Mont Saint-Michel, Tidal island in Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, France.
The island sits on a granite outcrop that rises sharply from tidal flats, connected to the mainland by a bridge that reveals its isolated character when the tide comes in. Twice a day, the water level shifts dramatically, transforming the bay into a shallow expanse at low tide and surrounding the mount completely when the sea returns.
A chapel was first built here in 708 after Bishop Aubert reported a vision of the Archangel Michael instructing him to construct a sanctuary on the rock. Benedictine monks arrived in the 10th century and began expanding the site into an abbey, which survived repeated attacks during the Hundred Years' War without falling to enemy forces.
Pilgrims still walk here along the ancient routes, and monks from the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem celebrate services open to visitors throughout the week. The sound of bells rings out across the bay several times a day, marking the hours of prayer and creating a rhythm that has shaped life on the mount for centuries.
A footbridge connects the island to the mainland, and shuttle buses run from parking areas on shore to a drop-off point near the entrance. Access to the abbey requires a ticket, while the village lanes and shops are free to explore, with the quietest visits happening outside the summer months when crowds are lighter.
During exceptionally high tides, the island becomes completely cut off from the mainland, and the water encircles the rock in a ring that makes the structure appear to float. The speed at which the tide comes in surprises many visitors, as the water advances faster than a person can walk.
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