2024 Manche Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)

Many visitors to Mont Saint-Michel will choose to stay in nearby cities, such as Saint-Malo, but we choose to stay in the Mont Saint-Michel Scenic Area. Most of the attractions are MOTEL, and the price is not cheap. There are several hotels in the scenic area, but all the vehicles entering the scenic area must be the guests of the hotel, so the hotel will provide the guest with the password for the access control. However, our hotel did not inform in advance, so our car was stuck at the access control, and the area was pressed a lot. Press the call bell, the call staff will not speak English. Later, a girl came to help translate, the scenic staff also rushed on a small bicycle, and finally Xiaoyue hit the hotel phone to verify the information before they got the password to enter the scenic spot. Check in when asked the front desk for not telling the password in advance, the front desk said innocently, because I don't know your email address.

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Mont Saint-Michel

This sacred Mont Saint-Michel, revered by travel enthusiasts as a holy place in the midst of the sea, is a famous attraction in Normandy, France, and is said to be one of the 'must-visit' towns in a lifetime. When I arrived at the town, it was cloudy. I took the free 'Shuttle Bus' to the terminal at the foot of the mountain. The fierce wind carried heavy rain, and after walking about 30 meters, I became a 'drenched chicken'. Despite it being April, the temperature plummeted, and the rain was ice-cold to the bone. I immediately crossed the road to take a ride back to the hotel. In the evening, the rain stopped, and it seemed that the clouds in the sky were a bit sparse. I went to the island mountain again. Mont Saint-Michel is located on a small island in the middle of the sea, and from a distance, it looks like an equilateral triangle with a towering abbey spire in the middle. The abbey, which was founded in 708, is said to have a gold statue of the Archangel Michael, as imagined by Bishop Aubert of Avranches, who is stepping on a conquered dragon. The tidal range of Mont Saint-Michel is very large; during high tide, the causeway is submerged, making it appear as if it is standing alone in the middle of the sea. This is a common image in the works of painters and photographers, and it is also what we see. Due to the blockage of the causeway, the tide slowly accumulates silt, which will turn Mont Saint-Michel into a peninsula, losing its original unique charm. In 2014, a bridge was built to solve the problem of siltation. A monastery was built on the island, and from the entrance to the island, you can see that the entire island's buildings are constructed of thick blocks of stone. The outer defensive facilities include bunkers and high walls, and there is even a drawbridge at the entrance, which was easy to defend but hard to attack in the era of cold weapons. The entrance begins with a commercial street, and it is probably difficult to explain why a commercial street was formed. But the entire narrow street and defensive facilities make you feel as if you have traveled back to the Middle Ages. In 966, Duke Charles I of Normandy gave Mont Saint-Michel to the Benedictine order of the Catholic Church, and later it became a center of learning, eventually becoming a church fortress in the 11th century. During the Hundred Years' War between England and France in the 15th century, the English army could not conquer it, and it became the only place in the northwest of France that did not fall into the hands of the English. Later, it continued to serve as a prison, and in 1966, on the 1000th anniversary of the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, it was symbolically returned to the Benedictine order. In 1979, Mont Saint-Michel and its bay were listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. I arrived too late, and the abbey had already stopped selling tickets for entry. The weather was also gloomy with occasional light rain. After walking around the accessible areas twice, I decided to eat first. Perhaps touched by my spirit at such an old age, after dinner, in the evening (it gets dark very late), the clouds suddenly dispersed, and the sun appeared, giving me the opportunity to witness the elegance of Mont Saint-Michel. Travel is always like this; you need to have confidence and perseverance, and the scenery will always be with you. Mont Saint-Michel itself is an attraction, and to be precise, the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey is one of the highlights. The ticket is 13 euros, with an additional 5 euros for the audio guide, which includes the abbey church, Merveille. Tips: You can stay on the mountain, but it is quite expensive. There is a parking lot 🅿️ near the visitor center, and accommodations nearby are also quite expensive. In fact, there are many guesthouses within a few kilometers or more than ten kilometers, and it is also possible to drive to the attractions, which is a way to save money. Whether you drive and stay on the mountain or nearby, you will park near the visitor center, where there is a free shuttle bus service.

Mont Saint-Michel, the sacred mountain of France.

