Mont St. Michel is a tiny island connected to the mainland by a causeway for the cars. The farmland near the bay was reclaimed by Normans in the 19th century with the help of Dutch engineers. Today, this reclaimed land is covered by salt-loving plants and grazed by sheep whose salty meat is considered a local treat. The Couesnon River at the inlet to Mont St. Michel marks the historic border between Brittany and Normandy, who have long vied for Mont St. Michel. (In fact, the river used to pass Mont St. Michel on the other side, making the abbey part of Brittany. Today, the river's route is stable and the abbey is just barely — but thoroughly — on Normandy soil.) 
Elliott took the tour of the Abbey which is at the top. Saint Michael, whose gilded statue decorates the top of the abbey's spire, was the patron saint of many French kings, making this a favored sight for French royalty through the ages.
It is an engeneering marvel. Monks built on the rock to get as close to heaven as possible. The downside: not enough level ground to support a sizable abbey and church. The solution: Four immense crypts were built under the church to create a platform supporting each of its wings. In 1421, the crypt that supported the apse collapsed, taking its end of the church with it. Today's crypt boasts immense columns (15 feet around), rebuilt with a determination not to fall again.
The best part of the tour was this girls' choir which stopped to sing spontaneoulsy in every room of the Abbey. Elliott enjoyed this unexpected treat so much.
Saint Michael, whose gilded statue decorates the top of the abbey's spire, was the patron saint of many French kings, making this a favored sight for French royalty through the ages. During the French Revolution Mont Saint Michel was closed and converted into a prison and held, ironically, over 300 monks and priests in their once peaceful cloisters. It was declared an historical monument in 1874.
A huge, haunted fireplace!
The tides at Mont Saint Michel can rise approximately 14 meters from the low water mark. The late afternoon sun gave us this specatular view and shadow.
We enjoyed exploring: the views, the tides, the history. But it was quite touristy, as was the food - you could have every regional specialty in one menu - and so the only revision of our itnereary would be no alot less time here. An afternoon would suffice.
If you leave after dark, you are treated to seeing Mont St. Michel illuminated. Just as striking as the approach in the morning.
E's photography here is terrific, even if he did get his fee wet!
We enjoyed exploring: the views, the tides, the history. But it was quite touristy, as was the food - you could have every regional specialty in one menu - and so the only revision of our itnereary would be no alot less time here. An afternoon would suffice. 
If you leave after dark, you are treated to seeing Mont St. Michel illuminated. Just as striking as the approach in the morning. E's photography here is terrific, even if he did get his fee wet!
When we arrived and bought our ticket to enter, the guard said that we could go anywhere we want on the grounds (not on the track, but, hey, he said it in French, so we didn't understand him). Here is Sterling standing in the pit stop!!!
That day, there was a corporate thing going on for Audi. So, naturally, there were lots of Audi's all over the place, including this 100,000 euro Audi R8:
The gardens are, as one might expect, a masterpiece of beauty and serenity.
We stayed until closing, partly because we wanted every moment possible, but we had learned from our experience at Omaha Beach that sometimes there are amazing things that happen late in the day. Seeing le Château du Clos Lucé lit up was the reward!
The aroma of the sun on the grapes was intoxicating. Some were transluscent,
The signs of autumn are the vines themselves.
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