Eager to go to the fabled Mont Saint-Michel however unsure learn how to do it? Coming for the Paris Olympics and wish to see greater than the capital? I simply visited Normandy twice in a month so I’ll share my analysis and expertise that will help you get pleasure from your go to to the fullest.
There’s little in France that parallels the view of majestic Mont St Michel rising from the tides, its topmost steeple pointing – because the guides could inform you – straight in direction of heaven.
Together with the Eiffel Tower, the Mount might be one of the vital photographed sights in France… Attending to this UNESCO World Heritage Web site, nonetheless, is a unique story, so let me aid you navigate the journey and provide you with some professional tricks to make your go to memorable.
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Mont Saint-Michel is probably the enduring vacation spot to see in Normandy, if not in France, and three million individuals plan their go to right here every year.
When to go to Mont Saint-Michel
I took these pictures a number of hours aside…
 Foremost avenue of Mont Saint-Michel throughout peak hours |
 The identical avenue after the crowds have gone |
Sure, there are crowds, BUT please don’t be postpone – you can go to with out them, even in excessive season, as you possibly can see within the second picture, taken only a few hours after the primary.
The way to keep away from the crowds at Mont Saint-Michel
Listed below are a number of tips on the easiest way to keep away from the crowds:
- Finest time of 12 months to go to to keep away from the crowds: November, December and January
- Worst time of the 12 months to go to: throughout faculty holidays (right here’s a rundown on France’s vacation durations), July and August
- Finest days of the week to go to: Wednesday and Thursday
- Worst days of the week to go to: Monday, Tuesday and Saturday
- Finest time of day to go to: anytime within the morning however ensure you’re finished by 10am, or late afternoon, after 5pm, when most individuals have left
Obtain a map of Mont Saint-Michel and know that most individuals head straight up the Grande Rue, the principle avenue in direction of the Abbey, and also you’ll keep away from the worst of the crowds by heading for inside streets or the ramparts
choice is to spend the night time and see it each within the night (together with the gorgeous sundown) and within the morning.
The place to remain on Mont Saint-Michel
The mount itself has a number of motels, and also you’ll discover a number of on the mainland close by. In any other case, you’ll want a automotive to get to the handfuls of properties inside a couple of minutes’ drive.
PRO TIP ➽ If you happen to plan on spending the night time on the Mount, know that you simply’ll need to get your baggage to the doorway on the shuttle, after which pull it uphill to your lodgings – every little thing on Mont Saint-Michel is uphill. various is to remain on the mainland close to the shuttle buses.
That stated, there’s a sure romance to spending the night time the place few have finished so, within the silence of a moonlit night time, overlooking an abbey whose constructing began nearly precisely 1000 years in the past, in 1023. One comfy Mont Saint Michel resort is the Resort Poulard, however bear in mind, you’re on the Mount searching, so you possibly can’t see the Mount itself out of your resort…
Two good choices on the mainland are the Mercure Resort, with a great location however no view on the Mount, or the Hôtel du Roy, whose “Superior” class rooms have a balcony from which you’ll see the Mount. Each cost €10 per 24 hours’ parking, positively cheaper than the official parking tons (costs could fluctuate so do test).
Additional out, inside a couple of minutes’ drive, you’ll discover loads of lodging, from mattress and breakfasts to nation auberges to small motels. Right here’s a list to save lots of you time.
I stayed in a small visitor home with 4 rooms, Aux Chambres du Mont, and this was the view from my window.
Now that we’ve discovered a number of locations so that you can keep, how do you get there?
Transportation to Mont Saint-Michel
As I discussed earlier, there are mainly 5 methods of getting right here: by becoming a member of a tour group, driving, on public transport, personal information or bicycle.
Taking an organized tour to Mont Saint-Michel
You’ll be able to simply attain Mont Saint-Michel on a day journey from various places together with Bayeux, Caen, Rennes and Paris.
I’ve finished this from Bayeux, by myself, and it was a painless course of, however Bayeux is not too distant.
Nonetheless, in case your time is restricted and also you solely have a day, a tour is a viable various. Listed below are a number of beneficial alternate options so you possibly can see what’s included and what they value.
From Paris
- This commonplace coach journey lasts a whopping 14 hours, with solely 3-4 hours on the Mount, however that is commonplace for a day journey from the capital.
- This bus tour contains resort pickup, and since most excursions start round 7am, this may prevent the issues of rush-hour journey via Paris public transportation.
From Bayeux
- There are many excursions from Bayeux, which is underneath two hours away. This tour has a most of 8 individuals, which makes it fairly manageable and nice.
