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On the northern coast of France, just in front of the mouth of the Couesnon river, there is one of the most important tourist destinations in all of France: the islet of Mont Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bay of Mont Saint-Michel is one of the few places in Europe where tides occur that register up to 15 meters of variation in water level. When this happens Mont-Tombe becomes an island again for a few hours. And the show is truly wonderful. The water covers the surrounding sand, Mont Saint-Michel is isolated from the mainland and seems to float on the waves.
Legend has it that the archangel Michael appeared three times in a dream to the bishop of Avranches, Aubert, ordering him to build a church in his honor. The first two times the bishop ignored the saint’s requests until he, infuriated, burned his skull with a touch of his finger and only then did the bishop decide to fulfill the archangel’s requests. In 1791, following the French Revolution, the monks were driven out of the abbey, which became a prison. Following protests over the detention of the socialists Martin Bernard, Armand Barbès and Auguste Blanqui, the prison was closed in 1863 by imperial decree. The abbey then passed to the diocese of Coutances. On the occasion of the millennial of its foundation, in 1966, a small Benedictine monastic community once again settled in the abbey.
Mont Saint-Michel is one of the three major places of worship in Europe named after Archangel Michael. For about thirteen centuries the Abbey has stood out as if it were a mirage. Visible more than 20 kilometers away, it is a spectacle that always fascinates. After crossing the bridge-walkway, surrounded by medieval walls, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the narrow streets of the village. Built on several floors that have overlapped over the years, the Abbey is a fine example of medieval architecture. The interior of the church is illuminated thanks to the numerous stained glass windows. The cloister is the ideal place to linger for breath. The churchyard is the ideal place for a magnificent view of the bay, especially at the moment of the great tides.
Due to the sedimentation created around the road that connected Mont-Saint-Michel with the mainland, restoration and conservation work began in 2005 without the whole area being irreparably covered up. Thanks to the bridge-walkway inaugurated in 2015, today the site can also be reached at high tide.
Victor Hugo called the mountain “A pyramid over the sea“. At low tide the water withdraws 25 km and twelve hours later with great rapidity in the form of a wave half a meter high which, according to Hugo’s description, “advances as fast as a galloping horse“, the sea recovers the earth.
The tidal mudflats that surround the island contain areas of deep mud and quicksand. The tide here is one of the fastest in Europe, and therefore you should never attempt any walks on the sand without checking the tides. It is also advisable to attempt the crossing only with a qualified guide. The visit to the Mount has several steep stairs, overhangs and uneven terrain. Keep children under close surveillance and pay due attention at all times.
Photographer: Jean Michel
The photos are owned by ©Jean Michel
Thanks to Jean Michel for sharing his photos on Planet Color Photography.
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