Excursions in the Mont Saint Michel
Tours of the Mont Saint Michel
- the magnificent island in the ocean. A visit to the island, the abbey,
restaurants, and the local market where you can buy local specialties!
Mont Saint-Michel (Le Mont
Saint-Michel) - fortified granite island skain-Michel (Saint-Michel).
"Pyramid in the ocean," so called Mont Saint Michel Victor Hugo.
Several hundred years ago, this island was part of the mainland. The Romans
called it the Grave Mountain (probably because the Celts used this place for
burials), and the Druids worshiped the sun. In V. land subsidence has occurred,
and a century later became the island mountain. Now the island is connected to
the mainland by a causeway length of 1,800 km.
During high tide (tide height9 m) on the island can only be reached by boat, and at low tide you pass without
wetting his feet. Such a peaceful and secluded island has become a great place
to stay, the monks, who were the only inhabitants of the island up to 708 At
that time, according to legend, was conducting Aubert, bishop Avranshskomu
(later St. Aubert), in which the archangel Michael commanded to erect a chapel
on mountain, separated from the mainland at high tide the water like an island.
Since Aubert, doubting whether he interpreted the vision did not do anything,
then the angel came back and repeated orders. Aubert listened to the words of
the messenger of God is only the third time the Archangel Michael, decided to
reach out to the bishop of the finger on the head. After that, Ober began to
build on a rocky island. For those who doubt the veracity of prophecy can make
personally: on-preserved skull of St. Auber there is a noticeable dent.
Archangel Michael appeared again to indicate the source of fresh water. After
that, the island was given a new name - Mont Saint-Michel (Mount St. Michael).
Of course, the island soon became a place of pilgrimage, and in 966 on top of
it was built by a Benedictine monastery, which became home to 50 monks.
On those times today resembles
the ancient crypt, called "Notre Dame under the ground." Construction
of the monastery church, today crowning the top of the cliff, was launched in
1020 Because of the difficulties associated with the construction on these
cliffs, the work was completed only after a hundred years. Despite some
modifications, this structure to our days mostly retained its Romanesque
appearance with his characteristic rounded arches, thick walls and massive
vaults.
During the reign of Napoleon,
Mont Saint Michel renamed the island "Freedom", turning it into a
state prison, nicknamed the "provincial Bastille." And only in 1863
it was declared a national treasure, and having undergone significant
restoration, was opened to tourists. Ascent of Mont Saint-Michel begins at the
Royal Gate. From them inland is the only street Grand Rue (Grande Rue) with
tiny, almost toy houses XV-XVI centuries. Clung tightly to each other on both
sides of the street. Grand-Rue rests on the broad stairway, with steep stairs,
rushing up. In the Grevin Museum (Grevin) tells the history of the monastery,
with the help of Wax recreated scenes from the life of former times. Another
series of historical events presented in the "Archéoscope" and the
Maritime Museum.
