Normandy Attractions
Mont St Michel Abbey
Mont Saint-Michel Abbey
One of France's best-known attractions, the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey is situated on a rocky island just off the coast of Normandy and Brittany. It was founded in 708 by the Bishop of Avranches, who built a chapel here. Construction of the current abbey began in 1023 but was not finished for 400 years. Built with granite, it encompasses a range of architectural styles, from Norman to Gothic. The abbey was a place for pilgrimages for centuries and also served as a monastery, a prison and a fortress against the English. There is still a Benedictine monastery within the abbey, which can be visited on a guided tour. Among the maze of cobbled streets within the walls of the abbey are a number of other attractions including a maritime museum and a multimedia museum that tells the story of the island. The abbey is connected to the shore by a causeway, but there are plans to construct a bridge to it so that the sea will again flow freely around the island.
Address: 50116 Le Mont-Saint-Michel;
E-mail: nicolas.simonnet@monum.fr;
Telephone: (02) 3389 8000;
Opening time: Daily 9am to 7pm (May to August), 9.30am to 6pm (October to April);
Admission: €8.50 (adult), free for under 18s with family
