Mont Saint-Michel Travel Guide

Mont Saint-Michel (often written Mont St Michel, with other variations) is a small UNESCO World Heritage site on an island just off the coast near Avranches in the departmentof Manche of Normandy in northern France. The island is best known as the site of the spectacular and well-preserved Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Michel at the peak of the rocky island, surrounded by the winding streets and convoluted architecture of the medieval town.

You can no longer drive along the causeway. A car park has been built on the mainland (€14 per car) and access to the mount is either on foot across the causeway (about a mile), or by one of the freePasseur[dead link]shuttle buses which run frequently from 07:30 to 12:00. However, there is quite a long walk from the car park to the shuttle stop and at the mount end there is a walk of several hundred metres to the entrance. The causeway has been completely demolished and the buses are now cros

The only way around Mont St Michel is on foot, and there are two gates into the walled city. The48.634963-1.5113451Porte de l'Avancée., the main gate at the end of the causeway, leads straight to the48.63558-1.509932Grande Rue., which is packed chock-a-block with souvenir shops and tourists. Escape right up the stairs to the48.635232-1.5098643ramparts., which are a little less packed and offer great views of the mudflats. The lesser-used48.635372-1.5122784Porte Échauguette., to the left of the m

The tidal mudflats surrounding the island contain areas of deep mud and quicksand. Visitors to the island are advised not to attempt crossing the flats by foot. However, if you decide to attempt the crossing, be prepared to take off your shoes and clean up your feet afterwards, as the flats are extremely muddy. The tide here is one of the fastest-rising in Europe, and as such you shouldneverattempt any walks on the sands without checking the tide tables. It is also advisable to only attempt the

Mont Saint-Michel has a number of small hotels within the island township. A selection of much larger hotels are available on the mainland opposite the island. There is a free shuttle bus that connects these hotels to the island between 07:30 and midnight, running every few minutes. There are also hotels in the nearby town ofPontorson. Many visitors choose to daytrip fromRennesorSaint-Maloinstead as the island can be comfortably covered in a few hours. The car park allows motor homes to stay ove