wax figures. Both museums are open from February to mid-November. Huge crowds gather every day for north tower to look at the strait. Flocks of seagulls, despite the late hour, mince along the sand, but soon they will have to fly up to escape the rising water.

Useful information about the castle and abbey Saint-Michel

On Mount Saint-Michel below the entrance to the monastery is a tourist office. Regular bus service links Mont-Saint-Michel with Pontorçon railway stations, Rena And Saint Malo. Even though the island has a surprising number of hotels and restaurants, there are still not enough of them to cope with the real influx of tourists. Obviously, most of these establishments offer expensive services However, almost every hotel still has cheap rooms.

Most famous hotel La Mére Poulard. The legendary omelettes enjoyed by Leon Trotsky and Margaret Thatcher (in different time), which is how they justify their extortionate rates. Most cheap option– Du Guesclin, where there is a TV in every room, and the Crois Blanche and Mouton Blanc hotels are of a high standard. Sad but restaurants it is worse here than anywhere else in France, and therefore it is rather difficult to recommend anything.

Additionally, it is worth noting that large hotels and motels lined up along the D-976 road closest to the island, each of which has cafe or a restaurant. Among them are Motel Vert, H?tel Formule Verte and H?tel de la Digue. There is even a three-star campsite Mont Saint-Michel, which is also located on the mainland not far from the road.

Most visitors to the mountain (castle) Saint-Michel stop at Pontorson, which is located 6 kilometers from the island, and where the nearest Train Station from where depart to Mont Saint-Michel regular buses. The hotels here do not differ in anything special, but, for example, in Montgomery, which occupies the building of an old mansion entwined with ivy (13 rue du Couesnon), and in Bretagne (59 rue du Couesnon) there are very good restaurants. The newly refurbished boarding house is located near the cathedral, 1 kilometer west of the station, in the Dugueclin Center (21 rue du General Patton).

Visiting the Château Saint-Michel

Access to Saint-Michel is free and unlimited. Parking, either on the highway or in areas that are underwater at high tide, is subject to a €5 fee. If you come here by car in the summer, it is better to leave your car on the mainland somewhere near Saint-Michel and enjoy the walk (this way you can avoid possible traffic jams).

Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is open daily: May-September 9.00-19.00, admission until 18.00; October-April 9.30-18.00, admission until 17.00. Closed: December 25, January 1 and May 1. Standard ticket (9 €, for persons from 18 to 25 years old - 6 €, for persons under 18 years old - free ticket) gives you the right to visit all available places on the island and join one of the excursions that are held in various languages ​​(mid-June - mid-September excursion lasts 45 minutes, mid-September - mid-June - 1 hour).

Daily tour schedules posted at the entrance. There are also more detailed tours that last as long as two hours, but only for French(July and August daily 10.30, 11.30, 14.00 and 16.00; September-June Saturday and Sunday 10.30 and 14.00; 5 € extra).

Only in July and August is the Abbey of Saint-Michel open in the evenings. At this time, the visitor can take a walk in the gardens (Monday-Sunday 7.00-21.00; admission is free if you have a basic ticket purchased at any other time of the day). Also, when musical and video equipment is reinstalled in the abbey, you can stay here until midnight (Monday-Saturday 21.00-00.00, admission up to 10 €, for persons 13-24 years old - 7 €).

On the border of two French counties, Brittany and Normandy, in the middle of the Cusnon River, there is an island-castle with huge rocky shores rising 80 meters above the water surface.

It is called, which translates into Russian from French as st michael mountain.

The legend of the castle island

Legend has it that the construction of Mont Saint-Michel, which was an abbey in the Middle Ages, was started by Aubert, the French archbishop, after in 709 the Archangel Michael himself appeared to him in a dream three times. The winged guest said that a fortress should be built on a rock that rises above the sea.

Twice Aubert did not listen to the angel, and Mont Saint-Michel would never have been built if the patience of the archangel had not ended. During the third visit, the heavenly messenger decided to reinforce his words with a flick on the forehead, during which the angel's sword burned through the priest's cassock. Ober considered such an argument weighty enough to overcome his laziness and fulfill Michael's request.

Pyramid in the ocean

Mont Saint-Michel was built by the Normans, contemporaries of William the Conqueror. The kings of all Europe, in search of paradise on earth, made pilgrimages to him. During the Hundred Years' War, the great castle did not surrender to the English conquerors for 30 years of siege.

Twice a year, on the days of the autumn and spring equinoxes, the water of the Kyusnon River rises to the level castle walls. The tide goes extremely fast, so that careless tourists have a chance not to have time to reach the fortress. The water turns the castle into an island connected to the mainland by a causeway.

Visited this magical place Victor Hugo, master of the pen and father of Notre Dame Cathedral, considered located on the island architectural complex The “miracle” is the most beautiful in Europe, and Mont Saint-Michel himself was dubbed a pyramid in the ocean.

Visit to the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel

For several tens of centuries, people have been going to this place along the road called the “Path of Paradise”. They go not just like that, but to ask for help and consolation from the Archangel Michael.

