Normandy-9/28/2015 - 10/1/2015

Trouville Caen-Arromanches American Cemetery Pointe du Hoc Mt. Saint Michel Dinner in Honfleur

Le Mont St  Michel, Normandy

The arrival/Lunch Walking up The abbey The cloister More rooms & exit

The Arrival

The abbey of Mont St Michel dates back to the eight century, when the Archangel Michael instructed Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, to establish a church in his name on the Mont. The cross shaped Romanesque abbey is the earliest of the buildings visible today, dating back to the 11th century. Its centre sits directly on the Mont's pinnacle with supporting crypts built up from the lower parts of the hillside. This eighty meters high rocky outcrop was know as "the mount in Peril from the Sea" as many medieval pilgrims was drowned or sucked under by quicksand while trying to cross the bay to reach it.  Designed with boldness and magnificence that is still admired today, its buildings were erected on the rock's precipitous slopes to shelter monks and greet the faithful.  The holy men who dwelt there contended with a dozen fires and several dramatic cave-in, but after each disaster they courageously rebuilt the monastic structures on ever sturdier foundations. And although the buildings do not all date from the same period, they nevertheless form one of the finest ensembles of medieval monastic architecture.

Le Mont St Michel is one of France's most recognizable landmarks, its bay are part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and more than 3 million people visit it each year.

To get to Mont Saint Michel you have to park your car in a designated area and then take a bus that will drop you off close to the entrance.  You have to pay for parking but the bus is free.

View of Mont St. Michel from inside the bus.

 

The bus dropped us off close to the entrance -it is a good 5 minutes walk to the entrance.

The Bay of the Mont Saint-Michel is subject to the largest tidal range in continental Europe during spring tides. The waters can withdraw as far as 25km from the shore. After low tide, the local saying goes that the seawaters rush back in to the bay ‘at the pace of a galloping horse’. The waters certainly come in fast, so don’t get caught out by the rising tide!

 

The base of Mont St Michel rests on a primeval slime of sand and mud and at high tide this area will be covered by sea water.

The Mont has a circumference of about 960 meters (3,150 ft), and is 92 meters (302 ft) above sea level at its highest point.

It rises out of a wide sandy bay with one of highest tide in Europe. The tides can vary as much as 15m and the car park can be under water so time your visit.Just to update you since our first visit a lot of work as been done to stop the flooding of the car park. - See more at: http://www.a-taste-of-france.com/mont-st-michel.html#sthash.mpf85s6K.dpuf
It rises out of a wide sandy bay with one of highest tide in Europe. The tides can vary as much as 15m and the car park can be under water so time your visit.Just to update you since our first visit a lot of work as been done to stop the flooding of the car park. - See more at: http://www.a-taste-of-france.com/mont-st-michel.html#sthash.mpf85s6K.dpuf

The tide rises out of a wide sandy bay with one of highest tide in Europe.  Warning sign that this area will be covered by the sea by 7:00PM

Instead of taking a bus you can also rent a horse carriage... pretty cool!

 

The entrance of Mont St Michel.  Although a visit to Mont St-Michel is free, there is a charge to gain access to the abbey.

The island's only street that runs parallel to the ramparts, this cobblestone pathway takes visitors through the medieval village of Mont Saint-Michel.

Tourists enter the island of Mont Saint-Michel at the old Burgher's Guardroom, which now houses the Tourist Office and this is also where all the restrooms are located.

Then walk through the Boulevard Gate and then the King's Gate to arrive at the Grand Rue. This charming street is lined by tightly-packed stone houses of the 15th and 16th centuries, which now are occupied by souvenir shops, snack bars, cafés, restaurants, and hotels, including the famous Auberge Mère Poulard.

 

La Mère Poulard is a restaurant dating back to 1879. 

The restaurant was founded by Anne "Annette" Boutiaut, who married Victor Poulard in 1873 and founded the Hostellerie de la Tête d'Or, finding that customers came and went quickly with the tide, giving them the idea of cooking giant omelets in a wooden hearth to make them stay. Therefore the restaurant became most famous for its specialty giant omelets: several inches thick, made in hand-hammered copper bowls, and cooked over an open fire. The omelets resemble a soufflé more than a traditional omelets

Lunch at La Confiance Bar/Restaurant.

We did not eat at la Mere Poulard (too expensive), instead we ate at this Bar/restaurant La Confiance.

 The main dinning room is pretty large and has a rustic feel.

A huge bar

 

Terrine de Campagne-€8.00

 

Kevin and Kristie ordered each a traditional omelet (mere Poulard style)-€16. They ripped you off her but they are not a lot of choice so they can get what they ask for.

It looks indeed like a soufflé, very light, but Kevin did not like it because the texture is very different from a regular omelet.

French Fries were pretty good

I ordered a wheat crepe with ham, cheese and egg.  €14

It is actually really delicious and Kevin enjoys this more than his omelet.

 

Enjoying my lunch....

Finishing my lunch with a nice cup of coffee.-€3

  By the way, if you are in France and you order a coffee what you will get is an espresso so if you want a coffee like we usually drink in the States, ask for a "Café Allongé": Espresso diluted with 2 shots of water- perfect for me.

Crepe au sucre et caramel for dessert!

Now that our stomach are full... time to some exploring....

 

I thought this was interesting... a small hole inside the wall, as I am guessing they were made to insert a cannon to shot and  keep invaders out.

Lots and lots of small shops in the village.  The cobbled streets are uneven and steeps.

 

Eglise Paroissiale Saint-Pierre

The Eglise St. Pierre was built in the 11th century, but over the centuries it has undergone various renovations. It is on the main road down a little ways from the abbey, and it boasts the interesting fact that its apse was built on Cemetery Street. The furniture in the church comes from the abbey, and there's a small chapel to venerate St Michel.

 You can also purchase candles for an offering. 

The altar

 

The parish is very small and probably seats 100 people.

A copy statue of Saint Michael in silver.

 Virgin of the Child, and education of the Virgin (Sainte Anne teaching Mary) dating from the 15-16C

Next... Going up to the Abbey

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