Idea #299 – Visiting the Mont Saint Michel during high tides
The Mont would have been a heathen place of worship, knows under the name of “Mont Tombe”. Towards 709, the legend claims that the original religious stone would have been replaced by an oratory dedicated to the holy archangel Michel ; the site takes then the name of Mons Sancti Michaeli in periculo mar, that is ” the Mont-Saint-Michel at the risk of the sea “. In 867, the treaty of Compiègne attributes the Cotentin region, as well as Avranchin to king of Brittany, saint Salomon. The abbey is established in the century following, in 966, and little by little a town was build at its feet. The convent construction is achieved in 1228 ; the abbey is renovated, enlarged, strengthened little by little. In 1356, the English army try vainly to attack the Mont, defended by the knight Du Guesclin.
In 1386, Pierre le Roy, elected as abbot, makes strengthen the surrounding wall to protect itself again the English threat; he makes build the tower Perrine, the tower of Corbins and the Châtelet. In 1424, the English army besiege the Mont, the last French bastion of this region, in vain ; they have to withdraw next year. Again, although they penetrated into the surrounding wall, the English are undone during the siege of 1434, giving up on the spot two enormous bombard, still exposed there. The site, unique, is classified, with the bay, on the UNESCO world heritage list, since 1979.
This exceptional site is also the theater of the highest tides of continental Europe: reaching up to 15 meters of difference between low and high tide. During these tides, the sea withdraws in 15 kilometers of coast and goes back up very quickly … From 19 till 22 February 2015, tides ranges have to oscillate between 106 and 118. The next high tide of a coefficient upper to 119 is planned for 2073!
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France
Larger Map