Mont-Saint-Michel - Visitor Magnet of Normandy

Today we visited one of the most famous sights of Normandy: Mont-Saint-Michel.

As early as 708, Aubert, the Bishop of Avranches, built a sanctuary for the Archangel Michael on the water-bound Mont-Tombe.

The rock becomes a pilgrimage site and a fortress that withstands the siege during the Hundred Years' War.
After the French Revolution, it was turned into a prison island before the abbey was placed under monument protection in 1874.

Today it is a tourist hotspot.

When we arrived, we already saw countless cars parked in the huge parking lots.

Last time we were here in summer and found it incredibly crowded. Unfortunately, it was no different in April, as we had to realize.
Due to the long line and the beautiful view, we skipped the shuttle bus and walked to Mont-Saint-Michel.

A bridge connects the island with the mainland, allowing tourists to reach it conveniently.

In the narrow streets, it was very crowded, and we squeezed along with other visitors up to the entrance of the abbey.

Fortunately, we had already purchased our tickets at the information center in the parking lot: The line at the entrance ticket sales was very long.

Inside, the old rooms of the abbey can be seen, although they are empty.

Yet, in its dimensions, it is still impressive.

An interesting feature is the replica of the large wheel, which from 1818 distributed food to the inmates of the converted prison abbey.

At the exit of the abbey, we took a picnic break with a view before wandering a bit through the streets.

The narrow streets, as well as the restaurants and shops, were completely overcrowded.

Nevertheless, we were very impressed by the place with its streets and medieval walls again.

For the return trip, we chose the shuttle bus, which just arrived and took us back to the parking lot.

There we paid the hefty fee (22 euros for up to 6 hours) and headed to Villers-Bocage, where we found a camping spot for the night.

In the small town, we did the “historical walk,” which passed by buildings rebuilt after the Second World War.

During the war, much of the town had been destroyed, and many new residential buildings had to be built quickly.