According to the French, this island, hovering between heaven and earth, deserves to be called the eighth wonder of the world. The historical monument protected by UNESCO is second in popularity only to Versailles and the Eiffel Tower. This is a whole complex of structures occupying the territory of the whole island.
Visiting card of France
The island of Mont Saint-Michel in France, which has a conical shape, is located in the north of the country, in Lower Normandy, near the border with Brittany. Having become the hallmark of the state, it is famous for its ancient architecture and very picturesque location. Mont Saint-Michel is a truly unique place, surrounded by the sea and the fortress wall. The island rises almost 80 meters above sea level, standing out against the backdrop of a flat coast.
A bit of history
Initially, Mon Island had a rather gloomy name Mont Tombe, which translates as "grave mountain". ByAccording to legend, the Archangel Michael ordered the believers to build a church on a granite rock. Its construction began in the 11th century and was completed only after 5 centuries. Made in the form of a grotto, for a long time it served as a defense against the Viking invaders who ravaged the surrounding territories.
The powerful fortress walls around the island made it possible to withstand the siege of the enemy. The fortifications of the monastery consisted of two rings: the inner one protected the abbey, and the outer one - the city itself. On the entire coast, only the local monastic community survived, which was later expelled from their homes by the soldiers of Duke Richard I. The Norman ruler took revenge on the monks in such a way for keeping in touch with Brittany. Soon the Benedictines moved here - members of the Catholic monastic order, who founded the famous abbey of Saint-Michel and became the full owners of the island for several centuries. A whole complex of buildings appeared above a small piece of land, the architecture of which was dominated by two styles - Romanesque and Gothic.
At the end of the 18th century, the island-fortress Mon turns into a prison for political prisoners. Then there is a factory for the manufacture of straw hats. In 1874, Mont Saint-Michel was declared a historical monument, and almost 100 years later it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Monks return here, and since then the island has been considered a place of pilgrimage, where thousands of people rush, who sincerely believe that all requests will be heard by the Lord, and innermost desires will certainly come true.
Modern City
Down at the very foot of the cliff, cozyIt is a small town with about 30 people living in it. Its inhabitants are engaged in agriculture, raising sheep, and also serving numerous guests.
Behind the main gate begins Grand Rue - a tourist-packed street with an incredible number of souvenir shops. If you climb along the fortifications along the old stairs, you can reach the fortress, which rises on a sheer cliff. It is worth allocating a few hours to see it. But more often than not, guests come here hoping to catch the tide, which lasts about 60 minutes. At this time, the abbey is cut off from the mainland. The exact timetable for sea level rises can be found at the entrance to the castle island of Mont Saint-Michel or at the hotel.
Wonderful structure built on a rock
The Abbey of Saint-Michel is a very unusual architectural monument. Talented builders who lived during the Middle Ages took into account the pyramidal shape of the rock, wrapping buildings around the cliff. The church standing at the very top rests on crypts - underground rooms that form a kind of platform that can withstand the weight of the structure. In reality, such a project could only be carried out with the help of ultra-precise engineering calculations. This is the epitome of architectural perfection!
The location of the premises of the abbey on the Isle of Mon was influenced by the strict rules of life of the monks, who devoted themselves to prayer and work. The rooms of the ministers of the church were planned with monastic privacy in mind.
Reviewsvisitors
Tourists, who got acquainted with an amazing masterpiece created by human hands, speak with delight about a trip to Mon Island. They climb the steep slope without fear in order to see with their own eyes the grandiose complex, the beauty of which fascinates. On earth, perhaps, this is the only place where the monastery, located on top of a granite rock, emerges from the depths of the sea. The purest sea air and the vast expanse of the ocean attract thousands of guests admiring the architectural work. Here you can wander all day, discovering something new every time.
The fortress walls are of the greatest interest to travelers. The impregnable rock was cut off from the land by high waves, and the builders who lived during the Middle Ages showed real miracles of ingenuity, overcoming nature itself.
Inexpressible sensations
As visitors to Mon Island say, it is very difficult to describe the sensations you experience here. The closer the city-fortress, hovering between land, sea and sky, the brighter the impression. But everyone gets the most indescribable emotions during high tides, when giant waves break against the rocks with a running start. Their speed can be compared to the speed of a horse galloping at full speed. And it is best to observe the natural phenomenon from a safe distance.
And during low tides (the most powerful in Europe), exposing the foot of the mountain, the water goes almost 18 kilometers! And then the sea coast is a sandy strip of graythe shade that people walk on. True, it is worth warning that wandering alone, without an experienced guide, in quicksand is not recommended, so as not to stay here forever.
Where the miniature island of Mont Saint-Michel (Normandy) is located, time seems to have stopped. In one of the most fabulous places on our planet, a unique atmosphere of the Middle Ages reigns, which all guests of France want to plunge into.
