Visit to Mont Saint Michel France: Pyramid of the Seas

Ever since I first saw the picture of Mont Saint Michel with a stunning red evening sky in the background, it was my desire to visit someday and capture its glory in my lens. If not the red, at least the blue skies would do, I had prayed! Alas! I didn’t get both.

Nevertheless the first hazy sight of Mont Saint Michel on a rainy day is etched clearly in my mind. I got the first sight of Mont Saint Michel from a distance, very unclear, as if emerging out of a translucent screen of grey clouds. I felt it was unreal! A huge cathedral rising out of nowhere, it kept drawing us closer like magnet. It did look like a pyramid – yes! Pyramid of the Seas! The name suited it well!

Visit Mont Saint Michel – Pyramid of the Seas

Mont Saint Michel at Low Tide

It was low tide when we reached. Mudflats were visible and rows and rows of cars were parked. Imagine the place looking like an island when the tides are high. It seems water rises to 60 feet high and that too very fast, at the rate of around 6.1 km/h. Forget parking anywhere close, unless you have insured your vehicle well and can prove that you weren’t warned. ‘There are areas of quicksands too’ we were warned.

When the tides are low the parking system at Le Mont St. Michel is good. We were road tripping through the European countries with automatic car rented in Avis of Frankfurt airport. So the priority was to find a good parking slot. The causeway is open for 4 hours.

After paying for the parking tickets we set off. There was the option of taking the free shuttle buses which operate every 10 minutes. But we preferred to walk. A short walk over the foot bridge and we were directly at the entrance of this super natural UNESCO World Heritage site.

(During high tides you have to catch a ferry to get to the island.)

The whole place was crowded as if all the tourists in the world planned to visit the monument that same day; in fact it is the same scene every day (20,000 people per day). During festivals the crowd is more.

Mont Saint Michel History

In 708, Aubert, Bishop of Avranches erected the chapel on this site because of a dream in which he saw the Archangel Michael who commanded him to build a church on the rock in his honor. And when the bishop dared to express doubts, the Archangel thrust a finger through his skull!

The Abbey took on the name Mont Saint Michel. (This information was found in an original Xth century manuscript called: La Revelation ecclesiae sancti Michaelis.)

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Are you planning a trip to Mont St Michel?
Check out: 10 Tips for Visiting Mont St Michel in France.

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Best months to visit Mont Saint Michel is between March to October.

We did exactly that. We visited in May, sadly we were so unlucky to be received by dark grey clouds. It was threatening to pour any moment and we armed ourselves with umbrellas. Luckily even though the skies were overcast with dark clouds we were not caught in heavy showers, there was just light drizzle. I soon forgot the hopes of red or blue skies and concentrated on not getting wet.

Mont St Michel Tickets and Audio Guide

There are no admission tickets for the old town area of Mont St Michel. Admission to Abbey area is through tickets. Tickets cost 10 Euros for adults and free for all below 18 years of age. We picked up the audio guides too.

There are separate tickets to Garden Terraces and Castle. It is incredible how they have managed to design a beautiful flowery garden on the rocky slopes. I managed to catch glimpses as I climbed the Victorian steps along the winding pathway.

Tour Time of Mont Saint Michel

Normally time required to tour Mont Saint Michel can be anywhere between 3 to 5 hours. It took little more than 3 hours for me. If I were to split the time, the first one hour fifteen minutes was spent walking and walking… along the ramparts of the monastery/cathedral. Remember it is a vertical structure, enjoy the scenes around as you keep going up.

We walked towards the cathedral from parking slot, then up the Grand Rue, along the stairs going around the edges of the rocky islet. Next one hour was spent touring the interior of Mont Saint Michel and admiring the cloister and gargoyles, the seagulls and the bay area around the island.

Finally we dragged ourselves down, halting here and there, pausing for a bite and scouring the souvenirs; none of us wanting to leave the island.

Walking and climbing ramparts of St Michael Mount

Walking up the Grand Rue Mont St Michel

Grand Rue, the Main Street made of stones, is the only path that leads up to abbey of Mont Saint Michel. It is a narrow steep path studded with cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, hotels on either side.

Most popular eats here are the omelettes and chocolate crepes. Though pricey, it is worth an experience having them seated in warm restaurants with stunning seaside views.

Chocolate crepes in Grand rue Mont St Michel

Souvenir shops crossed during Walk the 14th Century Ramparts of Mont St Michel

Grand Rue ends at Grand Degré or Grand Staircase and the Abbey. There are a few museums and attractions too. But if you are running short of time skip these museums.

Instead take the stairs to your right which leads you to walk through the 14th century ramparts of Mont St Michel.

Walk the 14th century Ramparts of Mont St Michel

This was the route taken by many pilgrims, carrying prayers in their hearts, as they made their way to Abbey at the top. ‘For centuries pilgrims would have climbed up this very path on which I am treading now’, I thought as I joined the queue of tourists all eager to get to top.

Walk up the path can take anywhere from half an hour to one hour. All depends on how closely you want to photograph the architectural details of the ramparts of Mont St Michel.

I found several water taps along the way. So thoughtfully positioned for the thirsty pilgrims during their walk up the steep path. Earlier they were just stone faced taps. These copper/brass taps are later fittings.

As I climbed the stairs, it felt like I was walking in to a castle and not an abbey. The huge walls, strong fortifications!

I came across the narrowest alley possible here! Dark passages, curving ramparts, steep staircases and slopes, only the fit could make their way up. We walked through long corridors, staircases and tunnels that connected magnificent halls, decorative rooms and many other spaces with wonderful or dreadful stories.

Narrowest alley possible – Walk the 14th Century Ramparts of Mont St Michel France

It was a like a treasure hunt path, not knowing what exactly would come up in the next bend. A good proof for the description of how well this structure repelled sieges and attacks lay here. No more surprised how the island was protected for so long and could withstand all attacks.

We had taken the audio guide and so the understanding the place was easy, the stories given were interesting, I don’t remember anything of it though. That is one major disadvantage I find with these audio guides. Wish they had made detailed pamphlets instead, but lot of information is available in internet and I try to correlate the pictures taken there with the info. It is almost like revisiting the place.

There were several seagulls flying around, probably searching for food. They seemed so bold too. I saw some land near humans without any fear. Reminded me of the seagulls I saw in Rome, Italy: Seagulls, the Aggressive Invaders of Rome.

The interiors aren’t so grand like I have seen in some other places, but then it isn’t fair to compare like that. I have continued to interior of Saint Michael Cathedral here: Interior of Mont St Michel France.

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