Mont-Saint-Michel

• RegionNormandy
• From Saint-Malo~1 h
• UNESCOSince 1979
• VisitHalf or full day

Rising from a vast tidal bay, Mont-Saint-Michel is a granite island crowned by a Benedictine abbey begun more than a thousand years ago. The Couesnon river, which marks the border between Brittany and Normandy, flows past it; an old saying claims the river's "folly" put the Mont in Normandy. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of France's most famous landmarks.

Getting there

• By car: about 1 hour from Saint-Malo and 1 hour 15 from Rennes. Park in the official car parks on the mainland, then take the free shuttle or walk about 45 minutes across the bridge.
• By bus: direct coaches run from Rennes station and, in season, from Saint-Malo.
• By tour: day trips from Saint-Malo and Rennes include transport and a guide.

The abbey and village

The single main street, the Grande Rue, climbs past shops and restaurants to the abbey. Inside, highlights include the church, the cloister suspended between sky and sea, and the huge Gothic halls of the Merveille. Arrive early or late in the day to avoid the crowds.

Tides and bay walks

The bay has some of the largest tidal ranges in Europe. On the highest spring tides, the sea briefly surrounds the Mont again, a popular spectacle. Never walk on the sands without a qualified guide: quicksand and the incoming tide are genuinely dangerous. Guided crossings leave from Genêts and Bec d'Andaine on the Normandy side.

Tips

• Stay overnight on or near the Mont to see it empty and floodlit.
• The famous omelette at La Mère Poulard is pricey; there are many other options.
• Combine with Cancale's oysters on the way back to Saint-Malo.

Header photo: Photo: Lynx1211, CC BY-SA 4.0

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