Mont Saint-Michel

Mont Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Coues non River near Avranches. 247 acres (100 ha) in size, the island has a population of 44 (2009).

The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times, and since the eighth century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it. On top God, the abbey and monastery, below this the Great halls, then stores and housing, and at the bottom, outside the walls, fishermen and farmers' housing.

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org

During the early 19th century, there were campaigns that called for the restoration of what was seen as a national treasure. One of these had Victor Hugo as a prominent supporter. In 1874, the abbey was handed over to the French government with the aim of preserving it for future generations. At the end of the 19th century, a causeway was built so that the island could be more easily accessed at low tide. In 1895, a copper statue of St. Michael was commissioned to adorn the abbey's spire.

In 1966, the abbey on Mont Saint Michel was returned to the Benedictines in a symbolic ceremony that formed part of the island's millennium celebrations. The year of 1979 saw the island and the bay in which it stands become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zq0axpbPns&hd=1

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Saint-Michel

http://www.world-guides.com

Posted in: France