Just a 1 hour 30 minute drive from your Normandy campsite lies one of the most visited places in France: Mont-Saint-Michel. Upon arrival, you will be blown away by the site’s grandiose beauty. Imagine a stone village topped by a Gothic abbey, all perched on a piece of rock lost in the sea. It’s the stuff of dreams! Discover everything you need to know about Mont-Saint-Michel right now.
Mont-Saint-Michel:
an incredible history
We owe Mont-Saint-Michel to Bishop Aubert of Avranches. In 709, he had the idea to erect a church on the rocky peak located in the heart of the bay. More than two centuries later, Benedictine monks decided to settle on the rock and build an abbey there.
This was expanded over time, but it was in the 13th century that the Gothic abbey as we still know it today was built. To support the entire community, a village formed at the base of the mount. A fortified rampart protected the small town and its inhabitants during the Hundred Years’ War.
After being one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Christian world, the abbey was transformed into a prison during the revolution. Emptied of its occupants, it gradually deteriorated until it was entrusted to the historical monuments department in 1874. It was then restored, but had to wait until 1966 to resume its religious functions with the arrival of a new community of monks.
A rich historical
and natural heritage
In 1979, Mont-Saint-Michel was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With mass tourism, the environment of the rock had gradually degraded. This is why, between 2005 and 2015, major works to rehabilitate the maritime landscape were undertaken.
While the mount was threatened with being surrounded only by salt marshes, it has regained its high tides. It can now be admired in its original environment, just as Bishop Aubert had dreamed of it in the 8th century.
Today, as soon as the tidal coefficient exceeds 110, Mont-Saint-Michel becomes an island again until the tide goes back out. What a sight! To observe this phenomenon, it is recommended to reach the mount at least two hours before the scheduled time of the high tide. You will then see the sea rise at an impressive speed to storm the mount.
During your visit to Mont-Saint-Michel, don’t miss the abbey, of course, but also:
- The Archeoscope, retracing the history of the rock
- The Historical Museum
- The Museum of the Sea and Ecology
- The Logis Tiphaine, where Bertrand du Guesclin lived.
How to access
Mont-Saint-Michel from your campsite?
Mont-Saint-Michel is located less than 150 km from your Utah Beach campsite. It’s the perfect destination for a day trip with the whole family! Furthermore, by taking the N174 (then the A84 to go faster), you will pass through charming villages as well as the Cotentin and Bessin Marshes Regional Natural Park.
Once you arrive, you will need to leave your car in the car park at the entrance to the site. You can access the mount on foot, by shuttle, or by horse-drawn carriage. To get there on foot, take the causeway and the footbridge to the watchpoint. Be careful, as this is not available during high tides.
The “Passeur” shuttle takes you to Mont-Saint-Michel in a few minutes from the car park. Finally, the “Maringote,” pulled by two horses, allows you to discover the landscape in an original way and brings you to your destination in 25 minutes.