If you are traveling on a tour package to Paris, then your tour operator can organize you a trip-excursion to the island of Mont Saint-Michel, but only for one day.

Much better to go there on your own to wander around medieval streets this island-castle, discover different hidden corners and imagine how history comes to life before your eyes ...

You will have to stay in a hotel with a comfort level of three stars, since there is no choice - there is only one hotel in the castle. And this hotel is also involved in history - after all, it was built in the sixteenth century.

Currently, Mont Saint-Michel is visited by crowds of tourists; in terms of its popularity, it has clearly eclipsed both Versailles and even Paris. It's no joke - more than three million people annually!

Not so long ago, restoration work was carried out on this island, and the top of the tower is decorated with a gilded statue of the Archangel Michael, the work of the famous sculptor Fremier.

Castle of Mont Saint-Michel - tourist attraction

There were troubled times in the history of Mont Saint-Michel Castle - at first it was a monastery, which was closed in 1790, and instead of a monastery, it was turned into a state prison for the most dangerous criminals and recidivists.

And for fifty years the castle was not a place of pilgrimage for people, but, as it was called, the “Provincial Bastille”.

But, fortunately, the authorities changed their minds, Mont Saint-Michel was restored, it was overhauled, after which tourists were able to visit it again beautiful place. But this happened only in one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.

Tourists will be interested to see the abbey, the Gothic complex of buildings "Miracle", the Grand staircase, which are located in the city of Mont Saint-Michel, Grand Rue Lane.

To get to the inner part of the island, which, by the way, consists of only one street - Rue Grande, you need to pass the Royal Gate.

Passing through them, you will see small, charming houses, standing close to each other on both sides of the street.

Previously, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, these houses were residential, but now you can find souvenir shops, shops or cafes there.

Most famous miracle the abbeys are the “Monastery Courtyard” that hangs between earth and sky.

It has six rooms, as well as a passage to the former refectory, which today is used as a place for various meetings, symposiums or banquets.

Participants of these celebrations can taste the monastery cider.

Stone buildings are fraught with age-old cold. Yes, and drafts do their job, so when going to the island of Mont Saint-Michel, you need to take warm clothes with you. It will definitely come in handy, especially for those who want to take a walk outside the castle, for example, walk around it.

Due to the proximity of the sea outside strong wind, so it's very easy to get cold, despite the fact that you only need to walk one kilometer to go around the castle.

Going for such a walk is allowed only at low tide, when you can walk on the sand, and only not alone. The soil of the island is such that there are voids in it, and if a leg gets stuck there, it will be impossible to get out on your own.

You will need to be sure to know the tide schedule if you plan to walk around the island. After all, water at high tide can rise fifteen meters!

The schedule, written in various languages, is on the board at the entrance to the city.

An interesting fact - if it seems to you that you have already seen the castle of Mont Saint-Michel somewhere, then you will be right - it was he who served as a model for the fortress of Minas Tirith, from the movie "The Lord of the Rings. Return of the King".

Access to the island itself is free for tourists, however, parking nearby is paid everywhere. Also, the entrance to the abbey is paid for adults, but for children it is free. And more, they are paid organized tours with a guide.

Time to visit:

• summer period, from nine in the morning to seven in the evening;
• winter period, from half past nine in the morning to six in the evening.

Mont Saint-Michel Castle is one of the most popular attractions in France, striking with its unusual and literally fabulous view! After all, the monastery on a rock sticking out of the abyss of water simply cannot help but look stunning.

At the very top of the cliff, at a height of almost 80 meters, the walls of an ancient abbey rise to the sky, and at the end of its spire, located at an altitude of 155.5 meters above sea level, there is a golden figure of an archangel with a pointed sword. Mont Saint Michel protected by the sea from all sides and only a dam 2 kilometers long connects the mainland with the island

Victor Hugo was so impressed with Mont Saint-Michel that he nicknamed it "The Pyramid in the Ocean"

The abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is the most visited corner in France after Paris. Because of territorial affiliation this a unique corner two areas are arguing - Brittany and Normandy. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that the border between them is drawn along the river Couenon running in the coastal sands, which is not in favor of Brittany. There is even a French proverb about this: “Couenon went mad, so Mont Saint-Michel ended up in Normandy.”

The entrance to the castle originates at the Royal Gate. From here, the only street extends into the interior of the island - Grande Rue. In tiny, almost toy houses of the 15th-16th centuries, huddled together on two sides of the street, cafes, restaurants, hotels and tents with a variety of souvenirs now operate.

There are several versions of the origin of Mont Saint-Michel. The first, the most plausible, claims that at the beginning of the 8th century, after a strong storm, in this part of the English Channel changed coastline. Part of the coastal meadows and forests disappeared under water and then covered with sand, and two rocky hills became islands. The largest among them is Mont Tomb (French for “Grave Hill”), and is now named Mont Saint-Michel. The little one is named Tombelin (“Little Grave”).
According to the second version, both rocks were dragged into the sea by giants - the parents of Gargantua. Grangousier, his father, as is customary among men, carried the heaviest of stones - Mont Tomb, and Gargamellet, mother of Gargantua, dragged Tombelin. But the giants got tired and threw these stones near the shore. Gargantua also contributed to the contours of the local relief, creating the Couesnon River. How, according to legend, he did it, I won’t tell you, you can guess for yourself ...

