ARHEAD TOURS
Reliving history together since 2012
MONT SAINT MICHEL TOUR
As he was writing the story of Mont Saint Michel, the French writer Guy de Maupassant remembered Blaise Pascal's words: "God made the man in HIS image and the man returned the compliment" - a great way to illustrate, in just a phrase, the magnificence of the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel. Embark on this tour and spend a few hours discovering a unique UNESCO World Heritage Site and its history; no surprise it came to be known as “La Merveille de l’Occident” (The Wonder of the Western World).
What is Mont Saint Michel?
Mont Saint Michel is a 240ft tall granite mount rising in the
middle of an immense Bay bearing the same name. Atop the mount one can admire the Abbey dedicated to the Archangel which is almost 1000 years old. The tides measured in the Bay of Mont Saint Michel are the highest in
Europe and amongst the highest in the world (in 2015 the flood tide reached an amplitude of 40
ft!).
How everything started?
Legend has it that Archangel Michel showed himself to Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, on three occasions, commanding him to build a sanctuary on what was known at that point as "Mount Tomb". With or without the visions, Aubert did listen the Archangel's command and created an oratory in 709 A.D. That year was to mark the very first stage in a long series of transformations which the mount, from then on called Saint Michel, was to witness during the next 1300 years.
Menaced by fire on many occasions, affected by sieges or schemes, Mont Saint Michel was for centuries - after Jerusalem and St. James's Way - one of the most important destinations for Christian pilgrims. Source of disputes between Normandy and Brittany, dukes and princes, the Abbey was turned into a prison after the French Revolution. Classified historic monument in 1874, the Abbey is a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979.
It represents an ideal day-trip from Paris (via Caen or Bayeux)
The Abbey is the most visited place in Normandy
It has been ranked second most visited place in France after Paris
The history of Mont Saint Michel spans 1300 years
OPTIONAL
Bayeux Tapestry
Dating from 11th century, Bayeux Tapestry is a Medieval embroidery presenting an illustrated account of the Norman Conquest. On a band of linen 231 feet (70 meters) long and 19.5 inches (0.5 meters) wide are embroidered, in worsted of eight colors, more than 70 scenes, starting with Harold's visit and ending with his army's defeat at Hastings (1066).
PLEASE NOTE The Tapestry Museum charges a 9 EUR admission fee which is not included in the tour price.