Trip to Normandie - Day 3 (28 Apr 2008)

Mont- St Michel

We left Ducey around 10.30am on Monday morning, and arrived at Mont St Michel around 20 mins later. The skies were progressively dark and ominous as we drove towards the place - from a distance, the bleak and majestic outline of the Mont can be seen. It was raining lightly when we arrived and the drizzle continued for the rest of the afternoon.

****arriving at Mont St Michel

**** there were already a lot of cars at the parking lot when we arrived


**** a closer view of the abbey

Some interesting background - the first sanctuary at the Mont was thought to have been built around 708 AD by the bishop of Avranches in honour of the archangel Michael. It became an important focus of pilgrimage and in the Middle Ages, it was regarded as a representation of Jerusalem on earth. Over the centuries in particular from the 11th to 16th centuries, various parts of the abbey was built on /wrapped around the huge lump of granite rock and a village grew within the walls at the foothill. Mont St Michel is also an example of military architecture and during the French Revolution until 1863, was used as a prison. Since 1874 it has been classified as a historical monument, and since 1979, listed as a Unesco heritage site.

Mont St Michel is considered a dangerous place - when the tide is out, there are quick sands around the place. There are daily notices on timing of tides and warnings on car parking safety.

****the area surrounding the Mont which could turn into quick sands

****western side of the abbey

****pretty courtyard which balances the austerity of the abbey




****statue of the Saint Michael

There are many tourist shops and restaurants at the foothill of the Mont. The most famous of the restaurants is La Mere Poulard which has been around for more than 100 years and still serve the local omelette speciality cooked in the traditional way. Would have loved to try it but the place was fully packed and the queque for lunch was more than an hour's wait.

****omelette cooked over woodfire at La Mere Poulard

****yum... pizza-like omelettes.

We finally left the place around 3pm and drove to our next destination in St Malo around 50km away.