Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
What in the world is this fairytale-like castle?
Why is it on an island by itself?
It’s so breathtaking, can you give me a CPR?
You might ask these questions when you come across this magical-looking photo of Mont St. Michel across the internet. I will answer your questions, and hopefully by the end of this post, you’ll be ready for a new adventure!
Table of contents
What is Mont Saint-Michel and where is it located?
Ok, practical informations first! Mont Saint-Michel is a tidal island commune with a Benedictine abbey dedicated to the Archangel Michael (Saint Michel in French!). It is a UNESCO world heritage site in Normandy, northwestern France.
When I planned my trip to Paris, I knew for sure that I wanted to explore this place. How could I ever miss its majestic façade?!
It is a very popular destination, visited by 3+ million people each year. Presently, it is located 5 hours away from Paris by train and 4 hours by car. As it is quite a distance away, plan to spend 1-2 days exploring Mont St. Michel.
Why go to Mont Saint-Michel?
Firstly, there’s no other place like this in the world. This fortress-like island has been around since the 8th century as a pilgrimage site. Legend (and my tour guide 😂) says that its founding father, Aubert of Avranches, was visited by Archangel Michael himself to establish an abbey in this place.
Funnily enough, he did not comply right away, and as a result the Archangel poked him with a fiery finger AND BURNT A HOLE ON HIS HEAD* to make him comply with his request! Non-consensual trepanation, anyone?
*In case you are curious about the bishop’s skeleton… warning: actual skeleton inside 😱😭
The abbey was then established under the Benedictine order in 966. They kept building and adding majestic buildings to the complex, supported by the dukes and kings of France. It did not end there peacefully!
The complicated history meant that Mont Saint-Michel was closed down at one point, annexed, and was involved in the Hundred Years’ War between the French and the Brits. Amazingly, this historic monument remained unconquered!
It was then converted into a prison, and back as an active Benedictine abbey as of now. Tourists and pilgrims still visit this site to this day, and you can explore the interior of the abbey with a valid ticket.
What is inside this island?
Its 10th century quaint streets are lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, and bed & breakfasts. The most unmissable sights, though, are of the island itself. As the tide rise, the island turns into a fairytale castle from the middle ages surrounded by water.
This rocky islet cater to all 3 million visitors that come year-round. The most famous of all is the restaurant and hotel of La mère Poulard, established in 1888.
Surprisingly, this legendary hotel and restaurant still exists to this day and they are famous for their hand-whipped, woodfire baked souffle omelet. They do command a hefty price for this historical dish (32-45 EUR depending on the toppings!). Bring your own lunch to avoid the touristy prices 😉
What should I do there?
After my research, I knew I had 2 options: head up there myself via train or go on a group tour. To save some time and energy, I chose the tour. When traveling solo, sometimes arranging travels can be just overwhelming.
Given that I also had limited time available, I decided to have a relaxing weekend and chose a more convenient mode of transportation. I picked this group tour on Get Your Guide that has a reasonable arrival and departure time, and most importantly, good reviews!
Disclaimer:
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I woke up bright and early and gathered at the meet up point near the Trocadéro station. Bonus point: I got to see the Eiffel Tower at dawn! This place is usually PACKED with people, so it was a nice sight. Then, we started on our journey to Normandy.
Luckily, the bus ride was comfortable and our guide was witty and informative. We all introduced ourselves and had some time for a little nap. Afterwards, we had one stop at the highway rest stop after 2 hours, and then we continued on our merry way.
When we reached Normandy, our guide told us some interesting modern and historical facts about the area. Did you know that curious Normandy cows gave away the position of Allies’ soldiers to the enemy? Poor, innocent cows 😭
I chose to walk to the island to appreciate the wonderful view, taking plenty of pictures along the way. After 45 minutes, I reached the island and went into the Benedictine abbey with the ticket given by my tour guide. You are free to explore the island by yourself!
To be honest, the interior of this historic monument was (understandably) modest in comparison to the luxurious surroundings I was exposed to in Paris, but the stonework and historical stories were the very attractions of the place. Luckily, the church service was in full swing when I entered and I was able to listen to the choir.
The view from above the 10th century abbey was very beautiful, and I could see the sandy surroundings of the island from the terrasse. Peace and tranquility were evident throughout the building.
What can I do in Mont Saint-Michel?
Go stroll around the island, it is filled with cobblestone-lined streets and quaint shops. History buffs, you can also eat the famous omelette of the historical restaurant and B&B La mère Poulard (est. 1888!), or the crepes at La sirène lochet.
Another key point, be aware that there are a lot of stairs. When combined with the cobblestones, it might pose a challenge to those with mobility issues.
Once you have climbed the stairs, you can enter the Benedictine abbey and explore its medieval interiors, you can buy the tickets through their official website (available 1 month in advance). It costs 11 EUR per person for the adult ticket and free for <18-25 year-old EU residents. Thankfully, my tour admission also included the audio guide! When purchased separately, the audio guide is 3 EUR.
Ticket Costs
Adult: 11 EUR
18-25 y/o EU residents: FREE!
Audio guide: 3 EUR
Finally, hang out in the beach when the tide is low. There are many seabirds that you can observe, and you can even build sandcastles!
The tides only rise up at night, and it is dangerous! Please be careful and only visit the tides with a professional guide that is familiar with the Mont Saint-Michel tides.
To sum up, the village shops, sandy beaches, the Benedictine abbey from the middle ages, and the fantastic natural environment and vieware the main attraction points of this area.
What are my options to go to Mont Saint-Michel from Paris?
In short, there are three options:
Option 1: Independent trip via train
Duration: 5 hours
Mode of transportation: Train
Cost: ~30 EUR
What to do:
- Take the 7.32 am train from Paris Montparnasse to Pontorson.
- Change in Pontorson to the shuttle bus to Mont Saint-Michel. The shuttle bus has a 60 passenger capacity! It will drop you off at the Place Navettes, where the direct-to-the-island Passeur shuttle bus will pick you up.
Option 2 (my choice!): Guided trip via bus
Duration: 4 hours
Mode of transportation: Bus
Cost: ~130 EUR
What to do:
- Book the tour through this link.
- Gather at Trocadéro before 7 am!
- Sit back and relax, and after 4 hours you will arrive at Mont Saint-Michel.
- Walk or take the free Passeur shuttle up to the island. To get the best of both worlds, I suggest to walk there and take the shuttle back, as the most magnificent view you’ll have is when you are walking up to Mont Saint-Michel. If you choose to walk, it will take ~45 minutes one way and the shuttle back can take you up to 30 minutes (with waiting time) as it can get really crowded.
Option 3: Independent trip via car
Duration: 4 hours
Mode of transportation: Car
What to do:
- From Paris, drive 4 hours to the visitor car parks. The parking area is accessible via A11 and A13. It is located around 3 km from the entrance of Mont Saint-Michel itself. Hotel visitors can park at a special area (P3) that is only for hotel customers!
- You can take the free shuttle to the island, but I suggest to walk there at least one way. The best pictures will be during this walk up to the island! To see more details, check our their official website.
Hope you find my post useful! Have fun exploring Mont Saint-Michel!
P.S. = Once you’re back in Paris, check out my croissant ranking to get the most scrumptious pastry. If you are looking for a beach day trip, start here!
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