Must-Know Tips Before Visiting Mont Saint-Michel

MONT SAINT MICHEL

You’ve seen it on Instagram and Pinterest… but there’s a few things you should know about this beautiful place in Normandy before coming to visit! In this video, I explore Mont Saint-Michel and give you the details!

Here are several lesser-known facts about this iconic location.

Firstly, Mont Saint-Michel is technically an island, but only about 20 days a year, during the spring, does the tide rise high enough to completely surround it. Visitors should also expect cloudy weather, as there is more than a 50% chance that the area will be shrouded in fog or clouds on any given day. The best opportunity for clear skies is in the summer, though monitoring the forecast is essential.

This site is the most visited tourist destination in France outside of Paris, attracting millions of visitors annually. With its immense popularity, the area is filled with shops, restaurants, and souvenir stores, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a theme park rather than a quaint French village. Tourists should expect large crowds from all over the world.

Exploring Mont Saint-Michel requires considerable walking, with many steep staircases. A fitness tracker recorded over 30 flights of steps just to reach the abbey at the top. While there are no elevators, the climb is worthwhile, offering stunning views of the surrounding tidal basin. The difference between high tide and low tide can reach up to 46 feet, and on a clear day, visitors can witness the impressive shadow of Mont Saint-Michel cast onto the sand below.

The abbey itself is a historical marvel. Though the church dates back over a thousand years, its signature spire was only added in 1896. Inside, visitors can admire breathtaking arches, altars, and stained glass windows. However, despite its beauty, Mont Saint-Michel once served as a prison during the French Revolution due to its secure location, isolated from the mainland. This function was short-lived, and by the late 1800s, the site was restored and became a tourist attraction.

During World War II, Mont Saint-Michel was occupied by the Nazis and became a notable destination for German soldiers. Fortunately, after the war, it was returned to French authorities and remains accessible to the public today. While entry is free, visitors must pay for parking and either take a shuttle or walk to the island. For those choosing to walk, it is recommended to approach Mont Saint-Michel rather than walk away from it to fully appreciate its spectacular view.

here in Normandy France today at Mont St Michelle and I’m going to tell you 10 things you probably don’t know about this place first this place is technically an island but there’s only about 20 days a year in the spring where the tide comes up high enough to surround this place second plan on clouds on any given day there’s greater than 50% chance that this place will be shrouded in clouds and fog your best chance is in the summer months but watch the weather or you could visit as I did once when it looked like this next this is the most popular tourist destination in France that’s outside of Paris millions of people visit here every year this means there’s lots of shops there’s lots of things to see and buy lots of souvenirs lots of restaurants to eat at it also looks like it’s something straight out of Universal Studios and you’ll find big crowds here from all over the world don’t expect a quaint French Village you’ll not be alone here next there’s a lot of walking and a lot of stairs to climb my fitness tracker shows that I went up over 30 flights of steps to get to the ABY just be prepared cuz there’s no elevator the views however are worth it as you get to admire the ABY and look out at the entire tidle Basin that surrounds the area now the difference between high tide and low tide is up to 46 ft if the sun is shining and the weather’s just right you can even even admire the shadow of M St Michelle in the sand and Sil below by the way that top Spire that gives malt St Michelle its signature look is a relatively new addition the church was built over a thousand years ago but that top Spire was only added in 1896 inside very impressive as well as there’s arches and altars and alos and stained glass windows to admire at one point in time as beautiful as this place is M St Michelle was used as a prison this was around the years of the French Revolution and it was considered a secure place being that it was an island away from the mainland and difficult to escape now this didn’t last long by the late 1800s it had been restored and became a popular tourist destination during World War II this was occupied by the Nazis and became a popular destination for Germans fortunately it was turned back over to the French authorities after the war and nowadays free for anyone to come of course there is a parking fee and you do have to catch a shuttle or you can walk to M St Michelle if you do decide to take the walk make sure to take the walk to mon Michelle not away from it just so you can enjoy the view on the way