Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Lists
View all Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy lists
Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy Videos
View all Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy videos
Pictures
View all Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy pictures (58 more)
Le Mont-Saint-Michel (pronounced: [lษ mษฬ sษฬ mi.สษl]; English: Saint Michael's Mount) is an island commune in Normandy, France. It is located about one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 100 hectares (247 acres) in size. As of 2009, the island has a population of 44.
The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, houses for fishermen and farmers.
Its unique position โ on an island just 600 metres from land โ made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, but defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned would-be assailants. The Mont remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. The reverse benefits of its natural defence were not lost on Louis XI, who turned the Mont into a prison. Thereafter the abbey began to be used more regularly as a jail during the Ancien Rรฉgime.
One of France's most recognizable landmarks, visited by more than 3 million people each year, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France as monuments historiques.
The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, houses for fishermen and farmers.
Its unique position โ on an island just 600 metres from land โ made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, but defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned would-be assailants. The Mont remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. The reverse benefits of its natural defence were not lost on Louis XI, who turned the Mont into a prison. Thereafter the abbey began to be used more regularly as a jail during the Ancien Rรฉgime.
One of France's most recognizable landmarks, visited by more than 3 million people each year, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France as monuments historiques.
Tags:
My tags:
Add tags
Update feed
luisa31 added this to want to visit list 4 years, 4 months ago
unicornsugar added this to a list 4 years, 11 months ago
Places I'd Like to Visit (27 places items)
unicornsugar added this to a list 5 years, 1 month ago
Places I'd Like to Visit (27 places items)
browser posted a image 5 years, 11 months ago
patvyn added this to have visited list 7 years, 1 month ago
Rylvan posted a video 7 years, 6 months ago
Rylvan posted a video 7 years, 6 months ago
Rylvan voted for an image 7 years, 6 months ago
Rylvan added this to a list 7 years, 6 months ago
Places I Want To Go (40 places items)
Rylvan posted a video 7 years, 6 months ago
Rylvan added this to want to visit list 7 years, 6 months ago
Tommyblond added this to want to visit list 8 years, 1 month ago