Normandy Attractions

Venue: Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel    When: Daily

Known by the French simply as La Merveille (The Marvel) this 13th-century abbey is an architectural wonder in its own right. The fact that it is perched on a rock several kilometres off the French coast makes it utterly unique.

The Mont's unique geographical situation made it noteworthy as a religious venue as early as 708 AD, when a first crypt was constructed on the small island and a handful of monks installed there. The Benedictine order replaced them in 966 AD and remain there to this day - five men and women have elected the Abbey as their permanent residence.

Although the Mont became a major stage on the European pilgrimage route, the hand of Saint Michel was not always there to preserve the Abbey and its visitors from tragedy. A fire destroyed much of the building in 1203, although this led to the construction of the Merveille as it stands today. Until relatively recently, pilgrims reached the Mont across the sands at low tide - a perilous journey at the best of times and often rendered harder by fog. In 1318, 18 pilgrims drowned, 13 were trampled by crowds and 12 sank into quicksand trying to reach the Abbey.

These days visitors can drive or walk across a causeway. However, this edifice threatens the ecosystem of the bay which is now being submerged by sand - in short, the island is rejoining the mainland. An extensive five-year government project, starting in autumn 2003, aims to remove the fixed causeway and lessen the impacts of silting to render Mont St Michel an island once more. Despite the massive undertaking, access to the island will remain.

Although visitors can roam freely through the streets of the Mont and even spend the night in one of the few hotels there, the abbey itself offers either a short (45 minutes) or a long (1h30) guided tour. Mass is said daily at 12.15pm and visitors are welcome, although they must stay for the duration of the service. For those wishing to stay longer, the Benedictine community does offer retreats - they can be contacted by e-mail for further information.