Surrounded by Quicksand and History at Mont St. Michel: Normandy, France
April 16, 2010 MuseumChick
When I decided to move to Paris my biggest fear wasn’t the language barrier or not knowing my way around, it was that I expected to get very homesick. But, after living here for the past eight months one of my biggest surprises has been my lack of homesickness. It’s not that I don’t love my family and friends or think that the USA is a great place to live, it’s just that since moving to Paris there hasn’t been much time that passes that someone doesn’t come visit me!
Just last week I spent nine days touring my aunt and cousin around Paris and then we all took a side trip to Normandy to do WW2 history tours and visit a very impressive site, Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We meet our tour bus on a foggy morning and drove through the Norman countryside, passing long green meadows of sheep and cows and crossing through sleepy towns. By the time Mont St. Michel came into sight the fog had cleared and its towering structure appeared like it had been born of the sea and sand that surrounds it.
Our guide told us an odd fact- that Mont St Michel is home to a famous omelette. But with only three hours to explore this 12th century abbey and the many museums within the city walls, eating was not in the time budget.
We jumped off the bus and made our way up the steep incline that leads to the top of the mountain and the abbey museum.
As we entered the abbey museum, I grabbed the audio guide that led me around the abbey and monastery and through the history and architecture of this fascinating place.
There are many stairs and ramps throughout the complex which gave me some exercise for the day and….
…a great view of the quicksand and small islands that surround Mont St. Michel. Yes, that is real quicksand! And is said to have been very dangerous and even deadly for the Pilgrims that came to Mont St. Michel in ancient times.
Wandering around and looking up at the Flamboyant Gothic architecture…
…and the highest point of the abbey. See that gold-looking point on the top of the spire?…
That is a copper statue of St. Michel fighting and defeating a dragon (symbol of the devil) that looks like this (statue below). This statue, made out of plaster, is a replica of the copper statue that stands at the highest point in on Mont St. Michel spire. The original was ordered in 1895 and made by sculptor Emmanuel Frémiet and by architect Victor Petitgrand.
As you enter the museum, this model gives an idea of how the abbey has changed structure, grown and incorporated different architectural styles throughout the years. The model on the left is the abbey in the 8th century and the model on the right is the abbey in the 11th century.
Now the complex looks like this…
The audio guide took me through the Gothic cloisters where monks use to walk through and pray. This monastery is still home to monks.
There were many interesting art pieces scattered throughout the abbey. This frieze tells the story of the archangel Michel (Michael) touching the head of the bishop, burning a mark into his forehead.
This statue is called “Black Virgin” and is from 1366.
This fragment of a mural from the 13th century is called “The Meeting Held on Three Deaths and the Three Lives” from the Medieval abbey infirmary.
This Pieta is from the 15th century.
The Gothic interior of The Knights’ Hall, built to hold up the cloister, which was the work and study room for the monks.
Coming out of the Abbey I got one more picture of the view before heading into the small and eerie Musée Historique and the Dungeons of Mont St. Michel.
Check back for my visit to the Musée Historique and the dungeons of Mont St. Michel!
©2010 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved
Comments
Madeline McClure 04.29.2012
Thank you so much for such awesomely clear and distinct photos! I visited Mont St.-Michel when I was 15, back in 1968, and visited France with my 9th grade French class. I’ve thought about MSM so many times over the years and sometimes thought I was remembering a dream. Thank you for bringing back some incredible memories!
Gabi Medina 03.5.2012
Hi
im doing a history project on mont saint michel but i cant seem to find any books on it. Do you know of any you could recommend?
MuseumChick 03.7.2012
Hi Gabi- I would try to look into France travel books or this one I found on Amazon.com —> http://www.amazon.com/Mont-Saint-Michel-Chartres-Henry-Adams/dp/144950227X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1331158773&sr=8-4
Hope this helps!
dr.Pártos Imre 10.23.2011
Exelent photos.
I should like to know et see about the elevator outside.
How did it operate? Engined?
Anybody knows please answer.
greet…
Pártos
Gary 09.29.2011
Is there any accommodation for those who cannot walk well?
MuseumChick 10.25.2011
Hi Gary- Unfortunately, not that I noticed.
Yee Suan 08.30.2011
Thank you for the wonderful and beautiful pictures!!
I intend to visit St Michel later this year in Dec. I was wondering how did you make the arrange to travel to St Michel? Did you travel from Paris Centre?
Would appreciate some advice here! thanks!
MuseumChick 10.25.2011
Hi Yee,
I traveled from Normady with a tour to see Mont St Michel. It is very far from Paris and could not be done in a day trip from Paris. Hope this helps!
