The Abbey and Monastery

Mont St Michel was established back in the Eight Century when monks established the monastery on the peak of the rocky island that had previously been used only during the mild summer months by fishermen. Interestingly, the settlement of the island town mirrors the social ladder of the feudal period when MSM achieved its greatest fame: at the top of the mount and the society is the church. The next lattice down the ladder and island was the nobility with their stately homes and at the bottom were the shopkeepers and freemen. The peasant farmers were outside the walls with their sheep.