Mont St-Michel - a spectacular island

Mont St-Michel
@JudyEv (323672)
Rockingham, Australia
October 26, 2017 12:53am CST
Mont Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. We knew nothing about it and hadn’t intended to visit but we met someone who raved about it so off we went. We had no idea it was so spectacular. We were blown away and very, very pleased that we made the effort to go there. It was certainly a photographer’s dream too. Mont Saint-Michel is near the town of Avranches and is 100 hectares (247 acres) in size. It has been a monastery since the 8th century, another fact which blew me away. It is 600 metres from the mainland and if the tide is out, you can walk to the island on the causeway. However the tide comes in very swiftly and has been the cause of a number of deaths for those who try to walk across the sands from the coast. The sea-bed becomes very treacherous with a death-like grip if you sink into it. Sheep are grazed on the salt marsh meadows and ‘agneau de pré-salé’ (salt meadow lamb)is a local delicacy. The community of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem replaced the Benedictine monks in 2001 and, while they are tenants of the centre, they are not involved in the management of the abbey. With 3 million visitors a year, 60 buildings listed as monuments historiques and on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, Mont St-Michel is one place not to be missed if you’re touring that area of France. I’m sure you’ll recognise the place from the photo. You can see the causeway on the right of the photo. We walked out and caught the horse-drawn lorry back to the mainland. There was no fee to enter but the parking was exorbitant.
13 people like this
14 responses
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Oct 17
I have been to Mont St-Michel. Took a tour bus from Paris. Remember the winding path down with the shops?
3 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
Yes I do. There are certainly a lot of steps on the island.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
26 Oct 17
I think that Mont Saint Michel is surely a place to visit if you are in the area. I always found this place a bit depressing, but interesting.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
26 Oct 17
@JudyEv I thought you enjoyed and it was a typo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
@LadyDuck @xFiacre I meant to put 'not to be missed'. Thanks for pointing out the error @xFiacre.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
@LadyDuck It's so easy to let a mistake slip through. I'm glad Fiacre picked it up.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36261)
• Toccoa, Georgia
27 Oct 17
I have been there. Back in 1983, I traveled with a group of High School girls with our French Teacher to France for a tour. Actually, the trip happened right after I graduated from High School. It was really a graduation present. Mont St-Michel is fascinating.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36261)
• Toccoa, Georgia
27 Oct 17
@JudyEv Yes, it brought back very nice memories, thanks for posting it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Oct 17
That's great that you've been there. Did the photo bring back memories?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Oct 17
This is a place that I've read about and seen photos of in many different publications, and is on my bucket list of places to visit. I had a friend visit there several years ago, and she loved the place. She also took lots of beautiful photos.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118204)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Oct 17
@JudyEv I'm pretty sure by now you've long since disqualified yourself from being nun material!
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
@moffittjc Haha. That's true but I know a lady who was widowed and decided to enter the convent. The times they are a'changin'.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
There are some incredible photos of it. We went back next day and stopped along the road trying to get good photos. Ours are nice but not stunning. I'd love to be one of the 50 or so who actually live there - although I wouldn't want to live there enough to become a nun!
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
27 Oct 17
I've always wanted to visit this lovely place. Thanks for the interesting description.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
27 Oct 17
@JudyEv I would find the dogs interesting, too. Was there a breed you saw the most of?
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@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Oct 17
@sallypup That's a hard one. Lots of Shih Tzu/Maltese types and Jack Russells. Also boxers, Bernese Mountain dogs, Border Collies - it's a bit hard to say but the small breeds seemed perhaps more prevalent than larger dogs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Oct 17
I'm glad you enjoyed it. It is very popular and there were a lot of people there and every second one had a dog. At least it seemed that way.
1 person likes this
@WriterAI (5373)
• Bulgaria
30 Dec 17
Thank you for your very informative post about this European place.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Dec 17
@WriterAI Yes, it shouldn't be too difficult for you to get to see it. At least, you are a bit closer than we are!
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Dec 17
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
1 person likes this
@WriterAI (5373)
• Bulgaria
30 Dec 17
@JudyEv Let me go there too. It is on the our European continent.
1 person likes this
@Fishmomma (11378)
• United States
26 Oct 17
Very impressive and thanks for posting a photograph. Mylot is a great way to learn more about other places.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
I have learnt so much here - about all sorts of things. I'm now a more well-rounded person!
1 person likes this
@Jackalyn (7560)
• Oxford, England
26 Oct 17
I think I have been there. Your trip was amazing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
We certainly saw a lot of lovely places.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (72494)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Oct 17
Love the photo. Sounds like such a nice place. I would love to see it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
It was spectacular to see it in the distance - almost like a mirage rising out of the salt flats.
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11091)
• Calgary, Alberta
27 Oct 17
Beautiful! You know the first time I saw the picture . . I suddenly thought of a volcano. There must be a dormant volcano underneath the hill.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Oct 17
It is certainly a volcanic shape. The cross on the top seems very high, very close to Heaven.
@xFiacre (12536)
• Ireland
26 Oct 17
@judyev "one place NOT to be visited .???.." Typo methinks? Cool place though.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116876)
• Anniston, Alabama
26 Oct 17
That is an amazing photo. I would love to visit.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
There are some stunning photos of it, depending on the light, clouds, etc.
@teamfreak16 (43451)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Oct 17
Wow, that's stunning. Glad you got to see it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Oct 17
We so very nearly missed it. We had no idea that it would be so majestic.
1 person likes this
• Peoria, Arizona
26 Oct 17
Goodness sakes that is so gorgeous that foul words came out of my mouth from that picture. That is amazing!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (323672)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Oct 17
I'm sorry about the foul words. I doubt I've affected too many in that way before!
• Peoria, Arizona
27 Oct 17
@JudyEv Haha I do have a foul mouth and when I see something amazing, I don't hold back!
1 person likes this