Magnifique Mont-Saint- Michel

As we drove toward Mont St-Michel, 
it came into view when we were about 7k's away...it is breathtaking.

The long history of Mont-Saint- Michel

is thought to date back to 708, when the Archangel Michael

appeared to the Bishop of Avranches.

The bishop then had an Abbey with a sanctuary built on the island.

The Mount soon became a major focus of pilgrimage.

In the 10^th century the Benedictines settled in the Abbey,

a village grew up below the walls.

From then until the 16^th century a series of increasingly

splendid buildings, in the Romanesque

and then the Gothic style succeeded one another

on this mount dedicated to the Archangel Michael.

The bay surrounding Mont-Saint-Michel,

which features on UNESCO's list of

World Heritage and Cultural Sites,

is also exceptional on account of its tidal range,

the greatest in continental Europe.

During Spring tides the sea level can rise 

up to 15 metres between low and high tide.

Pilgrims flocked to the mount with such excesses of fervour

that the church authorities were obliged to intervene.

Many thousands crossed the bay,

some drowned, others perished in the quicksand.

The Abbey fell into decline and was converted into a prison

for political prisoners during the French Revolution.

Further dilapidation ensued.

In 1874 the Abbey passed into the care of the Historic Monuments Department. Since 2001 monks have been again in residence conducting services in the Abbey Church. As we walked though the Abbey Church

today a service was underway,

a group of nuns were singing, it was beautiful.

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Just a few photos taken during our tour.

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Finally, I met this gorgeous seagull on the West Terrace.

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Today we walked 12.5 k's