The last day of our trip to Normandy in March was to Mont Saint Michel. It is built on an island about one kilometer off the coast that now has a causeway out to it. It has a large Abbey on the top and hotels, restaurants and tourist shops leading up to the top. Only 41 people actually still live in the town.
 |
| Kate and Morgan at Mont Saint Michel |
It has been the site of pilgrimages for centuries. Efforts are underway to remove the causeway and replace it with boats to the island. Because of the causeway, silt has built up around the island. The area is subject to very strong tides-especially at the equinoxes-and there are areas of quicksand all around it.
 |
Phoebe, Hillary, Christina, Danielle, Samantha, Audrey, Sydney, Rebecca, Brooke, Kate,
Mary Claire, Paola, McCall, Madeleine and Ashlie |
 |
| Breanne, Jenny, Morgan and Kate at the Drawbridge Gate to the Town |
We wandered around Mont Saint Michel taking in all the views from the ramparts and inside the walls.
 |
| View of the Abbey from the Ramparts |
 |
| Mom and Dad |
There were many cute little nooks and crannies and interesting little doors and roofs everywhere.
 |
| Kate, Morgan and Bree on the Ramparts |
We met our guide and climbed up and up to the top to the Abbey. She told us the Archangel Michael appeared to St. Aubert, the bishop of the nearby town of Avranches, in 708 and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. Aubert ignored the angel's instruction three times, until Michael burned a hole in his skull with his finger. That got his attention! Eventually the large Abbey was built on the site.
 |
| Kelly, Kate, Mo and Bree Climb the Never-Ending Stairs to the Abbey |
 |
| More Stairs! |
After climbing all the stairs, we had a nice view from the Abbey of the sand, water and the town below.
 |
| View from the Abbey |
 |
| View from the Cloister in the Abbey |
 |
| Paola |
 |
| Kate in the Cloisters |
 |
| Students in the Abbey |
After the French Revolution, the Abbey was used as a prison. Supplies were brought up from the town below on a pulley system powered by six men inside a giant wheel. Those walking in the wheel were fed first, so there was no shortage of manpower.
 |
| Kelly |
 |
| Hillary |
As we left Mont-St.-Michel we stopped for some yummy ice cream.
 |
| MC, Audrey, Paola, Madi and Sam Leaving M-S-M |
Our bus driver, Robert, drove us safely home to Paris that evening on his big pink bus. It was another great trip with our students.
Mmmm.. I think I had ice cream there, too!
ReplyDelete