Last week, I took you on a memory trip to Saint-Malo and Dol-de-Bretagne.
In the summer of 2010, @iamyohann and I borrowed the old family car to spend more than a week-long road trip around Northern France. No pre-booked accommodations and no fixed itinerary. Just the two of us and a folding map.
After stuffing ourselves with a heavy viennoiserie breakfast, we left the chambre d'hotes in Le Vivier Sur Mer that morning. Our plan was to make it to Lille before sundown. That would mean a 537 kilometer drive, roughly around 6 hours. It made the trip a bit longer since we avoided major highways, thus saving money on toll fees.
While exploring the Celtic region of French Brittany, it'll be a sin to pass up an opportunity to visit Mont-Saint-Michel. We made a detour to the iconic site on the way.
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel known as "Wonder of the West" is a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the first monuments to obtain this recognition. It is nestled on a fortified islet on vast sandbanks bordering the regions of Brittany and Normandy. This Gothic-style Benedictine abbey was built between 11th and 16th centuries on a sanctuary dedicated to Archangel Michael.
Around 2.5 million visitors from different parts of the world come to admire this marvel each year. It's a perfect marriage between a nature site and architecture.
The entrance through the main gate is free, but there is a small entrance fee to visit the Abbey.
Various bar & restaurants, shops, and museums in the village.
Ever Changing Tides and its Connection to the Main Land
The rocky islet of Mont Saint-Michel is 600 metres away from the main land. During the time of our visit, it could only be accessed through the raised causeway connection.
When sea levels rise during high tide, the surrounding land including the parking area that you see here are covered. We were lucky to have visited Mont St. Michel during low tide since we were able to park the car at the causeway parking and see the island from a different vantage point.
You can clearly see here where @iamyohann's interests lie. Not on the world heritage site but on these motorbikes.
Us photobombing the former concrete causeway and old low tide parking area.
There were strict timings for the parking and it was closely monitored by men in orange vests to ensure no cars were parked there when the tide changed. These pictures were taken in 2010 right before the new bridge was built. The former concrete causeway blocked the water from flowing freely.
In 2014 with the help of a huge project named Projet Mont Saint Michel, the raised causeway and the visitor car park that you see in my photos were removed and replaced by a new modern bridge designed by Architect Dietmar Feichtinger.
The new bridge made it possible for water to flow naturally while providing the public an easy access. The project also restored this marvel into becoming an island once again by building a new hydraulic dam that used Couesnon River water into removing the accumulated silt around its base.
The Village and the Bay
The island is an actual village with real residents. This includes the monks and nuns that live in the abbey and monastery. It is best explored on foot.
We spent the whole morning here. We skipped visiting the interior of the abbey due to the presence of a long queue of patient tourists. We took the time to stroll within the village and along the ramparts. Visit Terrasse de l'ouest for the panoramic views of the bay (Left photo below).
My Takeaway
We got lost in small alleys and enjoyed the leisurely stroll. The heavy breakfast before coming here proved to be a wise decision. We found their meal prices to be expensive. The most well-known culinary spot is La Mère Poulard known for its special omelette but we only got a whiff and a peek into this restaurant back then.
Posing just outside La Mère Poulard near the gate. Crêpes are popular as well.
We paid close attention to the visiting schedule, because the opening hours of the monument depended on the tidal conditions.
If you have more time, spend a full day even an overnight stay in Mont St. Michel. Being able to see the tide changes and how it affects the structure is an interesting part of the tour. Moreover, this would ensure that you make the most out of every nook and corner of this historical gem.
@leaky20 wrote an interesting Mont Saint-Michel post about his recent visit in case you are curious to see the new bridge and read about his current experience in this world heritage site.
Thank you for reading. If you haven't read the first part of the French Brittany series yet, this might be of interest to you:
Road Trip Postcard: French Brittany (Part 1) Saint-Malo and Beyond
References:
Mont-Saint-Michel and Its Bay - Unesco.org
Mont Saint-Michel Wikipedia
Euro News: Mont Saint Michel reclaims island-like character after years of major construction by Alfie Tobutt & Aurora Velez
Oh my goodness! This is so beautiful 😍
Hi @appleskie, I remember being fascinated in front of the tv screen when I first watched it in a documentary many many years ago. It would be nice to see it now when the water surrounds it, with its reflection on the water. Thank you so much for dropping by.
OMG! ❤️😍 I've always wanted to visit Mont Saint Michel since the day I watched the Korean Drama where the majority of the scenes were set in France. One of the places they went to is the Mont Saint Michel. I think I saw it last year. I was starstruck by its beauty and marvel. I immediately added it to my travel list. How I wish I could go there and witness the highs and lows.
Hi Caryl, I had no idea it was featured in a korean series, I wonder which one it was. 😀 We parked the car from a distance to take photos and admire it. Twice- before visiting and before leaving.
Hi! Sorry for the late reply. The Kdrama title is The Package. They featured really well some of the best spots in France. 😊
Thanks, Caryl for sharing this info with me. I haven't seen this one yet. I am off to check the trailer now. Thanks, again 😊
Wow!! Mont-Saint-Michel! what a beautiful!😍
And I'm so amazed at the beautiful skies there!
Where the environment is polluted, the skies are polluted, but the skies there are perfectly clear!
And were the crepes good? I think France has the best pastries in the world!😋
Hi Ryo, I'm glad you like it. Yes, they're good but we didn't get a chance to try the crepes here because they were really expensive, but we managed to enjoy galette the salty kind in Dol-de-Bretagne the day prior. Thanks for reading 🙂
Ahaha yeah! I think the food in tourist areas is very expensive …🤣
sure! I already saw that post! your post giving great trip for us!👍
Thank you for sharing!😉👏
Hi Ryo, yes, I do agree. We try to avoid eating in tourist places to avoid overspending, unless it's something affordable and difficult to prepare at home. Happy to share and thanks for your comment, highly appreciate it. 🙂
Very nice post 👍! Beautiful pictures!
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Thank you @cryptospa, I am glad you like it.
Hello Arni! Did you know that Mont Saint-Michel was a major part of my travel list? But due to the lack of time during my last trip to France, I missed this iconic destination. I’ll definitely go back to experience this world heritage site and witness the rising and lowering of the tides. Incredibly stunning photos you have there! 😊👍
Like Yohann, I probably might also be distracted because of the motor bikes and miss the star attraction. 🤣 Anyway enjoying all the details of a tour is always part and parcel of the fun, isn’t it?
Hi Erne, oh really? I would really like for you to visit it one day. I am sure you'll appreciate the different period styles since structures here were built in different centuries. Thank you 😊 Haha, he really has a weakness for motorbikes, it was inevitable. lol
Great article. It was neat reading about it from another persons perspective. Its changed a bit since you were last there. They have built a permanent bridge to connect the Mount to the mainland. That parking lot is gone and the Mount is accessible at all times now. No need to worry about tide schedules.
Also, we didnt eat the omelet at Madame Poulards either. Way too expensive for what it is. 38 Euro for an egg thats been whipped!! Hahaha yeah right. No thank you. I just made it at home. It costs about 1.50 euro (if that) and takes 10 minutes lol.
Eating a big breakfast before going anywhere is our strategy for travel as well.
Thank you 🙂 I watched a documentary before that Mont St Michel was sinking due to silt and sand circa early 2000s. Glad they were able to find a solution into allowing the tide to flow freely through the dam and having the new bridge.
Whoa, that omelet is way too expensive indeed.
Thats interesting. I didn't know that
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