Bright and early Saturday morning, we made the short trek from our hotel to Mont-Saint-Michel. Our hotel, Le Hotel Vert was conveniently located at the entrance of the causeway which made access to the Mont "easy-peasey". As we approached, the morning light reflecting off the Mont was truly breathtaking -- it appeared almost golden...
Le Mont Saint Michel is one of the most famous tourist sites in France and during high season, is jammed with visitors. We were lucky to be travelling during low season, however, and were blessed with beautiful weather, making our visit here truly magical.
This was once a tidal island connected to the mainland via a natural land bridge which was completely covered during high tides. Today, there is a causeway which allows you to drive across where you can park near the base of the Mont. Be careful where you park, however, as you may return to find your car completely surrounded by water (during high tides)! From there, we entered the gates on foot (no motorized vehicles allowed), walked through the charming cobblestone Grand Rue and up the many steps to reach the abbey which crowns the top of the island.
View of the causeway from the Abbey
Climbing up to the Abbey...
We toured the Abbey and marveled at the views from several vantage points throughout. The tides were low this morning, so we could see the vast mudflats engulfing the bay. The girls especially enjoyed spending time in the Cloister, where the Benedictine Monks spent their time in quiet contemplation and prayer. Not so quiet with our girls there, however...
View of surrounding mudflats...
Abbey interior...
The girls in the Cloister...
After touring the abbey, we had fun walking the ramparts of the island and stopped for a wonderful lunch at Chez Mado. With a view of the surrounding bay and the Abbey, it was the perfect spot for a mid-day break.
After touring the abbey, we had fun walking the ramparts of the island and stopped for a wonderful lunch at Chez Mado. With a view of the surrounding bay and the Abbey, it was the perfect spot for a mid-day break.
Ramparts of Mont-Saint-Michel
On the mudflats at base of Mont-Saint-Michel...
Later that afternoon, we drove to the nearby coastal town of Saint Malo, located in the Brittany region of France. This town is completely walled and walking the ramparts is a must when you visit here. We even had the chance to walk down to a lovely beach where the girls enjoyed playing in the sand and sticking their feet in the water. But, as the day was winding down and the tides were coming in, we walked into town and found a nice place to have dinner. By the time we made our way back to the car, that same beach was overtaken by the tides.
Our last stop of the day was to Mont-Saint-Michel to see it lit up at night. Really, really beautiful... And a perfect end to our day.
No comments:
Post a Comment