Beattys Overseas

What an amazing sight to see... You drive off of a highway past about a hundred dairy farms toward the ocean, and then, there it is.  A massive beacon on the horizon. It's a tidal island; several chunks of granite in the middle of a bay that is surrounded by water during certain times of the tide, or enclosed by mud-flats the remainder of the time. Celebrated for its Benedictine abbey, it has a storied history:

Looks like the land of Oz, doesn't it?Before the construction of the first monastic establishment in the 8th century, the archangel Michael  appeared to St. Aubert , bishop of Avranches, in 708 and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. According to legend. Aubert repeatedly ignored the angel's instruction, until Michael burned a hole in the bishop's skull with his finger. Ouch.

In 1067, the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel gave its support to duke William of Normandy in his claim to the throne of England. It was rewarded with properties on the English side of the Channel, including a small island located at the west of Cornwall, which was modelled after the Mount.  During the Hundred Years' War, the English made repeated assaults on the island but were unable to seize it partly due to the abbey's improved fortifications. Les Michelettes, two wrought-iron bombards left by the English in their failed 1423–24 siege of Mont Saint-Michel, are still displayed near the outer defense wall.

The wealth and influence of the abbey extended to many outlets in the French religious community. However, its popularity and prestige as a centre of pilgrimage waned with the Reformation , and by the time of the French Revolution there were scarcely any monks in residence. The abbey was closed and converted into a prison , initially to hold clerical opponents of the republican régime. High-profile political prisoners followed, but by 1836 influential figures, including Victor Hugo , had launched a campaign to restore what was seen as a national architectural treasure. The prison was finally closed in 1863 , and the mount was declared a historic monument in 1874 . The Mont Saint Michel and its bay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979, as they rank very high on such World Heritage Site criteria as cultural, historical, and architectural significance, as well as human-created and natural beauty.

We stayed only one night, and, due to Whitney's lagging stomach flu, were not able to fully enjoy all that Le Mont has to offer.  In fact, Whitney checked into the inn and went straight to bed, while John did some sightseeing and settled into a cozy brasserie for an evening of Mt. St. Michel people-watching.  It's a glorious place, and a true vision to behold.  I'm glad that I was there, but plan to return to enjoy it a bit more.  Next time, I'll take my Coke and Pepto with me!

- Whitney