The second most visited place in France next to the Eiffel Tower is the Monastery at Mont-Saint-Michel. You have probably seen the distinctive silhouette somewhere on a travel brochure. Millions make their way here annually. We had never heard of it. However, as we left, Bob told me it was the most impressive place he's seen so far in Europe.
Mont-Saint-Michel is an island. It is usually surrounded by mudflats and quicksand except when the tide rushes in. We watched it stream in and it was impressive. It is also beautiful to walk out to the causeway at night to view it lit up as in the top photo. We stayed in a hotel on the island, which was a very special way to experience the place.
In the 800s, a monk had a vision to build this monastery. Pilgrims flocked here during the Middle Ages and it built up into a town with shops and trinket stores for those seeking healing and spiritual help. Today it is replaced by tourists who flock here. The streets are very narrow and a wall surrounds the city. There are lots of steps.
Old windows and gates abound to look through and see Medieval structures.
Mont-Saint-Michel is incredibly beautiful. My photos couldn't begin to capture the many conditions of the sea, the weather and the times of day in images... though there are many photos out there.
We stayed at le Mouton Blanc http://www.lemoutonblanc.fr/Default.aspx
My review is posted on http://www.tripadvisor.com/ under the name lahlumdi
