Mont-Saint-Michel, at the mercy of the sea

Originally

Originally, a legend. Saint Michel appeared in a vision commanding Bishop Aubert of Avranches to erect a sanctuary in his honour. With 350 steps ascending to the summit of the Abbey, perched 92 metres above sea level, the structures of this city "at the mercy of the sea," nestled against the rocky landscape, have presided over the Bay for over 13 centuries.

Over the centuries

A formidable stronghold, a dreaded prison, the legendary Mont-Saint-Michel has stood the test of time, drawing millions of pilgrims each year, a thousand and one years after the abbey's founding.

Nowadays

A marvel of the Western world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel presents a breathtaking natural spectacle driven by the rhythms of the tides. At different times, it becomes a playground for harbour seals and pods of dolphins. Moreover, this natural wonder serves as the stage for some of the most remarkable athletic feats, both at sea, on land, and in the skies. From cyclist Johan Museeuw to tightrope walker Nathan Paulin, one common element ties them together: the Mont-Saint-Michel!

Cultural Olympiad

In the cultural sphere, our perspective is elevated with La tentative du ciel, an innovative show by Damien Droin delving into the age-old dream of humanity's collective aspiration to “conquer the skies”. With bodies gracefully falling and others plunging, ephemeral beings will animate a poetic exploration through various locations within the monument.

Did you know?

• A flagship location: the bay with its shifting sands, hosting over 1000 characteristic species of local flora and fauna**:** mushrooms, lichens, flowering plants, insects, marine invertebrates, birds...

• A surprise... these suspended structures, seemingly miraculously affixed to the rock and at the mercy of the sea.

• Sports history... two finish lines of the Tour de France (victories by Johan Museeuw in 1990 and Tony Martin in 2013)... and one “Grand Départ”!

• A sporting thrill... with the aerial waltzes between sky and sea by the tightrope walker Nathan Paulin circling around the Mont.

• Originally... a granite rock known as Mont Tombe, later renamed Mont-Saint-Michel in the Middle Ages, in periculo mari, when, in 708, the Archangel Michel appeared in a dream to the Bishop of Avranches, instructing him to build a sanctuary in his name.

• An architectural marvel... “Merveille”: the Gothic elevation of an angel weighing 820 kilograms and standing 3.5 metres tall, vanquishing the dragon of the Apocalypse.

• A recent concert... pianist Sofiane Pamart performing in the abbey church as part of the Grandes Marées Festival.

• A song... "Mont-Saint-Michel" by Dutch electronic artist Eelke Kleijn.

• A sports impact project... the sports program aimed at combating precarity (led by Alain Thiebot, president of the Departmental Olympic and Sports Committee of the English Channel).

• A "local" training... with Matthieu Chappé, president of the running club Courir en Baie in Pontorson.