A very special day at a unique location.  Mont Saint Michel is a monastery that had its beginings in the eighth century when some monk had a vision to build the original Abby and dedicate it to Saint Michel.  After three visions and he didn’t do anything about it apparently St Michael poked his finger into his forehead to get him started.  Anyway it now is this fabulous monastery and village built on a rock at the end of this causeway (now has a bridge over it).  The land all around is flat and it has these magnificent 360 degree views.  It is visited by what must be thousands of people every day.

Being the cheap sakes we are we parked our car near the pub we had eaten at the previous night.  We had seen people walking from there and parking was stupidly expensive at the official park.  We set off across these paddocks amongst the sheep droppings and headed for the start of the bridge.  Estimated about 2km but not much different than if we had walked from the car park,however they did have an option of a free bus although many were walking.  It probably took us half an hour but it was a beautiful day.  When we got there we decided that while the tide looked right we would see if we could walk around the outside,  a bit rocky and wet sand but we achieved it, found what looked like a little chapel but could have been the dungeon for the Hunchback of Notredame.

We then headed up through the village that had grown at the base of the monastery.  Hundreds of tourists, expensive souvenirs and food but very very quaint.  Joined the queue for the monastery itself and took the audio tour.  Nothing in the way of furnishing and such but a very impressive building with so many crypts and such and of course  the history around the building itself.  It even had a “lift” where six prisoners walked inside a big wheel to operate it.

Headed back down into the village wandered through a grave yard (oldest we found was early 1800’s), had something to eat & drink and headed back off across the paddocks.  Car was where we had left it.  It was 6 o’clock and we had discovered local restaurants didn’t open until seven so we just drove the countryside through little narrow lanes and villages.  Lots of little villages and churches and such,  Settled on a local hotel in Huisnes Sur Mer where we had grilled ham steaks.  Turned out we were just a kilometre from our Airbnb accomodation.  We sat and had a wine with our host, Michelle before turning in.