The imposing figure of Mont Saint Michel.
Mont Saint Michel is a stunning medieval monastery and fortress set a few hundred meters off the coast of Brittany in northern France. Protected from invaders and once a great and arduous pilgrimage for the faithful, today anyone can visit if they know how. Many make the mistake of thinking that an organized tour bus is the only way to go, but for those who wish to explore on their own, take their time wandering the walled fortress, have lunch or maybe even stay the night, doing it yourself is best.
Instructions
1. The church at Ste. Mere-Eglise.
Reserve a car in Caen and depart Paris for the city by two-hour (give or take 15 minutes) train from Gare du Nord. Collect your car at the rail station and head west on A84 toward Avranches. For those with an interest in World War II history, Caen and its environs are worth a few days exploration. Caen features an excellent World War II museum and many remnants of D-Day and the battle of Normandy. By driving the area from Caen to the northern coast you will find sights including the beaches of Sword, Juno, Gold, Utah and Omaha laid out from Le Havre in the east to Point du Hoc in the west, Bayeaux, Honfleur, Port-en-Bessin, Deauville, Ste. Mere-Eglise and countless other small and significant villages, towns and military cemeteries which stand as memorials to the great war.
2. The castles of Normandy.
At Avranches, continue on A84 to Montjoie-Saint-Martin, where you must switch to N176 west toward Pontorson. Pontorson is a small town and the last stop before entering the long narrow road which will take you to the coast and Mont Saint Michel. If you wish to have a meal or purchase any necessities, you will find the prices in Pontorson far more reasonable than anything on the way or in the site itself. The total distance from Caen to Pontorson is 126 kilometers.
3. The Brittany Coast.
At Pontorson, take the road D976 toward Mont Saint Michel and drive about 6 kilometers to the coast, where you will find a very large parking area on the right. Follow the signs and the roadside assistants positioned along the shoulder who will guide you into the parking lot. This is a public lot which charges a set rate for the day. At peak times (summer) this lot may become quite crowded but is very rarely full.
4. The Mont from the shoreline.
Park in the lot as directed and walk toward the coast, where you will have the best available view of the landward side of Mont Saint Michel. Take photos before you get too close or the full scene will not fit into your viewfinder without a wide-angle lens. Enter the city through a gate at the end of the roadway and walk into the medieval streets as they were hundreds of years ago.
5. Saint Michel
Walk to the top of the Mont where you will find the monastery that gives this landmark its name. Michel is the French for Michael, who in Christianity is one of the archangels of heaven. Don't forget to wander the ramparts for perfect views of the surrounding landscape and walk off the main thoroughfare into the hidden alleys and gardens of the people who call Mont Saint Michel home.
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