PROS AND CONS OF TAKING A MONT SAINT MICHEL GROUP TOUR
PROS
- Another person is doing the driving
- Trouble-free, as you gained’t need to juggle issues like parking, parking tickets or prepare tickets
- Whereas the lump sum value could seem excessive, it really works out to the identical or lower than a rental automotive, paying tolls, shopping for fuel and parking (except there are a number of of you)
CONS
- The spherical journey makes for a really lengthy and tiring day, as you begin early and return late
- Most excursions arrive throughout peak hours so count on it to be crowded
- You do not have that a lot time on the Mont St-Michel, so you may need to rush (and will not have time to cease for lunch)
That is the right choice if you’d like somebody to maintain every little thing for you, or should you’re touring solo or with one different individual.
Driving to Mont Saint-Michel
When you have your personal automotive, you are all set. But when you have to hire, ensure you reserve as far forward as you possibly can, particularly in the course of the excessive vacationer season.
This text tells you every little thing you have to learn about renting a automotive in France.
If you happen to plan to drive, listed below are some pattern distances and approximate journey instances on principal roads (taking smaller roads, as I really like doing, takes longer):
- From Paris (Charles de Gaulle airport): 378km/235mi, or about 4 hours
- From Rennes: 65km/40mi, or about an hour
- From Caen: 122km/76mi, or about 1hr 30min
- From Bayeux: 112km/70mi, or about 1hr 25min
When you get to Mont Saint-Michel, you’ll be guided to a piece of the massive car parking zone by an attendant. If you happen to come exterior peak hours, there will likely be no attendant however digital indicators will level the way in which. A purple signal that claims “Fermé” signifies that lot is closed – merely preserve driving till you discover one which’s open.
I gained’t quote parking charges as a result of these can change however whereas the Mount is free to entry, parking is dear. I stayed a very good chunk of sooner or later and paid €20. I then returned for dinner and paid €14. That’s all in the identical day. If you happen to learn French, you possibly can test the full worth record right here.
When you’ve parked, and please memorize your alley, make your technique to the Passeur, the free shuttle buses.
PROS AND CONS
Professionals
- Loads of free time to come back and go as you please, particularly exterior peak hours
- Simpler entry to a wide range of lodging which will require a couple of minutes’ drive
Cons
- The price of rental automobiles to get right here (you possibly can test one of the best costs right here)
- The worth of parking
- Rush hour visitors should you go to throughout peak instances
That is the right choice when you have the time and plan to roam across the countryside a bit, or keep someplace that requires a automotive, or should you’re a household or bigger group of 3-5 individuals.
Taking public transport to Mont Saint-Michel
This may truly be finished, even in winter. And whereas the Mont Saint-Michel itself has no prepare station, there’s one close by, with a bus connection. And it’s an actual connection: the prepare will look ahead to the bus, and the bus will look ahead to the prepare.
There are lots of methods to take the prepare to Mont Saint-Michel:
- From Paris, in excessive season: direct prepare from Gare Montparnasse station in Paris to Pontorson, with a assured bus connection to Mont Saint-Michel
- In off-season, search for prepare schedules to Mont Saint-Michel (Le Mont) from Montparnasse, and get off at Villedieu les Poêles, from the place you possibly can take a bus to the Mount with the Keolis bus firm
- From different cities, it will get trickier however is feasible, for instance from Caen, Rennes or Bayeux. Your vacation spot continues to be Pontorson, however you’ll need to seek the advice of the bus schedule from Pontorson (however test to ensure it’s the newest one – they do change and don’t all the time join)
If you happen to’re coming by public transport out of season, your greatest wager is to name the extremely useful vacationer workplace (they communicate English) and test the proper schedules with them.
PROS AND CONS
Professionals
- The most affordable technique to go to apart from biking
- A sensible choice should you don’t drive (or don’t wish to)
Cons
- Would possibly take longer if connections are rare throughout off-season
- A little bit of a studying curve should you’re not accustomed to French public transport
- Missed connections can have an effect on the period of time you may have on the Mount
That is the right choice in case your funds is tight and should you’re an skilled traveler who can simply navigate French public transport.
Organizing a personal tour and driver
One other technique to go away all the effort to another person is by hiring a personal information or driver. You’ll have your personal transportation and the liberty that comes with it, together with somebody who can clarify issues as you go alongside.
There are a selection of personal excursions from Paris, and whereas at first they could seem costly, costs are fairly aggressive should you’re touring in a bunch. You may as well rent a personal driver from Caen or Bayeux, should you occur to be leaving from there.
