Construction of the medieval abbey atop Mont Saint-Michel began exactly 1,000 years ago this month. The spectacular island structure off the coast of France would go on to become an enduring symbol of national resilience as it rose impossibly from the stormy seas of the Atlantic Ocean.
The magnificent medieval monastery on Mont Saint-Michel, with its cascade of walls and buttresses cascading from a towering central spire, was a building that has played significant roles throughout French history.
It is currently one of the most well-liked tourist destinations in the nation outside of Paris, marking a millennium since construction first started. However, because to its popularity, its guardians have at times advised visitors to avoid the site.
“In the span of 1,000 years, its silhouette has become an emblem of French universalism. Its abbey, the symbol of what we are: a people of builders.”
French President Emmanuel Macron
A witness to history: Mont Saint-Michel
The gothic Mont Saint-Michel abbey rises out of a bay flanked by the Normandy and Brittany provinces and is encircled by quicksand. It towering over its community and substantial castle walls.
When the tide comes in, the Mont rises from the water like a French Atlantis—a marvel of architecture placed amidst a breathtaking natural setting. In 1979, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A “marriage of human genius and nature,” President Macron said during an address honoring the abbey’s millennium.
A shrine dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel was built on the mountain in the year 709, earning the Mont the moniker “wonder of the Western world.” From the 11th to the 16th centuries, it developed into a religious location.
The abbey has been there for significant events in French history, most notably when it served as a fortification during the Hundred Years’ War in the 14th and 15th centuries and withstood a 30-year British siege.
A “marriage of human genius and nature,” President Macron said during an address honoring the abbey’s millennium.
A shrine dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel was built on the mountain in the year 709, earning the Mont the moniker “wonder of the Western world.” From the 11th to the 16th centuries, it developed into a religious location.
The abbey has been there for significant events in French history, most notably when it served as a fortification during the Hundred Years’ War in the 14th and 15th centuries and withstood a 30-year British siege.
Excessive tourism worries
Millions of pilgrims have visited Mont Saint-Michel over the years due to its longstanding popularity. Before Santiago de Compostela, it was the most popular pilgrimage destination in the West, according to Thomas Velter, managing director of the Mont Saint-Michel National Public Establishment, who spoke to CNN.
Today, the site receives about 3 million visits annually, with certain weekends being busier than usual. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Ascension Weekend in May, the site experienced an influx of visitors that startled officials because they typically only see that many people during the summer.
“We sold 10,500 tickets at the abbey, which is a record,” Velter told CNN. “Ascension weekend is usually quite busy but in this case, it was a lot of people all at the same time.”
In total, there were around 33,000 people on site, not a record in itself, but still a lot for the Mont, which usually expects this amount of tourists in August, the time of the high season.
“It’s primarily the visitor who suffers because the visit of the Mont is less comfortable,” Velter told CNN. “Ever since Covid, tourists have less tolerance for packed days like this because they were able to taste the joy of visiting sites with barely any visitors.”
Initial estimates for 2023 indicate that Mont-Saint-Michel will continue to be a very popular tourist destination due to the century celebrations, which presents some challenges for its dozen residents, stores, and natural surroundings.
“I don’t think it’s good for the store owners, hotel owners, and restaurant owners since they can’t keep up with the demand from the customers. One shopping street and a square kilometer make up Mont Saint-Michel. I don’t believe it’s very pleasant when you put more than 5,000 people on the street at one time, Velter remarked.
In an effort to be more environmentally friendly, buses that connect the site now utilize biofuels rather than diesel. Visitors are invited to take advantage of the free parking after 6.30 p.m. and to explore the greater bay region during the busy 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours.
“For instance, benefit from the nature and boat tours we’ve organized. Atlantic salmon, eels, and seals are all present here, according to Velter. We frequently overlook the fact that Mont Saint-Michel is home to the greatest colony of dolphins in all of Europe, so this is an opportunity to experience the site in a new way.
Excellent post.
Ah we were there just 2 weeks ago, stunning place.