Mont Saint Michel Things to Do Tips by Azhut Top 5 Page for this destination

The cloister The Cloister Review

The cloister is maybe the part of the Abbey that I loved more. The monks were used to walk along it for many hours, to thing about phylosophical aspect of live, or this is what I imagined when I was there. The place must be quiet and relaxing, an ideal sight for contemplation. It contains a wonderful little garden that makes less austere this side of the Abbey. When you will visit it I think that you will remember some lines of the books you read about monks and middle ages at school.

The Archangel and the dragon

Saint Aubert's dream.

Here is a legend I found on the net but unfortunately is in french! You can read more by yourself if you don't know french, but at the moment read this:

"L'histoire du Mont Saint-Michel débute par une légende : en 708, Auber, évêque d'Avranches, reçoit de l'archange Saint-Michel l'orde de lui construire un lieu de culte. L'évêque, se croyant fou, attend d'autres apparitions miraculeuses pour finalement faire construire un oratoire, puis une petite église à l'emplacement actuel de l'abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel".

More info on: http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/escap/ouest/mont-saint-michel/mont_saint_michel.shtml

The scriptorium

The scriptorium is a latin word that was used to refer to a place where monks went to read and to write and copy old books and miniatures. This is another magical place to me, because it seems to see in front of you all those monks that worked to save from the erosion of the time important books for our culture. Today not only the Abbey but the whole site when Mont Saint Michel was erepted is protected by Unesco.

The long road to the top

To build up an Abbey like this is not easy especially if you decide to do it on a hill!!! The only way to join the top is to use many many steps, and that's not easy believe me! After an hard leg's exercise you need a drink, and of course you can choose to sit on a chair, relaxing and drinking. Isn'it a good life?? :-)))

The Street

Remember that Mon Saint Michel is a village built uo on a hill so every street has a great declivity becuase it leads to the to, where the Abbey stands. The pavement is made with cut stones, as it was used in the middle age, so in my opinion is a bit hard to " climb " Mont Saint Michel in a unique solutions. Fortunately you can stop along the way!
The anorama is wonderful and you can't forget to take a picture while you are walking.

The Abbey The Abbey Review

The Abbey seems a mirage after climbing the hill of Saint Michel. When you are on the top you can have a great vieuw of the area, and it worths almost a visit!
The Abbey is a gothic Monastery built up in XIth centuries. The hill where the Abbey stands was dedicated to the Arcangel of Saint Michel in 708. Tourist can visit it almost the whole year, but I recommend to go there especially in springtime or summer (may and june are the best months to me). It is open until 7 p.m. in summer and it is closed after 5 p.m. in winter.
Visit the Mont Saint Michel Tourist office site below:

http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/accueil.htm

The guest room

The guest room was probably used as a place where pilgrims could spend some hours after a visit to the Abbey. At that time only men from the Church and aristocratic families could allow a tri untill the Abbey. I visited a part of the guest room and I remember that there were two big rectangular "holes" on the main wall, that can be considered as modern "central heating"; they were more than a fire place!

Panorama The Abbey Review

This picture is taken by the upper level of the abbey close to the refectorium. You can easily see the tides arriving slowly during the day and the still dry sands.