With a lock Mont Saint Michel associated with a huge number of legends. According to one of them, in 708 the Archangel Michael came to Archbishop Ober in a dream. The archangel ordered the bishop to dedicate to him then already almost completely covered by the sea rock. Aubert did not comply with this order, in fear of becoming a victim of his own imagination. The same vision was repeated many times in the future. Then the archangel could not bear such disobedience and plunged his finger into Aubert's head. In order to finally convince the bishop and other Christians, he created many miracles here. By the way, the legend is a legend, but in the skull of Ober, scientists actually found a hole) It could be caused, for example, by a combat wound or trepanation during brain surgery, or maybe the archangel actually poked his finger :)

The monastery of St. Michael was built for a very long time - from the 11th to the 16th century. The Vikings settled here, from here William the Conqueror went to England, many kings lived here. During the Hundred Years' War between France and England, Mont Saint-Michel was the last French stronghold in Normandy, never captured by the enemy ... It was never conquered, once surviving even a 30-year siege - in history it remained an impregnable castle. The castle was conquered only by tourists - today it is visited by more than 3 million tourists every year - only Paris and Versailles are more popular

The monastery of Mont Saint-Michel was closed a very long time ago - back in 1790! A few decades later, ironically, the most dangerous criminals and scoundrels were imprisoned here - the castle turned into a state prison for half a century. Because of this, it is popularly called the “provincial Bastille”. Only in 1863, after a major restoration, he opened his Royal doors again, but for tourists.

Tourists admire not only the architectural delights of Mont Saint-Michel - the reason is that in our time it becomes an island only 2 times a year. This happens due to the fact that over the past centuries the sea has receded - now most time the castle is surrounded by sand, but 2 times a year (during the autumn and spring equinoxes) during strong tides, it becomes an island. In just one day, the water level rises by as much as 10 meters - these are the most powerful tides in all of France, and at low tide the sea recedes from the coast by 25 kilometers!

By the way, if Mont Saint-Michel seemed familiar to someone, it was probably due to the fact that the island-castle was the prototype of the Minas Tirith fortress in the popular film “The Lord of the Rings”

Castle of Mont Saint Michel located on an island bordering two French provinces who to this day dispute the right to the castle. The abbey, built on a rock protruding from the sea, is rightfully considered a wonder of the world.

Surrounded by granite rocks and the sea, at an altitude of about 80 meters is one of the most famous and memorable castles in Normandy, which has been under the protection of UNESCO since 1979. According to ancient legends, the island turned into a monastery after Archangel Michael appeared to Bishop Ober in 708 and ordered to build a chapel here, a place where people could make pilgrimages and where they could ask for peace of mind.

In 2015, the dam was destroyed by the tide, later called the "tide of the century", and Mont Saint-Michel regained the title of the island. Today, the only way to get to the monastery is via a pedestrian bridge, which only at first glance seems to be an inconvenience. Actually this walking tour gives tourists a chance to experience the spirit of pilgrimage.

The monastery itself is more similar to the castles of Normandy than to churches. Even after repeated reconstructions, the buildings of the abbey have retained their Romanesque spirit. Pointed spiers, massive vaults, high towers, rounded arches - all this takes you back many centuries, allowing you to plunge into the ancient atmosphere.

According to the Bible, Michael is not just an archangel, but a defending warrior, and it was he who, in the event of the Apocalypse, was to lead the Lord's army. To this day, there are legends about the unchanging patronage of Michael over the island, because for all the time of its existence the monastery has never been captured by anyone. The monks repeatedly had to defend their lands from the constant raids of the Vikings, as a result of which the walls of the abbey grew up and strengthened, overgrown with loopholes and turning into mysterious fortress surrounded by natural sea and man-made walls. On the very high tower at a height of more than 150 meters, the figure of Michael, covered with gold, raises a naked sword in his hands.

The bay of Mont Saint-Michel provides tourists with the opportunity to observe the tides, twice a day the water level completely cuts off the fortress from the mainland. The tide schedule can be known in advance by adjusting your trip to it. If at this moment you will be on the terrace of the abbey or on footbridge then remember this amazing sight for the rest of your life.

Before planning a trip to spiritual center Normandy , make sure you don't miss the night view of Mont Saint Michel, so spectacularly lit up at night. Majority travel companies offers day trip to the island, but you will not regret if you decide to stay in the local hotels for at least one night. You can see all the sights of the monastery and surrounding areas, try local cuisine and spend an unforgettable time at the walls of the legendary monastery. On average, there are about 3 million visitors per year, and there are only a little over a hundred permanent residents, including monks. On the territory of the island, in addition to church buildings, there are many shops, hotels and restaurants. Local residents take care of the development of tourism on the island, and all proceeds go to the restoration of the architecture of the abbey.

Mont Saint Michel Castle in France is a place worth visiting at least once in a lifetime!