Le Mont-Saint-Michel

After touring the D-Day beaches yesterday, we spent the night in Mont-Saint-Michel, a rocky tidal island just south of the beaches.  We had timed out our driving schedule to overnight in Mont-Saint-Michel because I had read that it’s really pretty at night (and I must say, it did not disappoint!), but we had to stay at a rather crummy hotel about 2km off the island, on the mainland, because it’s a very touristy destination and rates on the island are through the roof. 

Le Mont-Saint-Michel is made up of a huge abbey and a small village built on a rocky islet.  According to legend, in the year 708, St. Michael the Archangel appeared to St Aubert, bishop of Avranches, and instructed him to build a church here.  The mount then became a focus of pilgrimage and the Benedictines of Saint Wandrille settled here in the 10th century and built a magnificent abbey, while a village grew up below its walls.  Today, Mont-Saint-Michel is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting more than 3 million visitors per year – it’s not even high season yet and it was mega crowded when we made our way up to the abbey this morning!

While I would say Mont-Saint-Michel is a beautiful place to see (especially if you get a chance to see it at sunset like we did last night), I don’t know if I would recommend the abbey.  The entrance fee is 8.50 euros and it’s mostly just big empty rooms and lots of steps and stone walls.  I think the audio guide would have helped, but you have to fork over another 4.50 euros for it and Paul hates it when I take forever to go through a sight while listening to an audio guide 
If you drive to Mont-Saint-Michel, keep in mind that during the day they charge for parking (4 euros) and you have to move your car out by 7 because the parking lot becomes submerged when the tide comes in.  When we first drove in last night you could park on the side of the causeway that leads to the island for free, but during the day they restrict parking here so you have to pay to use the lots or park on the mainland and walk to the island. 

Even though it was crowded with tourists and the abbey wasn’t that impressive to us, we were glad we spent part of the day on the island, but we really wish we didn’t eat in the village!  At first we sat down at an omlette restaurant we had noticed last night, but we got up and left when we saw that the cheapest thing on the menu was 49 euros (for a freaking omlette!).  After arguing about what to do, we randomly selected a restaurant that turned out to be the worst meal we’vehad so far!  Paul ordered roasted chicken, which was tasteless and cold in the middle, and when he complained they simply took his chicken, nuked it in the microwave for a few minutes and then brought it back!  I tried an omelette, which is a specialty of Mont-Saint-Michel, but it was really strange to me – the whole inside is all frothy, like the type of froth you get when you whip a milkshake, and there wasn’t much taste.  After this experience, I would say eat off the island – the prices and quality will probably be better and it won’t be as crowded!