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Tuesday 26 May 2015
Today dawned sunny and warm for our much anticipated visit to Mont Saint Michel, the historic abbey built high on a rock just off the coast where Normandy meets Brittany.
With a history of the first Christian building here going back to early in the eighth century, this place has been built to fit the rock, giving it its distinctive silhouette when seen from a distance.
Approaching the Mont by Road It looks almost surreal that such a sight could be possible in the wide and flat coastal landscape. Ample parking Is provided at a cost and free shuttle buses sweeten that pill by transporting visitors to a spot quite close to the destination. These buses can be driven from either end, saving the driver the trouble of turning. Alighting from the bus we were immediately in the midst of a crowd all trying to get the perfect shot, usually featuring their special someone in the foreground. On we went smug in the knowledge that our tickets purchased yesterday in Rennes would allow us to avoid the queue at the entry. Unfortunately this didn't mean avoiding the crush of visitors squeezing through the narrow
Mont Saint-Michel
Joining the crowds climbing and shopping.
streets of the village at the foot of the rock. Cafes and souvenir shops aplenty lined the street and seemed to be well-patronised as old and young, families with children and baby buggies along with plenty of dogs and numbers of tour groups all tried to gain forward momentum in the confined space. After a quick sandwich we resisted the rest of the temptations on offer and forged ahead. Up and up we climbed, past the shops, past the sign where dogs had to stop, then further up to finally reach the church and abbey buildings. This is where we walked right past the queue with our tickets and started our tour.
Highlights for us were the grace and simplicity of the church interior, the use of different celtic looking patterns in the window glass, and the beautiful cloisters which are supported by The Knights Hall below. And of course the views across the coastal land and wide sand flats with the tide coming in as we left.
After a brisk walk back along the causeway to the carpark, we successfully paid for our parking despite having received three partially printed tickets instead of one on entry, and
returned to Rennes very happy with our visit to Mont Saint Michel.
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