By rail
Rennes, ~1.5 h by TGV from Paris, then a shuttle
Europe · France
Mont-Saint-Michel, France
An abbey island in the tides
Getting there
By air
Paris (CDG), ~4 h by road
Best time to visit
April to June and September — mild, fewer crowds
Don't miss
The Abbey
The Grande Rue
The ramparts
The bay
Things to do
The abbey
Watching the tide rush in
The ramparts at dusk
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Diliff · Public domain
What to pack
Walking shoes, layers
A quieter corner
Crossing the bay on foot with a guide
Questions travellers ask
How do I get to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris?
Take the TGV to Rennes, about 1.5 hours from Paris, then a shuttle. By road from Paris (CDG), it's about 4 hours.
When should I visit Mont-Saint-Michel?
April to June and September, when it's mild with fewer crowds. Bring walking shoes and layers.
Can I walk across the bay to Mont-Saint-Michel?
Yes, you can cross the bay on foot with a guide. Back on the island, visit the abbey, watch the tide rush in and walk the ramparts at dusk.
What should I eat at Mont-Saint-Michel?
Try the fluffy omelettes and the salt-meadow lamb.
About Mont-Saint-Michel
- Island
- Coastal
Where it is
Mont-Saint-Michel is a rocky tidal island in Normandy, north-west France, rising about 1 km off the coast at the mouth of the Couesnon river, near Avranches and close to the border with Brittany.
History
According to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared in 708 to Aubert, bishop of Avranches, and told him to build a church on the rock. A Benedictine abbey grew here from the 10th century and drew pilgrims from across Europe; the fortified island served as a prison from the Revolution until 1863, and with its bay it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
People
Only a small community lives on the island itself, among them the monks and nuns of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem, who have kept up religious life in the abbey since 2001. On the salt meadows of the bay farmers raise sheep for prized pré-salé lamb, and Normandy's butter, cream and cider fill local menus.
Known for
- The Benedictine abbey and La Merveille
- Tides with a range of about 14 m
- Guided walks across the bay at low tide
- The Grande Rue and the ramparts
- Omelettes of La Mère Poulard
Did you know?
The fortified island held out through the whole of the Hundred Years' War and was never captured; in 1433 its small garrison fought off a full English assault.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.