VISIT MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, NORMANDY
WE TAKE YOU TO MONT-SAINT-MICHEL & AROUND
Our tailor-made luxury holidays in Normandy take to the Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, erected on a rocky python, in the middle of a huge bay in the English Channel, facing the Channel Islands. It’s a must-see on the Normandy coast.
The Benedictine abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is dedicated to the Archangel Saint-Michel, Saint-Michel being, for believers, ” the one who directs our internal and external struggles, the struggles of our human life ”.
It has been a high place of pilgrimage since the 8th century and thanks to its fortifications, the island was never accessible to the English, even during the 100 Years War.
To reach the top of the abbey, you have to go through the Châtelet and its two towers. It is by this staircase that the faithful of the Middle Ages accessed to the last stage of their pilgrimage and reached the terrace at the foot of the Archangel. In the Middle Ages, it was smaller than today. After a fire, the Benedictine monks of the 18th century decided to rebuild the building by rearranging the surface. To enjoy a magnificent view, stroll under the arcades, a sort of open-air hanging gardens, of what is called the Wonder. It is a set of buildings located right next to the church, constructions of the 13th century which measure 90 m in height, a sort of skyscraper placed at the top of the rocky outcrop with the cloister as the central element.
In the Middle Ages, the monks considered that these arcades supported by marble columns of England, were the image of heaven on earth and today still go to the arcades to pray.
Witnessing a high tide is always a surprising sight and the abbey opens just at dawn for guests to witness. The day rises and the sea prepares to enter the scene in a spectacle long forgotten until today. At dawn, the mountain becomes an island again, this only happens about twenty times a year.
Crossing the bay and taking the path of the pilgrims who have been going to the Mount for 1000 years, knowing that before the construction of the abbey it was already a Celtic place of pilgrimage, is an unforgettable experience.
You must of course leave with a guide who will explain to you how to avoid sinking into the quicksand. Once these difficulties are overcome, after 2 km of walking on the sandbanks comes the reward. Pilgrims from the Middle Ages used to enter via the north face of the rock and, as tradition dictates, they are greeted by the village priest, Father Henri, a figure from Mont-Saint-Michel.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES FEATURING MONT-SAINT-MICHEL
Our itineraries featuring Mont-Saint-Michel give you ideas on what is possible to do when you travel to Normandy. Our specialists can help you choose how to include them in your full trip, based on your preferences.
NORMANDY D-DAY LUXURY PRIVATE TOUR
With our historian retracing history of the Allied assault, you’ll receive an expert insight on the day of June 6, 1944. Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword Beach… your private guide will deepen your knowledge around this important historical event.
NORMANDY BRITTANY: BREATHE, LEARN, MARVEL
Our luxury holidays in Normandy take you to the heart of its history through its architecture, monuments, places steeped and will also make you discover the Normandy of today, the culture and the know-how of those who live there.
MUST SEE & DO
What you shouldn’t miss to see and do while traveling to Mont-Saint-Michel
MOUNT THE ABBEY AND ENJOY CIDER
Explore the splendid abbey of Mont Saint Michel with a quality visit and take part in a tasting of Calvados and Normandy cider and get informed on their production thanks to a local producer. Everything is offered as a personalized private experience.
Cross the bay of Mont Saint-Michel on foot
Follow the pilgrims who went beyond their certainties, their physical capacities and found the inner strength to reach the end of their path. A way to take the measure of the daily struggles that inhabit man: pride and humility, measure and excess, good and evil…
FIND OUT THE MONT SAINT MICHEL DIFFERENTLY
Put on the equipment and enjoy, in the wind, the pearls of the Manchoise coast and the bay of Mont Saint Michel while paragliding. The different formulas offered adapt to your desires but one thing is certain : you won’t be disappointed. Enough to see you offer a new and unusual point of view on the Mount while avoiding the crowds.
OTHER DESTINATIONS YOU MAY LIKE
Exclusive Champagne Tour & VIP Tastings
Our luxury private Champagne tasting tours are an invitation to live a unique experience. Our oenologists make you discover the history and the cellars of family houses which wrote the history of champagne, a journey through time which will take you to the depths of sumptuous Gallo-Roman Crayères.
Relax on the Pink Granite Coast
Brittany is not lacking in fascinating culture and bewitching beauty. We have traveled up and down the Côtes-d’Armor to organize a trip that will allow you to get your fill of the great outdoors…
EXPLORE PARIS IN STYLE
Paris, the most romantic capital city in the world, will captivate and enchant you with its beauty and unbeatable elegance. During our Paris private guided visits, learn about the Louvre Museum’s biggest masterpieces without spending all day there, admire the architecture of the very famous Opéra Garnier outside opening hours, and discover an unmissable historic heritage of the right bank