St Michael's Mount Castle, Medieval castle on tidal island in Cornwall, England
Description
St Michael's Mount is a granite fortress on a tidal island off Cornwall's coast, rising about 230 feet above sea level. A stone causeway connects the island to mainland Marazion but becomes submerged when the tide comes in.
History
The island served as a Benedictine monastery in the 12th century before transforming into a military stronghold, especially during the English Civil War. The site maintained its strategic importance across several centuries.
Culture
The St Aubyn family has lived here since 1650 and still uses the castle as a home while sharing rooms with visitors, creating an unusual blend of private residence and public monument. The lived-in quality gives the place a sense of continuity rather than museum stillness.
Practical
Access requires advance online booking, and visitors can reach the island by boat during high tide or walk across the stone causeway at low tide. Checking tide tables before your visit helps plan your timing.
Did you know?
The fortress houses a mummified cat and a fragment of Napoleon's coat from Waterloo among its collections. These unexpected objects show how private curiosities became part of the castle's story.
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Cornwall lies at the southwestern tip of England. It is a peninsula surrounded by the sea, shaping its history and identity. You can see this region through its castles on cliffs like Tintagel or St Michael's Mount, its fishing villages on small bays such as Mousehole, and its busy ports like...
St Michael's Mount Castle
30 m
The Church of Saint Michael
13 m
Gun battery north-north west of St Michael's Mount
45 m
The French Gun Battery (north west corner)
23 mMathews Chest Tomb At Approximately 45 Metres South Of Lych Gate
206 m
The Dairy
121 mCottages Adjoining West Of St Aubyn Arms
228 mPinnacle On Shaft
57 m
Lodge Adjoining Gateway To St Michael's Mount
206 mArthur Headstone At Approximately 35 Metres South Of Lych Gate
213 mSt Aubyn Arms (West Wing)
233 mFour crosses on St Michael's Mount
38 mThe Barge House
215 mThe National Trust Shop And Restaurant
199 m
Gun battery west of St Michael's Mount
45 m
Cross Shaft West Of St Michael's Mount
36 mChest Tomb At Approximately 15 Metres South Of Lych Gate
228 mCross near south east corner of St Michael's Mount
36 mCross North East Of St Michael's Mount
69 m
The Sentry Box
34 mElizabeth Terrace
203 mThe Engine House Of The Railway
194 mMariners Chest Tomb At Approximately 15 Metres South Of Lych Gate
226 mGateway To St Michael's Mount
211 mWell Beside Path Leading To St Michael's Mount
95 mThe Barge House
218 mGiant's Heart
63 mMap Mural
230 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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