In my teenage years, when I first saw a photo of Mont Saint-Michel similar to photo 1, I didn't believe it actually existed on Earth. I thought it was a fairyland in the sky or a mirage in the sea. It wasn't until 2003 when I stood in front of Mont Saint-Michel for the first time that I believed it was real and exactly the same as in the photo. There is a saying that if you haven't been to Mont Saint-Michel, you haven't truly been to France. Mont Saint-Michel is more magnificent, spectacular, and soul-stirring than the Eiffel Tower. Its fairyland-like temperament, unique geographical structure, legendary history, simple yet magnificent architectural style, and fascinating aura, relying on its unique and solitary momentum facing the sea, make it different and unparalleled. Saint Michael is the archangel who leads the battle in the Bible. Legend has it that he appeared in a dream three times to the bishop of nearby town Avranches, Aubert, instructing him to build a church on the same mountain. Centuries ago, when the monks decided to build a church on the reefs in the sea, they could not have imagined that this place would become France's most famous pilgrimage site and even be hailed as a spiritual symbol of France. The strict medieval walls and changing tides allowed the Mont Saint-Michel Monastery and the ancient town at the foot of the mountain to serve God and pilgrims undisturbed for centuries. Today, as you walk into the towering church and peaceful courtyard 100 meters above sea level, time seems to stand still in that era; while the bustling town, although full of modern commercial atmosphere, can also make people experience the simple and enthusiastic side of Normandy, full of human touch. On the spire of the Gothic cathedral, one can vaguely see the shining archangel Saint Michael, who spreads his wings and points his sword towards the sky, as if protecting Mount Saint Michael and imparting the will of heaven to the world. His image is vivid, giving people a feeling that he could appear at any moment. Due to the "capriciousness" of the tides in the Bay of Saint-Malo, at dusk, the tides of the Atlantic Ocean rush in like thunder, submerging the road leading to the island monastery and restoring Mont Saint-Michel to the appearance of a solitary island. Every year on the spring equinox (March 21) and the autumn equinox (September 23), the largest tides will arrive here, with waves over ten meters high hitting the railings of the embankment, as if thundering, so there are many terrifying stories circulating, such as the rising tide chasing knights, the cart loaded with goods suddenly disappearing without a trace in the huge quicksand, and the traveler who got stuck in the mud and died tragically. This is also one of the reasons why Mont Saint-Michel is impregnable. Even during the hundred-year-long Anglo-French War, Mont Saint-Michel became the only military fortress in the region that did not fall. On Mont Saint-Michel, there is still a great feature today, the ubiquitous French crepe shops. After enjoying Mont Saint-Michel, you can find a restaurant with a terrace, enjoy the view, and savor the Normandy specialty of French crepes with apple cider. On Mount Saint Michel, there is only one hotel, Hotel - le terrasses poulard. Its founder is the famous Madame Poulard, who has been running the hotel here since the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She often helped the poor and took care of the food and lodging of the faithful. Today, almost half of the tourism industry in the mountain belongs to Madame Poulard's descendants, as well as the same-named biscuits, full of butter, crispy and delicious, which I always buy a few boxes to bring back whenever I travel. Don't forget to buy them when you come. Photo 16 is the storefront sign, very easy to find, because there is only one road up and down the mountain, and the storefront is also on this road. There are always endless tourists at the entrance and inside the store.

Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, equivalent to the Potala Palace in Tibet, is a pilgrimage site for the Christians and a NO.1 attraction for tourists. In fact, the panoramic view of Mont Saint-Michel has to be blue in the evening, and the lights on the mountain are good to see. If there is water, the reflection is very beautiful. However, because the temperature is too low, the temperature of the body is about a few degrees. The first thing we wear in the autumn clothes is to go back to the hotel during the day. The first thing is to rush into the toilet and huddle together to hold the radiator. There is no courage to go out at night.

La Mere Poulard, a restaurant in Mont Saint-Michel, is just a short walk up the mountain pass. It features a huge, fragile quiche, similar to the omelette, which we all feel. Later, when I ordered the dessert, the two speculated that the French menu saw a word like caramel and apple and ordered a dessert. The dessert was a big bite with foamy applesauce, and we both In the face of the waiter, he laughed.

As the world heritage and the third largest sacred place in the Catholic Church, Mont Saint-Michel has almost become the must-see sight of France. In fact, the French locals have been controversial about whether Mont Saint-Michel belongs to Normandy or Brittany. I can't help but remind me of the farce of the "hometown dispute" in China. However, no matter who they belong, it does not affect our appreciation of this "miracle". Although I just entered the mountain, I have the feeling of going to Lijiang or Xitang, narrow roads, crowds of people, small shops with lots... Angel Saint Michel 3 times dreaming cardinal Aube, and the story of the seal of the gods, any Raiders and travel notes will not let go, you can search and read, it is said that in the St. Vijay treasure room of Afranche, you can also see that it is said to stay Bishop's skull with angel finger holes. For Catholics, this is a miracle. For us, it may be a legend. However, miracles or legends, when you really see how the devout congregation used eight hundred years of time, when the bricks and bricks rounded the dream of the cardinal, they will still be deeply shocked. .

Mont Saint-Michel is a magical town that becomes an island every high tide, and the tides recede, it is connected to Saint-Malo, which is mysterious, and it is a famous French pilgrimage site for tourists. There is always an endless stream. The top of the mountain is a long-established monastery. Why not make a life-long wish with the beloved in front of the main church?