The Mount

Mont Saint-Michel, or Mont-Tombe as it was once called, is arguably one of the most impressive sights in France. It towers above pretty much anything else in the area and it can be seen it from miles away!

Surrounded by tidal flats on all sides you can only really reach the little island crossing the almost 1 km long bridge that now connects it to the mainland. Although you can walk on some parts of the tidal flats it really is not recommended, as there are large areas of quicksand. Guided tours are available where a guide will take you on a safe route around the tidal flats.

This is also the exact reason why the island is so incredibly interesting. The little mountain has seen very little combat in its 1500+ years of recorded use, and the architecture on it dates all the way back to the 8th century when when St. Aubert, then the bishop of Avranches, built an oratory here after having a vision of the archangel St. Michael. Buildings have been expanded and added in many periods after and this gives this little island a very rich diversity of historic architectural styles.

Even though only about 50 people actually live on the island it is very hard to find a little bit of peace and quiet, because the island is visited by over 2.5 million people each year.

I took this picture from across the bay, while the tides came in, and I was literally running to stay ahead of the tides while giving me enough time to compose my image. The little sandbank in the foreground was engulfed mere seconds after I took the shot.
Unfortunately the weather had been bad the entire time I was there so I have to go back there again. What a horrible thought… 😉

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