PROS AND CONS
Professionals
- Freedom to come back and go as you please, particularly exterior peak hours
- English-speaking information who can present customized help
- For a number of individuals, a personal information will be surprisingly value efficient
Cons
- Might be costly if there are just one or two of you (however will be surprisingly reasonably priced if you’re a bunch of a number of)
That is the best choice for a household or bigger group who need the independence of getting a automotive with out the effort of driving it and navigating French roads, and who get pleasure from having somebody readily available to reply questions and level out locations of curiosity.
Biking to the Mont Saint-Michel
It is a fantastic technique to expertise the Mont Saint-Michel in addition to very best for native facet journeys, as a result of the realm is stuffed with bike paths.
Attending to the Mount itself by bike is straightforward now that crossing the causeway on two wheels is allowed. You’ll be able to stash your bike within the bike parking space close to the left entrance, within the Fanils courtyard, or you possibly can go away it within the car automotive parks by following the cycle indicators.
For extra data on biking to the realm, try the Veloscenic route.
The way to get into Mont Saint-Michel
Nonetheless you get to Mont Saint-Michel – on a tour, driving, on public transport or with a personal information – you’ll need to get throughout the causeway. The one exception is should you experience a bicycle throughout.
In any other case, you’ll need to take the shuttle, Le Passeur.
The way to take the shuttle
The shuttle is free and takes you from the big car parking zone to the doorway of Mont Saint-Michel.
However except you’re exterior peak instances, you’ll have to affix the (generally big) line-up to get on.
That stated, it goes shortly, as a number of shuttles ply the route they usually go away each couple of minutes. It takes ten minutes or so to get to the Mount from the start line close to the automotive park.
Within the excessive season (roughly April to October however test for the precise dates), the shuttles run between 7:30am and 12:45am in season, and a bit earlier out of season.
No canine are allowed on the shuttle, so in case your pet is with you, you’ll have to make use of the walkway to get there. (I extremely suggest you NOT convey a canine except you’re visiting earlier than or after peak hours.) Canine are allowed all through the village however not within the Abbey. What with the warmth (in the summertime months) and crowds, this may not be a lot enjoyable on your canine…
Throughout from the car parking zone is an data middle, and round to the again are the remaining rooms. Be sure you use them earlier than lining up for the shuttle – discovering a rest room on the Mount is not any straightforward process. Strains are horrendous, and the choice is to go to a restaurant and order one thing so that you could use theirs.
In fact, you possibly can stroll throughout the causeway and keep away from the shuttle altogether – it’s a 45min stroll and the view will get higher with every step. I strongly suggest you do that should you can.
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Clockwise, within the pictures above, is what the Mount seems to be like once you begin out, and once you lastly get there. Completely definitely worth the stroll!
Issues it’s best to know
Excessive tide: If you happen to time your go to for when the tide is available in, you need to be in for a serious spectacle! A excessive sufficient tide will convert Mont Saint-Michel into an island for a short time. You’ll discover extra data on the tide schedule right here.
Abbey visits: Mont Saint Michel abbey is open for visits from 9am-6pm in excessive season, and from 9:30am-5pm in off-season. If you wish to go to as soon as the crowds have gone, you are able to do so in excessive season in direction of the tip of the day.
Lunch on the Mount: If you happen to’re taking a bunch guided tour, ensure you pack some meals (and water can be good) as a result of your time on website will likely be restricted and it’s possible you’ll not have time for a sit-down lunch. You will discover takeout sandwiches and desserts alongside the way in which however count on to waste time standing in line.
Sneakers: Remember that you simply’ll be strolling uphill, on stone all the way in which, so put on applicable sneakers or danger being stepped on or twisting an ankle.
Accessibility: Principally the Mount will not be accessible when you have mobility points, though wheelchairs can simply cross the walkway, and I noticed lots. If you happen to can not climb stairs and nonetheless wish to go to the Abbey, there’s a particular affiliation that may make it occur however it’s a must to contact them at the very least six weeks forward of time. Porters will then carry you up in a bit “joelette”. The group will be reached by cellphone at +33 674910353 or by e-mail at cjfsansfrontieres@gmail.com. You’ll additionally need to e-mail the Abbey and coordinate communications between it and the affiliation by emailing resa.montsaintmichel@monuments-monuments-nationaux.fr
Sadly there’s actually no technique to keep away from the numerous stairs in any other case.
Earlier than you go…
It is a bewitching nook of Normandy and a go to to the Mont Saint-Michel could be a memorable expertise. I’ve now visited twice, as soon as with crowds and as soon as with out, and even with crowds, there are corners the place yow will discover a little bit of peace and serenity.
It is a magical place, and I admit I felt a bit one thing once I took my (thirtieth or so) selfie with the Mount within the background.
When you have sufficient time, are staying close by and have a automotive, know that the Normandy D-Day seashores aren’t too distant, and that the well-known Bayeux tapestry can also be close by.
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