“Bastille des Mers” the “Bastille of the Sea”

Le Mont-Saint-Michel in France is a renowned island and mainland commune in Normandy. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site! I can’t help but believe it is a magical place! It also made me wonder if this place inspired Hogwarts. Following my internet search, the answer is no. But I find that a little hard to believe.

We were lucky to see this enchanting site with our own eyes. Le Mont-St-Michel was the last stop on our epic Coastal Normandy Road Trip.

The details of our incredible Coastal Normandy Road Trip can be found here…

Visit Normandy France: The Best 3-Day Road Trip

About Mont Saint Michel, France

• Le Mont-Saint-Michel is the island and commune in Normandy. The island is on the northwest coast of France, where the Cousnon River meets the English Channel.

• Mont-Saint-Michel is an active commune with residents, a mayor, a post office, disposal services, and law enforcement.

• Both the island and the bay are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Mont-Saint-Michel was created in the 8th century as part of a Christian pilgrimage. The bishop from Avranches proposed and oversaw the creation of Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel. He claimed The Archangel Michael came to him with the vision of this stunning place.

More Fun Facts

• I am a Disney fan, so I was very excited when I read that Mont Saint-Michel inspired Corona Castle in Tangled! 

• Free Admissions!

  • Anyone under the age of 18 gets free entry.  
  • EU residents under the age of 26 also get in for free!

• Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel closed in the late 1700s and was converted into a prison. 

  • Thank goodness it’s now a historical site we can visit! 

Helpful Tips for Visiting Mont-Saint-Michel, France

• Tickets are available one month in advance. 

  • Set your alarm to remind yourself to get those tickets. You want to be prompt if you plan on visiting in the summer. 
  • When you buy your ticket, you have to select a time slot. Your time slot is your entrance time. The times are somewhat flexible, but you must arrive within your frame. 

    • For example, if you buy a 9:30 a.m. ticket, your ticket is only valid between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. 
    • You will find the exact timeline on the website when you buy your ticket. 

• Be prepared for lots of tourists

  • This place is legendary. Therefore, crowded. You will inevitably see rows of tour buses in the parking lot. Be patient and mindful. 
  • Here are a few tips if you are trying to avoid the large crowds

    • Visit on weekdays. They are least busy on Wednesdays and Thursdays. 
    • Go outside of peak times. Get there before 9 a.m. or visit after 3 p.m. 
    • The crowds are not terrible in May, early June, and mid to late September. These months also have a better chance of good weather. 
    • We went in early November. The weather was not perfect, but the crowds were minimal.

• You can make your visit as long or as short as you want!

  • Most people visit for a day trip. The average time spent here is between 4 to 7 hours.  
  • We were here for about 5 hours. Again, it was not busy during our visit. 

• The cobbled streets and steps are not stroller-friendly. 

  • Folded strollers are allowed, but we saw families pushing small strollers around. Both the parents and the kids looked utterly miserable. 

What You Need to Know Before you Visit

• No pets allowed- not even in pet bags. 

• Luggage and large bags are not allowed inside. 

  • There is also no place to store your luggage and large bags on the island. 

The Weather is Weird…

• Come prepared for chilly weather – bring a jacket or a sweater.

  • Mont-Saint-Michel is dreamy because of its location. With that in mind, remember it is an island surrounded by water. The weather here is variable and hard to predict. 
  • It is usually windy, and they often receive rain. They even experience scattered rain in the summer months. 
  • We came on a rainy and windy day in November. It added an aura of mystery to this enchanting place. I’m thankful we brought rain gear. With the rain and the wind, we got soaked. Unfortunately, there are few places to duck and hide when the weather is crummy. Finding shelter from the rain is more of a challenge when there are more tourists.  

Notes About Parking:

• The land itself is delicate. Hence, the parking lots are further from the island.

• The parking lots were easy to find. There are plenty of signs when you get into the general area.

• You have to pay for parking. We used a parking meter in the lot.

• The parking lot is giant! Make sure you remember where you park your car. 

  • I always have a hard time remembering. I usually take a picture or make a note on my phone. 

• There are 3 options to get to/from the parking lot to Mont Saint-Michel…

  • There is a free shuttle/bus to and from the parking lot to the island. The shuttle is about a 10-minute ride. It runs in regular intervals.
  • You can pay for a horse-drawn carriage. Although it seems like this option was weather dependent.
  • You can also walk. The walk from the parking lot is about 3.4km/2.1 miles.

    • I love walking, but the weather was pretty bad when we went. From what I could see, it seemed like there was a sidewalk the entire length of the walk.

