Customs Officers' Path to Mont Saint-Michel

Since our 🐕 doesn't fit in our handbag (no joke!) we couldn't take the free shuttle buses that drive from the parking lots to the island. 3 km isn't really a problem, but after 1 km it started pouring.🌨️ 😬The rain jacket was great, the Goretex shoes were also partially waterproof: when the water ran over our soaking wet trousers into our shoes, it couldn't get out...🤣 At least we were better equipped than some others in tank tops and flip-flops.🩴😇 We knew it would be crowded, but we were a bit annoyed by the crowds from all over the world pushing their way through the narrow streets of Mont-Saint-Michel. A visit to the abbey with a dog was out of the question anyway, and none of us wanted to queue in the rain ☔️. On the way back the rain stopped and we were almost dry when we got to the car. Despite everything, it was a great experience! (The fact that the photos are not quite correctly assigned is probably due to the fact that I added the tour later, as I didn't have my phone on in the pouring rain...)

A few impressions from the visit to Le Mont Saint Michel with a beautiful sunset and sunrise. We were there late in the evening and early in the morning. There are simply fewer people around 😅

A magical place, especially at 5am in the morning. The walk from the parking lot over the bridge takes about 45 minutes. The sunrise in the bay is magical. There was very little going on on the mountain this early and my plan to see the incoming tide worked. The way back by shuttle bus was easy. A wonderful tour.

There were many highlights on our road trip through Normandy, but Saint Michel is the absolute highlight. We stayed there this evening; there were hardly any visitors, except in the restaurants. We strolled through picturesque alleys steeped in centuries of history and felt the mystical energy emanating from every stone. We were able to take pictures without many people in the frame. That was a good decision. We booked the abbey for tomorrow, online. It's the only place where you have to pay an entrance fee. By the way, if you take all the paths, you have to climb 350 steps, so it's not wheelchair accessible. Le Mont-Saint-Michel is a famous monastery island in Normandy, northwestern France, and is one of the country's most impressive sights. The island lies about one kilometer off the coast and is accessible on foot via a bridge at low tide. At high tide, it is completely surrounded by water – a spectacular natural phenomenon. The tides in the bay are among the strongest in Europe. The first sanctuary was built here as early as the 8th century. In the 10th century, the Benedictines began building the famous abbey. In the Middle Ages, Mont Saint-Michel was an important religious center and a pilgrimage destination. During the Hundred Years' War, it also served as a fortress. The abbey is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The entire town has a medieval character, with narrow streets, city walls, and half-timbered houses. Since 1979, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Despite all the crowds, a visit to Mont St. Michel is worthwhile. We were lucky with the weather, it was changeable and it drizzled a bit. As a result, fewer people were out and there was better photo light 📷. A visit to the abbey is highly recommended, with numerous chapels and views to admire. The view of the sea from the upper terraces is spectacular. You can safely skip the tourist route Rue Grande and instead take the path along the walls.

After a Komoot update, many things stopped working today. Unfortunately, the tour was deleted halfway through and started again 🙄. The second tour on the beach or in the Watt was irretrievably deleted. I recorded the last few meters again to at least get the pictures in. I've shut everything down and restarted. Now it seems to be working again. Fingers crossed 😬🤞

Grandiose building. A must when visiting Normandy. Sufficient parking spaces are available. From there you can take a shuttle bus directly to the island. Of course you can also walk or take the carriage. A small alley takes you up to the monastery, which should definitely be visited. It is better to buy tickets in advance because the line on site is long. But the view is awesome. Enjoy your visit to the St. Michel monastery. Many greetings

Mont St Michel is perfectly organized. You can leave your car in the parking lot 3 km away for expensive money and walk through the salt marshes and over a bridge to the monastery hill. It's beautiful, looks like Hogwarts, including Diagon Alley. Unfortunately, it is also completely overcrowded, the crowds sift through the narrow streets. No dogs are allowed on the monastery grounds, so we only have the shopping street and the battlements.