Mont Saint Michel

After breakfast this morning we had some time so Trace and I went for a walk down to the beach at Arromanches. You can see the big blocks used to make Port Winston out in the water as well as washed up on the beach. They is a broad boat ramp that would have been the reason this section was selected for the port.

We then hit the road and headed south. We made a brief stop at a town called Villedieu-les-Poêles-Rouffigny to stretch our legs before continuing on to Mont Saint Michel.

There are two Mont Saint Michels, one in Normandy and one in Cornwall. The French one was just a rock in the mouth of the small river until 5th century monks set up a monastery and started to build around the large rock.

The island’s strategic location meant it became a key fortification during the 100 years war so as well as a monastery it was also a fort. It grew in importance as it became a starting point for pilgrimages into Spain. After the French Revolution it became a prison until 1863.

It has been restored and now is a hugely popular tourist destination. The lower parts are the old village with the walls of the fortress and the cathedral sits above this. The island is located in the estuary of a river surrounded by tidal mud flats. The tides in this area are huge so it may look like you can just walk out to it but when the tides comes in access is cut, luckily there is a bridge!

The bus parking area is a long way from the island and while there is a shuttle bus the queue was long so we just walked. We then climbed the massive number of steps up to the cathedral. The views were sensational.

After checking out the cathedral we headed down to the village and scored a chicken and mayo baguette before making our way back to the bus.

We then made our way to Dinan with a couple of stops on the way, the first at a fully functioning windmill and the second was at a standing stone erected 4000 or 5000 BC. Interesting.

Dinan is a classic medieval town with much of the original walls and centre of town untouched since the 14th and 15th centuries. We had a bit of a walk around town and dinner in a local crepe restaurant.

Tomorrow we have a day to ourselves in Dinan.Leia mais