A sight to behold in Normandy! Standing proudly on its island, the abbey at Mont Saint-Michel has stood here for over a thousand years. From its rocky beginnings to what we see today, Mont Saint-Michel has undergone numerous transformations throughout the ages.
In 708, a first sanctuary was built under the command of Aubert, the bishop of the nearby city of Avranches. Aubert was visited by the Archangel Michael, who instructed him to build something on the island in order to be closer to God. And so, if you were wondering why it’s called Mont Saint-Michel (Saint Michael’s Mount), now you have the answer!
Two and a half centuries later, the Dukes of Normandy decided to establish the first abbey, and the first monks arrived on the island. Over the course of the Middle Ages, the abbey would undergo numerous changes, gradually taking on the form we recognize today. With the addition of the Gothic “Merveille” (the Marvel) building to the church, more and more pilgrims from all across Europe came to visit. Mont Saint-Michel soon became one of the most important and iconic pilgrimage sites in Europe, alongside Jerusalem and Rome.
The abbey also withstood English invasions during the Hundred Years’ War. While most of Normandy was occupied, Mont Saint-Michel never surrendered!
In the following centuries, the abbey was repurposed as a hospital and a prison. It wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century that it was classified as a French National Monument. Modern tourism began around this time, attracting around 25,000 visitors annually. Tourism halted during World War II, when Normandy was occupied by the German army, but resumed afterward, with the site attracting an increasing number of visitors.
To this day, Mont Saint-Michel remains one of the most iconic destinations in Normandy and is a must-see for anyone visiting the area.
Interested in discovering this beloved site in Normandy? Feel free to join us on a private tour to Mont Saint-Michel or a shuttle, especially during king tides!