Legend says that the archangel Michael appeared to St. Aubert in 708 AD and instructed him to build a church atop the rocky outcrop of granite that sits just offshore the coast of Normandy in northern France. The Benedictine Abbey, which sits at its peak, is surrounded by a small medieval village at its base.
Mont St. Michel is circled by the sea and connected to the mainland by a causeway. The area is unique for the high tides (the highest in Europe) which quickly wash into the bay roughly 36 to 48 hours following a full or new moon. Victor Hugo once described them as coming "as swiftly as a galloping horse." Some areas surrounding the area are like quicksand so walking the beach/bay area is not recommended. An aerial diagram and other photos are on this Wikipedia site. The monastery is also featured in the Bayeux Tapestry.
To learn more about the history of Mont St. Michel, go to the official web site and click "History." It celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 1966! It also served as a prison during the French Revolution. The sites to visit are the abbey, the museums, and the parish church (click "Places to Visit). For a printable map of the island, go to this map. After the map of the area loads, then click on "See the interior plan" in the "You Can" pop-up box.
The bus will take us via the causeway to the main gate, however travel on the island itself is by foot only. The walled city at the base is full of shops and cafes (their specialties are fluffy omelettes and saltmarsh lamb raised nearby-although expensive), but escape up to the steep ramparts and get a fabulous view of the mudflats.
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