Le Mont Saint Michel

In 966, a community of Benedictines settled on this rocky tidal island and a pre-Romanesque church was built before the year 1000.

What is a Benedictine? It refers to the consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St. Benedict (Catholic patron saint of Europe and students).  The first monastery founded by Benedict was in 529.  Many more Benedictine communities were founded, not only for monks, but also for nuns.  A number of independent orders were also founded by St. Benedict including the Trappists.  

As in Trappists beer.

Here's the parking lot.  You can see the Abbey in the distance.  It's about a half hour walk - unless you take the shuttle . . .

which we didn't.

Mont St. Michel is a commune in Normandy, France located about a half mile off the coast of the English Channel.  It's full of little shops and restaurants. The population is 41, but more than 3,000,000 people visit it each year.  If all days had equal visitors - that's over 8,000 a day.  But I'm guessing in June there are so many people you couldn't stir ém with a stick.

 It has been a church as well as a prison.  This location also has the highest tides in Europe.  As you can see, it was low tide on our visit.  See those little people down there in the bay?

I found this photo online. This is high tide.  No wonder this warning is on the Mont St. Michel website:

It is extremely dangerous to venture alone into the bay including immediately close to Mont Saint-Michel.

The Abbey

The Cloister

Le Mont Saint Michel, France - a unique little city.