Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides lies of one the first UNESCO heritage sites – Mont St Michel. Despite the turbulent past, the site has been restored, maintained and transformed into a beautiful and historic site worth the visit. When visiting Mont St. Michel by car, it gives you great flexibility of stopping anywhere on the way with your pets. Tickets are available online, the best is to purchase a few days before your arrival and book the first available spot before tour busses masses arrive. There is a free shuttle service between the grounds and parking area. However due to the dogs not being allowed on the shuttle bus, we have set for a lovely and easy walk, roughly 2 km away and an additional 25 mins from your starting point. Simply a beautiful site but also a tourist trap lined up with shops and restaurants on the way to the top.
Tickets to Abbey cost €13 and are available in 1.5/2 hours slots starting at 9.30 am. Avoid the lines and save some money when booking at the official site Mont St Michel Abbey Parking will set you back around €14 for a few hours (a steep price to pay if you ask me), however it can be up to €25 for the whole day or more, parking tariffs depend on the season and means of transport.
Around its base are medieval walls and towers above which rise the clustered buildings of the village with the ancient Abbey crowning the mount. Most of the time it is surrounded by vast sandbanks and becomes an island only when the tides are very high. Before the construction of the 3,000-foot causeway that connects the island to land, it was particularly difficult to reach the area because of quicksand and very fast-rising tides. The causeway, however, has become a barrier to the removal of material by the tides, resulting in higher sandbanks between the islet and the coast. I say leave 3-4 hours to explore the abbey and all surrounding areas, including walking to and from car park and during low tide you can explore the areas around the base of the mount.
We had a great day, even if we couldn’t visit Abbey with the dogs, we took turns to walk around and enjoy the majestic sight. 360 views from the top with the low tide/ high tide are magnificent. Be prepared for the summer crowds, quite a bit of waiting time for the shuttle to take you back to your car, less busier in the winter months. We visited during the month of September. If we ever go back, cycling will be a number one transport.
If you have not been to the English sister version of St. Michael Mount in Cornwall yet, it’s equally impressive just a smaller little island. The island is a civil parish and is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway of granite sets, passable between mid-tide and low water. It’s part of the National Trust and you can get your tickets directly on St. Michael Mount, Cornwall.
