Revisiting Mont St Michel

Getting to Mont St Michel

I woke early after an awesome uninterrupted night sleep, without having to descend the steep ladder for use of the toilet.

Today, I head to Mont St Michel for a revisit after 18 years.  I bought a fresh baguette and prepared a packed lunch to bring along for the daytrip.

The 0925 bus for Mont St Michel departed from the station only 4 mins away by foot, so it was very easy.  We disembarked less than an hour later at a paid carpark cum shuttle bus area with information and toilets.  It wasn’t like I had remembered from 18 years ago.

There was a queue for the shuttle which was supposed to take 20 mins, so I walked instead with the indicative time signposted as 35 mins.  With stops for photos, I think the walk took maybe 50 mins instead.  I thought it was quite nice to see Mont St Michel get bigger and closer gradually.

Exploring Mont St Michel

As I entered the gate, I was hit by the masses of tourists on the narrow alleyway.

I had five hours between the bus drop-off and the return pickup.  So, with time on my hand, I thought I would shell out EUR16 to enter the abbey, even though I had seen enough of them.  I had to make a booking online for the 1300 time-slot as I hadn’t purchased the ticket earlier at the drop-off area or near the entrance gate.

That meant a wait of an hour.  Combined with the slow walk I had to get here, I think the five hours allowed at Mont St Michel will go quickly.  I had thought that I had far too much time, at first.

I ventured to the mid-level residential areas and a lovely cemetery, but the best thing was probably getting away from the crowd.

Backside of Mont St Michel

About 20 mins before my 1300 time-slot to visit the abbey, I had a sudden urge to see what the seaward or back of Mont St Michel looked like.  With the tide low and the sand dry, I rushed out and did a walk to get there.  My suspicions that it was steeper without any commercial areas or lower buildings, were indeed confirmed.

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Visiting the abbey

I made it to the abbey a little before my 1300 time-slot and walked up the stair that led to the open area.  Thereafter, I ventured into several empty halls, several chapels, a main church and a main courtyard.

The place was decidedly bare, with a few bad-taste art pieces of the moon.  Otherwise, it looks deconsecrated but it probably isn’t with a few un-dressed altars around.

One good display I particularly appreciated was a model which illustrated Mont St Michel’s growth over the centuries. It’s origin dates back to the 10th Century with a small building, the prominent abbey was added in the 13th Century. The low-level buildings (which are now residential and commercial) expanded over the centuries after.

The visit finished in the garden area which then led to the obligatory souvenir and book shop before exiting into the outdoor area on the backside which I had specially made an effort to see earlier.

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My abbey visit lasted about 40 mins.  It was now around 1345 and despite having finished my packed lunch, I needed something more as I had plans to go to the gym upon returning to St Malo.

I bought a sandwich combo at regular prices at the very last shop in the commercial area just before one reaches the abbey, with the other shops all selling at inflated prices.

Back to St Malo

It was too hot for me to walk back on the exposed route to the carpark and bus departure point.  So, I joined the queue for the shuttle bus, which cleared quickly.

That got me back to my bus departure area around 1430, an hour before the actual departure time.  Time went quickly snacking on the remainder of my lunch and deleting photos.

It had been a very enjoyable revisit especially with the stunning weather.  The lower commercial area of Mont St Michel was like I remember from 18 years ago but I had no recollection of the residential areas at the mid-level or entering the abbey.  Looking at my old photos later, I realised that I had done both!

Once again, shock and horror at my deteriorating memory.  Just as well I keep good photos and a travel journal.

Back in St Malo at 1630, I went for a long workout at the gym where I committed to three entries at the self-service Basic-Fit gym.  I stayed committed to my lighter healthier meals with a homemade salad dinner.