Anthony 01.22.2012
Hello. Mt St Michelle is wonderful. I di not notice any accomodations for those who are not walking well up hills. There are many shops and restaurants to duck into if you get tired quickly. The most overwhelming thing I remember about the walk was just the crowd of people around the “tourist area” from the entrance up…
Sister Angela Lombard 08.3.2011
Thank you for such beautiful photographs! A real treat to view – many thanks – I really enjoyed this.
Sincerely,
Angela.
MuseumChick 08.3.2011
Hi Angela, Thank you for your thoughtful comment and I’m glad you enjoyed my photos!
Roger Gibeault 07.18.2011
I have been facinated by the mount for the past 60 years, painted a picture of it in oil and have visited it twice. I”m now 79 years old and hope to see it again sometime.
MuseumChick 07.26.2011
Hi Roger,
How nice that you got to paint Mont St Michel. Such a great subject! I hope you get to see it again also. Thanks for your comment! -Danee
Carol Dsouza 07.15.2011
Someday I will visit this historic divine shrine dedicated to Saint Michel, may my rosary beads bless with a divine pilgrimage. Amen
MuseumChick 07.26.2011
Hi Carol,
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I hope you get there also. -Danee
Robert Mead 06.21.2011
Hi Folks
Do you know what store had a status of saint joan of arc
on horseback?
I saw it at abby store . two weeks ago
color faked gold E= 26.00
Thnaks
Robert
MuseumChick 07.26.2011
Hi Robert,
Sorry to say I don’t have any info for you on this. -Danee
Donna 06.21.2011
I think this is an amazing place and I would love to visit it some day. The chances of that are slim so, I thank you for your pictures and story you shared. I would love to some day visit France and to see all the wonderful places. My Dad did our family tree and traced it back 13 grandfathers all the way from France.
For now I will try and at least visit some place closer to home. Maybe the Grand Canyon, I have lived in Arizona for 34 years and have never been. Not as spectacular as Mont St. Michel but, it’s a start.
Anyway, thanks again for sharing this truly magnificent place.
MuseumChick 07.26.2011
Hi Donna,
I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures of Mont St. Michel! Yes, the Grand Canyon would be a great start. I’ve been once and it was just as if not more spectacular than Mont St Michel!
Anthony 01.22.2012
Hello Donna. I am also from Arizona (living and working in SE Asia. I was very surprised to learn that Air Asia had flights to Paris from $500 round trip to Indonesia. Had been to Paris one time in 1986, but didn’t spend the night after being involved in a bomb scare, and hearing all the bogus info on “how rude” the French can be.
Let me tell you, I had the most fun and saw the nicest people during my 12 day trip to Paris/Normandy and Brittany. Keep dreaming about the Paris trip…it can happen, sometimes when you least expect it!
Anthony from Indonesia
Claudia L 05.19.2011
i live in Mexico, and i love saint michel-
Isabelle 05.11.2011
No need of a map, you just follow the flow. It is pedestrian and very small., but incredible.
Very interested also and almost unknown is the guided tour of the Bay of the Mont.
Visit http://www.cheminsdelabaie.com/
MuseumChick 05.19.2011
Hi Isabelle- Thanks for your comment and useful info!
Sverre Dehli 05.8.2011
Hi,
Very nice. Do you know the name of the Order at the Abbey ?
Regards
Sverre Dehli,Norway
MuseumChick 05.19.2011
Hi Sverre- Good question, I don’t know the name of the Order but I’ll try to find out and if I do I’ll let you know.
CLAUDIA L 05.2.2011
HI, I LIKE MONT SAINT MICHEL BUT THATS IMPOSSIBLE THAT I VISITED BECAUSE I LIVE SO FAR, THANKS FOR THE PICS BECAUSE IS THE WAY THAT I CAN KNOW ABOUT IT.
MuseumChick 05.19.2011
Hi Claudia- I’m glad you liked the post! Where do you live?
EllenM 02.8.2011
Thank you for the interesting post! I visted Mont St. Michel in 1999 and stayed overnight. It was fun eerie walking around at night. A very memorable time in France. Thank you for the stroll!
MuseumChick 02.11.2011
Hi Ellen- Oooh, staying at night sounds fun. Did you get to see the tide come in or change from day to night?
Robert Mead 12.30.2010
Hi Folks
Could you send me map of Mt. michel Island for
tour and where steps to up top?
How long will I could walk the steps to up to St. Michel church?
I plan to visit there in May 2011.
Thanks
Robert
MuseumChick 01.1.2011
Hi Robert – I'm sorry but I don't have a map. I was just a visitor so I am not an expert on Mt St Michel. But it was very interesting so have a great trip!
Alan 07.28.2011
Hi Robert, No map needed, just follow the crowd upward and prepare to be amazed. Unless you get there very early there will be a queue to join when you get near the Abbey. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
jontie 11.28.2010
we can not wait to go and visit, many thanks for the head start
jessiev 04.18.2010
very cool!! and where would you GET the omelette, if you had enough time? great photos!!