In the year 708

Legend has it that Saint Aubert, bishop of Avranches, had a vision in which the archangel Michael ordered him to build a church on Mont Tombe.

But this wild rock doesn't inspire Saint Aubert all that much, so he ignores the archangels request twice, forcing him to return a third time. This time in order to persuade him he pressed his finger into Aubert's skull who woke up the next day, with a hole in his head and convinced of his mission.

This is how in the year 708 Mont-Saint-Michel was born with a simple church at it's summet.

Over time it became an important pilgrimage site and in 966 Richard I of Normandy ordered the construction of the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey for the Benedictine monks.

The village

You enter through the Porte de l'Avancée which leads to the draw bridge and the Grande Rue where the restaurant La Mère Poulard is located. If you arrive at lunchtime you can watch the cooks in period costume beating the famous omelettes in rhythm.

Our advice is instead of going up the Grande Rue against the crowd, take the small staircase on the right after the draw bridge which leads to the ramparts. This walkway connects the seven towers and arrives at the abbey. Then on the way back go down the Grande Rue which will be easier to maneuver!

How to get there

To get there by car from our accommodations, follow the direction of Mont Saint Michel from the A84 then the bay road will take you to the Mont car parks.

From there you can either walk there along the footbridge or take one of the shuttles to the entrance.

As the Mont is a village, entry is free but there is a charge for parking (the price includes the shuttles). There is an entry fee for the abbey and for the museums.