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Mont Saint Michel France

Mont-Saint-Michel is an island municipality in Normandy, France. It is situated approximately one kilometer (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and spans 100 hectares (247 acres) in size. The island has been a strategic fortification since ancient times and has been the home of the monastery that gives it its name since the 8th century AD. The architectural layout of the town reflects the feudal society that built it: at the top, God, the abbey, and monastery; below that, the grand halls; then shops and residences; and at the bottom, outside the walls, homes for fishermen and farmers. The commune's location — on an island just 600 meters from the mainland — made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims visiting its abbey, but also defensible as the incoming tide stranded, repelled, or drowned potential attackers. Mont-Saint-Michel remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison successfully defended against a full-scale English attack in 1433. Louis XI recognized the reverse benefits of its natural defense and converted Mont-Saint-Michel into a prison. From then on, the abbey was more frequently used as a jail during the Ancien Régime. As one of France's most iconic landmarks, visited by over 3 million people annually, Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected as historical monuments in France.

Recommended airport

St Jacques (RNS)

Nearby destinations

Mont Saint Michel, France

Cheap accommodations in Mont Saint Michel

Tickets to enjoy in Mont Saint Michel

Mont Saint Michel France