Le Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont Saint Michel, a must-see tourist attraction in Normandy

Mont-Saint-Michel, in the Manche département, is unique in that it is located on a small island of rock in the middle of a splendid bay. This island is a witness to some of the highest tides in Europe. Both Mont-Saint-Michel and the surrounding bay are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This unmissable and exceptional site is located halfway between Brittany and Normandy, just 3? hours from Paris. It is also one of the most visited places in the country.

An emblematic building of religious architecture

It took 10 years to carry out the work needed to restore the maritime character of the site, which was completed in 2015, giving the site a completely new appearance. This step marks a turning point in the history of Mont-Saint-Michel. Without this work, the site would have been surrounded by salt meadows by 2040, despite the fact that it was the maritime aspect that led monks to settle here in the Middle Ages. It was Aubert, a bishop of Avranches, who is said to have founded a sanctuary on Mont-Tombe in 708, after seeing the archangel Saint-Michel there on three occasions. Discovering the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is also the most memorable part of the visit, as the view is so exceptional and incomparable.

The island of Mont Saint Michel and its high tides

The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel has some of the highest tides in Europe, and when you come here you can discover them and enjoy an incomparable natural spectacle. Certain days of the year offer an even more impressive view of this phenomenon. When the tidal range rises above 110, the Mont regains its island status for several hours. As a result, the rock becomes inaccessible. And it’s at the end of October that the tidal range will be at its highest (at 115) for the whole of 2020.

Of course, we strongly recommend that you contact the Mont-Michel tourist office for full details of the tide times for this must-see site. You should also avoid going to the site alone, as the risk can be too great when it comes to these tides, which are among the highest in continental Europe.

How do I get to Mont Saint Michel?

To get to Mont-Saint-Michel, you first need to leave your car at the car park located 2.5 kilometres from the site. From here, you can take one of the free shuttle buses or one of the footpaths to Mont-Saint-Michel.

When you’re at Camping Belle Etoile in Gouville-sur-Mer, you only have to drive 90 kilometres to Mont-Saint-Michel, for a total journey time of around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Fishing on foot at the campsite near Mont Saint Michel with seaside swimming pool

In the bay of Mont Saint Michel, you can fish for a wide range of seafood. Renowned for its scallops, the bay also has mussels, cockles, prawns, etc.

We will be happy to give you advice on how to fish safely.