Visiting Le Mont Saint-Michel in France

This mythical island has a surprising amount to see and do! Give yourself plenty of time to visit the many sites around Le Mont-Saint-Michel in France.

Mont Saint-Michel, France

• Mont Saint-Michel, France

  • It is free to explore the town and island on your own! 
  • Stop by the Église Saint-Pierre and the graveyard. They are quick but intriguing stops. 
  • There are plenty of shops, small historic sites, and stores.  
  • There are a few smaller museums and independent tourist stops inside. All of those prices will vary. 

    • We didn’t go inside any extra tourist stops that were not free. We noticed an Archéoscope and a couple of small history museums.  

  • You will also find a handful of restaurants and hotels! 

Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel

• The Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel is a big draw for why people travel here. It was founded in the 8C, and it is magnificent beyond words.

• Be prepared for stairs!

  • Once on the island, it is an uphill walk to the Abbaye. Then you have to walk up about 200 stairs to the entrance. Once you’re inside, there are about 150 steps to get to the top of the building. 

• Mind the queue

  • We went first thing in the morning during the off-season, which resulted in a shorter line for security and ticket purchasing. We noticed the ropes set up for a long queue. They were set up for later in the day and during peak season. 

• Audio Guides

  • I highly recommend paying for the self-guided audio tour and bringing your headphones. 
  • There are few explanations in French and no explanations of the building in English. We, therefore, would have been pretty lost without the audio guide. I really enjoyed hearing about the history and construction of the site.
  • Bring headphones! The rooms echo, and it gets pretty busy. It was hard to hear the audio speaker from my device, especially with everybody else blasting their speakers and talking. And…. Your arm will tire from holding the speaker up to your ear… at least mine did…

• Wear layers

  • The building is made of cold stones. Bring a sweater. It may be chilly inside, even in the summertime. I kept my jacket on and bundled during our November visit. 

• You can buy tickets online in advance through the Mont-St-Michel website.

  • Tickets for Mont-St-Michel

Walk the Different Pathways

• Firstly, the main street is the Grand Rue. The Grand Rue, starts from the entrance to the island and goes up to the Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel. 

• Furthermore, the Grand Rue is a narrow medieval street alive with shops, tourist stops, and visitors. The cobblestone roads are bumpy and slick. 

• There are simultaneously many other intriguing paths to explore! We took some time to walk around and explore.

  • My personal favorite path is by the entrance. Take the stairs leading up to see over the brick wall of the gate. Walk up those stairs. They will lead you to a small courtyard with a nice view. We sat here for a while to watch as flocks of visitors arrived, their eyes wide with excitement. 

Time to Eat!

• La Mère Poulard

  • There were numerous options for lunch, but I desperately wanted to try the world-famous puff omelets. It’s a popular restaurant, and it’s located towards the entrance. Be prepared for a bit of a wait. 
  • This was the most expensive meal of our entire road trip in Normandy on account of its quality and reputation.
  • Rhe puffy omelets are a secret recipe cooked over a wood fire. I chose the omelet served with foie gras, potatoes, and apples. It was overall amazing… The omelet was fluffy and delicate. A perfect lunch! 
  • We also ordered an exquisite buttered fish with seasonal vegetables. Even the fish melted like butter in my mouth! I savored every single bite. 

More Things for Your Visit to Mont Saint-Michel

We came for a day trip in November. I hope to return when the weather is nice. Here is my wish list for our next visit to Mont Saint-Michel in France. 

• Spend the Night!

  • I would have loved this medieval town at night. I bet the experience is mystical. Most visitors are here for a day trip, so the evening is much quieter.
  • There are a couple of hotels to choose from. We walked into the lobby of a few options. That alone was enticing enough to make me daydream about an overnight here. 

• Summertime Magic

  • There are select summer evenings when the Abbey is open late. They even have special events when they host classical concerts.
  • You can find the calendar of special events on their Facebook page. 

    • Abbaye du Mont Saint-Michel Facebook

• Walk on the Bay

  • Visitors can walk on the bay at sunrise, sunset, or during the day at low tide. Guided tours are required due to safety for the visitors and the delicate ecosystem.
  • Here is a site with a list of certified guides!

    • Certified Guides

Experience the Enchantment of Le Mont Saint-Michel, France

Without reservation, we had an exceptional time visiting Le Mont-Saint-Michel in France. The entire place felt completely magical, even though our weather was not ideal. We got caught in a rain and hail storm, but it didn’t bother us in the slightest. In some ways, the weather added to the mystery of this medieval gem. We were having way too much fun meandering around these enchanting cobbled streets. Visiting Mont Saint-Michel in France was gladly checked off my wish list!