2026-03-19 France: May 08 – Mont Saint Michel

We had breakfast at the hotel and then headed out uphill from our hotel. It was still early so there were very few people out walking. Especially on the upper walk of the island.

There were a lot seagulls nesting at various places around the island.

Views of the Tide Flats.

More photos of the Abbaye from below.

The long and very steep ramp was used to pull supplies up to the Abbaye on a large sled. It is run by a very large wheel, like a hamster wheel but with people walking the wheel. We saw the wheel during our tour.

We had a tour of the Abbaye scheduled for midmorning. There were a lot of stairs up to the ticket office and then even more up to the terrace at the start of the tour.

We met the tour at a small landing before heading inside.

First stop of the tour was the large plaza in front of the Mont Saint Michel Cathedral.

Then we headed inside. The cloisters

The Refectory where the monks ate their meals.

The guest hall for distinguished visitors with its massive fireplace at one end.

The Sainte Madeleine Chapel.

The Crypt of the Great Pillars. These pillars hold up the cathedral above.

The Saint Martin Crypt. Also under the cathedral.

The Saint Stephen Chapel. This is where the funerals were held for monks who died at the Abbaye.

The massive wheel used to bring supplies up the steep ramp. During the time the Abbaye served as a prison prisoners would volunteer to walk the wheel because they were given additional food. It could accommodate several walkers at once.

The Promenoir Walk.

Along this walk we could see and touch the living stone of the island.

A nearby relief.

There was a display showing the various stages of the development of the abbey from a tiny, 9th century church at the very top to what we see today.

9th Century

11th and 12th Century

17th and 18th Century

Today - View from the Front Side

Today - View from the Ocean side.

The exit took us out into the gardens of the Abbaye. Views of the Abbaye from the garden.

And the garden.

They overlooked the back side of the island. The tide was in and waters were lapping up against the back side of the island.

After the tour we stopped to visit the Tiphaines House museum. It consisted of four floors, a single room on each floor.

We also watched a film about the abbey. In French so didn't get all the details but they did have a great ending with the abbey rising from a pool of water. Great reflection.