Mont Saint Michel
From World travel guide
Mont Saint Michel (often written Mont St Michel, with other variations) is a small UNESCO World Heritage-listed island located just off the coast of the northern French region of Basse-Normandie, on the border with the neighbouring region of Brittany (the island shares cultural and geographical affinities with both regions). The island is best known as the site of the spectacular and well-preserved medieval Benedictine Abbey of St Michel at the peak of the rocky island, surrounded by the winding streets and convuluted architecture of the medieval town.
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Understand
Mont Saint Michel was officially inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1979.
Get in
By car
Driving is by far and away the most efficient way of visiting Mont Saint Michel. Within the region of Basse-Normandie, drive from Caen along the A84 south-west to Pontorson, then continue a few more kilometres to Avranches. Merge with the D43, following the signs to its Mont-St-Michel at its end.
From Paris the total driving time is about 4.5 hours.
By train + bus
There are no direct train services between Paris and Mont St Michel, but rail travel to the island is nonetheless feasible. The best option is the TGV from Gare Montparnasse to Rennes, where a bus run by Les Couriers Bretons (tel. 02-99-19-70-70; www.lescourriersbretons.fr ) provides a 75 minute transfer to the island (there are 2-5 departures from Rennes per day, depending on seasonal demand - most departures are timed to match to the arrival of the TGV in Rennes). The bus station is immediately outside the Rennes train station, on your right.
See
- the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel (L'Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel) [1], open 2 May - 30 August 9am-7pm (last admission 6pm), 1 September - 30 April 9:30am-6pm (last admission 5pm), admission (unguided visits): €8 adult, €5 18-25 yrs, closed 1 January, 1 May and 25 December -
Eat
The old town at the base of the abbey hosts a wide selection of restaurants, cafés, fast food outlets and other food venues. Note that Mont Saint Michel is more than slightly a tourist trap with regard to refreshments and travellers' needs - check a number of places for the best deal before ordering!!
Sleep
Mont Saint Michel has a number of small hotels located within the island township. A selection of much larger hotels are available on the mainland opposite the island.
Cope
Information
The local Office de Tourisme is located in the Corps de Garde des Bourgeois (the Old Guard Room of the Bourgeois), at the left of the town gates (tel 02-33-60-14-30). Open daily all year except for Christmas Day and New Years Day.
Stay Safe
Note that the tidal flats surrounding the island are known to harbour quicksand - visitors to the island are advised not to attempt crossing the flats by foot.
External links
- Le Mont-St-Michel - official MONUM site for the Abbey, available in French and English
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