Mont-Saint-Michel island

In the 10th century, the Benedictines settled there and the place became both a major place of pilgrimage in the West and a center of medieval culture with the writing of manuscripts by the monks.

The construction of the abbey took place over a period of 1300 years, from the simple construction of a sanctuary through the periods of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, punctuated by destruction and reconstruction following fires, collapses, military and political conflicts. The greatest technical achievement of this period was the construction of the Wonder, a three-story Gothic tower representing the three states: the third estate, the clergy and the nobility.

From the 14th century, the successive conflicts of the Hundred Years War between France and England made it necessary to build new and powerful fortifications. The Mont was defended by knights sent by the king of France, who managed to resist the assaults of the English army for nearly 30 years.

In the 17th century, the abbey tried to revive monastic life and pilgrimages. At the same time, the monks had to take in prisoners sent by order of the king. The abbey was then nicknamed the "Bastille of the seas".

The Revolution chased the monks away from the island and the abbey welcomed refractory priests, common law prisoners and political prisoners.

Closed in 1863, the prison closed its doors but the monument was badly damaged. Under Napoleon III, the tourist development passes by the construction of a road dam and a tramway line at the beginning of the XXth century.

In 1969, the monks returned to Mont-St-Michel, which was classified 10 years later with its bay as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the village, you will be able to stroll in the narrow and paved streets to visit the Saint-Pierre church, to see the half-timbered houses, the oldest of which dates from the 15th century, or the house of one of the most famous knights, Bertrand Du Guesclin.

My minibus has a 7 seater capacity.