ⓒRebecca Bugge, All Rights Reserved
Do not use without permission.
A visit here at low tide meant I could walk around the island and take photos where the scaffolding was less visible! (But be sensible in your choice of shoes all the same, the ground is still soft and damp.)
Mont Saint-Michel is a an island which can be reached on foot when the tide is low, and the name comes from the monastery there, founded in the 8th century. The history of the island starts even before that, it was used as a strategic stronghold by the Armoricans for a couple of hundred years prior to the monastery. The place would continue as both a clerical and military interesting place for hundreds of years, it gave support to William the Conqueror when he went for the English crown, and the English tried to take it (but failed) during the hundred years war. When Louis XI of France founded the Order of Saint-Michel in 1496 he meant for Mont-Saint-Michel to the centre for the order. But it was too far away to be practical.
After the reformation the place lost in popularity and by the time of the French revolution in 1789 there were hardly any monks in residence. The place was turned into a prison. By the mid 19th century people were starting to recognize this place as something quite special, the prison closed in 1863 and it was declared a historic monument in 1874. In 1979 it was announced to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today some 50 people live on the island.
Oh, and the silhouette may be very imposing, the church and the buildings are genuinely medieval, but the spire, the highest point of the whole structure was actually not added until 1896.
Loading contexts...