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| Le Mont-Saint-Michel | ||
| region | Some | |
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| Residents | 30 (2018) | |
| height | 5 | |
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Mont Saint-Michel is a french Island in the English Channel. It is located in the Wadden Sea around one kilometer off the coast of Normandy at the confluence of the Couesnon. The island is also an independent municipality (with city rights) and belongs to the department Some. The bay and the mountain are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
background
Politically, the municipality belongs to the Arrondissement of Avranches and the Canton of Pontorson.
The monastery, built on a rock, rises up to 157 meters above the sea. A first chapel was built on this rock in 708. Today's Benedictine monastery was built between the 11th and 16th centuries. Dominating the approximately 55,000 m² island with a circumference of around 830 m, the monastery is considered one of the best examples of a fortified abbey and is also a good example of French medieval architecture.
The city of Le Mont-Saint-Michel lived from pilgrims in the Middle Ages and today from tourism.
Despite the fact that around 3.5 million visitors visit the island every year, Benedictine monks still live and work in the monastery today.
In order to prevent further silting up of the bay, it was decided that the dam would be broken down and replaced by a stilt bridge. For this reason, 2011 to 2015[outdated] Disabilities are expected. A tidal dam for the river has also been built.
getting there
By plane
The closest major airport is in Rennes, it is about 90 km south of Mont-Saint-Michel. There is a bus connection (four times a day). The small regional airport is even closer Dinard (approx. 60 km to the west), but there is no transfer by public transport from there.
By train
From Gare Montparnasse in Paris you can take the TGV to Dol-de-Bretagne or Rennes, from where there are coordinated shuttles directly to Mont-Saint-Michel (see under Bus). In total it takes 3:40 hours.
The closest train station to Mont-Saint-Michel is in Pontorson (9 km south). Regional express trains (TER) stop there from Lison via Saint-Lô, Courtances, Folligny and Avranches as well as from Rennes via Dol-de-Bretagne. Buses run from the train station to Mont-Saint-Michel.
By bus
Keolis offers direct buses to Mont-Saint-Michel four or three times a day from Rennes and the Dol-de-Bretagne TGV train station. From Dol-de-Bretagne you drive 30 minutes and pay € 8, from Rennes 1:10 hours and € 15. The departures of the buses are coordinated with the arrival times of the TGV from Paris. It takes a total of 3:40 hours from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel.
There is a direct bus from Saint-Malo to Mont-Saint-Michel once a day, the journey takes 1:15 hours. Four times a day there is also a cheap transfer connection via Pontorson, which takes a maximum of 1:45 hours. Current timetable
In the street
There are several large car parks near Mont-Saint-Michel, from which shuttle buses take visitors to Mont-Saint-Michel in around 10 minutes. The cycle is very close and adapted to the rush, there are hardly any waiting times. The shuttle buses are included in the price for the parking space.
Parking lot P3 is reserved for overnight guests (with access code from the hotel).
Coming from the northeast (Germany, Paris, Normandy) take the A 13 motorway to Caen, then continue on the A 84, which finally continues as the N 175. At the junction of the N 175 from the A 84, take the N 175 in the direction of St-Brieuc / St-Malo / Le Mont-St-Michel. You leave this at the next exit onto the D 40 to Mont-St-Michel, then you just have to follow the signs.
From the south-east (Switzerland, Central France) you drive on the A 11 to Le Mans, there you change to the A 81, later to the A 84. You leave this at junction no. 33 (Le Mont-St-Michel), from which you only need to follow the signs.
From the north coast of Brittany (Brest, Saint-Brieuc, Saint-Malo) you can take the motorway-like national roads N 12 and N 176 to Mont-Saint-Michel.
By boat
Ferries from England (Portsmouth and Poole) and the Channel Islands arrive in Saint-Malo. From there it is approx. 55 km to Mont-Saint-Michel.
By bicycle
The Mont-Saint-Michel is on the European long-distance cycle route EuroVelo 4which runs from Germany through the Netherlands, Belgium and along the French north coast. In the other direction, it continues along the Atlantic to Saint-Malo and Roscoff. In addition, the French cycle route V40 leads from Paris via Chartres and Alençon to Mont-Saint-Michel.
mobility
Since 2012, all parking spaces are 2.5 km away on the mainland. A shuttle bus brings tourists who do not want to walk over the newly built bridge to the island. The bus also stops at the hotels on the mainland en route.
You can only move around the island on foot. The streets are narrow, narrow alleys and numerous stairs are exciting to walk and offer many interesting perspectives.
Tourist Attractions
The entire island with the monastery as well as the surrounding bay have been under the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
The best thing about Mont-Saint-Michel is the view of it from a distance. The sightseeing itself is an ordeal, especially in the main holiday season, because of the large number of holidaymakers. The often-vaunted lamb chops are far better on the mainland in the area.
The island's monastery buildings offer one of the best vantage points on the French Channel coast. Often there is a view to the island Tombelaine possible in the middle of the Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel. A visit to the abbey and the monastery area is highly recommended, the price of € 10 is worth it. German-speaking tours are available at certain times, duration approx. 1 hour.
activities
shop
kitchen
There are a number of large restaurants on the mainland that specialize in handling large tour groups. There are often two different menus that are served in a record-breaking time and the culinary demands of which are limited.
The island doesn't offer great French cuisine either, but it is a little more pleasant.
- La Cloche, Grande rue 50170 Mont St Michel. Tel.: 33 (0)2 33 60 15 65. This creperie offers crepes and galettes on the rocky island. The quality is okay and has a hint of French flair.
nightlife
accommodation
Access with motorized vehicles to the hotels, restaurants and the campsite on the mainland is only possible for customers. You will receive the code for the barrier with the reservation.
- 1 Camping du Mont-Saint Michel, Route du Mont Saint-Michel, 50170 Le Mont Saint-Michel (on the mainland, approx. 500 m to the bridge that leads to Mont Saint Michel). Tel.: 33 2-33-60-22-10. Campsite for tents, caravans and mobile homes with spacious plots. Unisex toilets and showers, washing machine as well as electricity and supply and disposal are available. A prior (even at very short notice) reservation of the campsite by telephone is compulsory, as this is the only way to obtain the code for the access barrier to the area with the hotels, restaurants and the campsite (the hotel zone). In addition to the accommodation costs for the campsite, there is an additional EUR 6.50 / 24 hours for access to the hotel zone. This fee can be paid at the barrier with a Maestro or credit card.
