Le Mont-Saint-Michel

Le Mont-Saint-Michel is one of THE spots you're supposed to see in France.  It is a fortified abbey that was build starting in the 11th century and was added to for the next 300 years.  It is in a unique location where for the most part it was surrounded by water.  During the 100 years war during the 14th and 15th centuries, it was besieged by the English for 30 years and never was taken.

Anyway, it is one of THE places you're supposed to see but some how over the 40 plus years that I've been coming to France I never went there...until now.  Wife and I saw it was right on our route back from our Brittany rental back to Amsterdam so we decided to do a stop over.  It was well, well worth the time and every bit deserving of its reputation.  We really lucked out.  It is way before peak season.  There were a number of (mostly Asian) tour groups visiting but we were able to time our touring of the abbey between various groups so we mostly were almost by ourselves.

But first a final shot from Plougrescant

This is the little boulangerie (bakery)/

--> épicerie (small grocery) where I went every morning to get our bread.  The custom of the local bakery seems revived, alive and well in France

 

And now the main even, LE MONT-SAINT-MICHEL

(Le Mont-Saint-Michel is named after the Archangel Michael, my namesake.  I've always felt that the Archangel and I are kind of buds because of this)

Granduer

 
Panoramas

Walls

Interiors

Stairs - Freakin tons of stairs

Camera Sherpa After Carrying The Load Over The Freakin Tons of Stairs

Joy Of Out Of Season Hotels