Mont St. Michel

Mont St. Michel

This picture I stole but you get a much better idea of how the Mont is situated

 Mont Saint Michel is a giant slab of granite dropped into a bay in Normandy. For centuries it was only accessible by land via a land bridge that appeared at low tide giving it a seclusion and strategic location ideal for both religious and military purposes. Thus starting in 708 it has been inhabited by religious orders, until the French revolution and was fortified throughout the middle ages. We got to visit it this weekend with some of our new friends from Paris.

Unlike so many other historic sites this one feels largely intact. We wandered up the mountain past the quaint homes (though nearly all are shops, restaurants and hotels) and then into the cathedral complex itself. It is a huge warren of buildings and as you go through you slip through different layers of construction. The 19th century decorations, late medieval additions, to the 10th and 11th century foundations. The buildings are all built right into the mountain so each layer is built situated on top of the others.

After our day in Mt St. Michel we spent the night in the old fortified town of Avranches were we visited the gardens and the Manuscript Museum. The Manuscript Museum, which is built into the remains of the old city walls, was interesting describing the process of making and preserving the books. Mt St. Michel was a center of manuscripts through out the medieval times and the center has some of its best on display for visitors.  A very good trip!

Mary and the Mont

Mary in the cloisters

Dave looks out on the bay

Dave and Mary prepare to cross the drawbridge into St. Michel

Decoration remaining on the city wall of Avranches

Enjoying the Le Jardin Des Plants in Avranches

Goodbye