Your essential travel guide to Mont Saint-Michel
Discover Mont Saint-Michel
Normandy’s crowning jewel tops every traveller’s bucket list, and it’s no wonder why. Its spectacular abbey dominates the landscape, welcoming visitors to a treasure trove of historic wonders. If you’re lucky enough to visit Mont Saint-Michel during high tides, you’re in for a treat. But the island stuns year-round, so much so that UNESCO made it a World Heritage Site.
If you’re planning a holiday to Mont Saint-Michel, this guide has everything you need to know about its history, restaurants and hotels.
History of Mont Saint-Michel
Once known as Mont Tombe, Mont Saint-Michel was founded as a religious sanctuary in the 8th century. Aubert of Avranches, bishop of the homonymous nearby town, claimed that the Archangel Michael had pushed him to build an abbey atop the island. In 966, Benedictine monks began settling in the building, and the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel became one of Europe’s leading learning centres.
Many Christian pilgrims visited despite cross-Channel conflicts. The ramparts at the island’s base were built to protect Mont Saint-Michel from British invasion. Today, these buildings are museums, restaurants and shops.
Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel
The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel gives the island a unique charm, standing proud atop the sandstone. This majestic structure was consecrated as a sanctuary in 709 and became a Benedictine abbey in 966. It was used as a prison during the French Revolution to hold clerical opponents of the Republican regime hostage.
The prison closed in 1863 when the bishop of Coutances rented the abbey. It was declared a historic monument in 1874 and added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. Benedictine monks returned to the site in 1966 but were later replaced by the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem in 2001.
High tide timings in Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel Bay is home to Europe’s highest tides, with the sea withdrawing 15 km from the coast. High tides typically occur 36 to 48 hours after the full and new moons, but this may depend on other weather conditions.
Find out more about high tide timings here.
Best restaurants in Mont Saint-Michel
- L’Antre Terre et Baie (££). This cosy restaurant offers meat and seafood-based dishes; highlights include the Bouchot mussels and the pressed lamb in a crust.
- Restaurant de la Galette (££). Enjoy delicious local food in a laid-back setting. Restaurant de la Galette serves French classics, including mussels and sweet and savoury crêpes, and other European dishes.
- RestaurantLa Fermette (££). This family-run restaurant is all about the ingredients’ seasonality. Must-try dishes include the Bouchot mussels and the Norman oysters.
- Restaurant Le Pré Salé (£££). Restaurant Le Pré Salé serves traditional dishes with a twist. Be sure to try the venue’s speciality, the Pré-Salé lamb, a type of lamb raised on the island’s outskirts.
- L’Hippocampe (££££). This warm, rustic venue offers authentic local dishes and prime island views. Don’t miss the Relais du Roy’s leg of salted-meadow lamb, slow-cooked in local beer.
Best 3-star hotels
- Le Relais du Roy. This 3-star hotel is next to the dam and offers breathtaking views of Mont Saint-Michel. All 27 rooms have a flat-screen TV, coffee and tea, and an en-suite bathroom equipped with toiletries. Other amenities include a 24/7 reception, on-site parking and a meeting room.
- Hôtel Gabriel. Whether travelling for leisure or business, Hôtel Gabriel has it all. The colourful en-suite rooms have everything you need, from a flat-screen TV and a desk to ample storage space. Enjoy a treat at the on-site restaurant after a sightseeing-filled day.
- Ibis Pontorson Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel. Opened in 2018, this cosy hotel has 78 rooms and excellent amenities, including a bar, a terrace and a restaurant serving local food.
Best 4-star hotels
- Hôtel Mercure Mont Saint-Michel. Modern and cosy, this 4-star hotel provides a relaxing getaway near Mont Saint-Michel Abbey. The airy rooms are well-equipped, while the on-site restaurant serves delicious local food and drinks.
- Relais Saint-Michel. Overlooking Mont Saint-Michel Bay, Relais Saint-Michel offers spacious rooms with sweeping views. The hotel provides a shuttle service to the island’s main attractions and has a bar, a restaurant and an on-site car park.
Best 5-star hotels
- L’Ermitage. Enjoy a relaxing stay at this family-friendly hotel. All luxurious suites have a private terrace or balcony, meaning you’ll be treated to breathtaking bay views. Other amenities include a conference room and a fine-dining restaurant.
- Château de Boucéel. It doesn’t get much better than a stay at the Château de Boucéel. This beautiful 5-star hotel is meticulously decorated, with each room boasting a different theme. This peaceful oasis is surrounded by vast green spaces within commuting distance of Mont Saint-Michel.
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