World Heritage Photos

Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: Mont Saint-Michel is a small rocky island just off the coast near the town of Avranches in Normandy. Mont Saint-Michel is one of the three most visited tourist attractions in France and one of the most iconic monuments. The rocky island is dramatically rising from the ocean and is visible from far away. Behind the fortified medieval walls lies the tiny village of Le Mont-Saint-Michel and the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. According to a legend, the Archangel Michael appeared to St. Aubert in 708 AD and ordered him to built a church on the top of the tiny, rocky island. St. Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, built a chapel on the island, dedicated to the Archangel Michael. The Benedictine Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel was founded in the 10th century and became a major destination of medieval Christian pilgrimage in Europe, together with Rome, the cathedrals of Canterbury, Chartres and Santiago de Compostela. Mont Saint-Michel is located on one of the branches of the Way of St. James, an immense network of ancient pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. At the foot of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel lies the small village of Le Mont-Saint-Michel. The Island of Mont Saint-Michel is surrounded by its bay and low salty marshland, the bay is known for the largest tidal ranges in Europe. Mont Saint-Michel is nowadays accessible via a footbridge. Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay gained the status as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: In 708, according to a legend, the Archangel Michael ordered the Bishop of Avranches to build a sanctuary on the rocky island in front of the coast in Normandy. Saint Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, built a chapel on the small tidal island, he dedicated it to Archangel Michael. Much later, the Benedictine Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel was founded. Mont Saint-Michel and its bay were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The imposing defensive walls and towers of the fortified Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. In the 10th century, Benedictine monks started the construction of the abbey on Mont Saint-Michel. The abbey is protected by huge defensive walls. Behind the walls lies also the tiny village of Le Mont-Saint-Michel. The 'Grande Rue' is the narrow main street of the village of Le Mont-Saint-Michel. The street is always overcrowded with tourists.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: One of the massive defensive towers of the fortified abbey. King Philip II of France tried to capture Normandy, including Mont Saint-Michel, in 1203. During the battle, the abbey was almost completely destroyed by fire. The king compensated the monks by paying for the construction of a new abbey, the new abbey became known as 'La Merveille', the Wonder. It resisted several attacks during the Hundred Years' War and French Wars of Religion.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: La Manche, the English Channel, viewed from the Grande Degré, the Grand Staircase leading to the entrance of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. At the end of the 18th century, only seven monks lived in the abbey. During the French Revolution, the abbey was closed in 1791. Under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, the abbey was converted into a prison, nicknamed the 'Bastille by the Sea', after the fortress in Paris. The prison was closed in 1863.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The highest point of the island of Mont Saint-Michel is the spire of the abbey church, the spire rises approximately 170 metres above sea level. At the top of the spire stands a gilded statue, it depicts the Archangel Michael, holding his sword ready to defeat the dragon at his feet. A dragon is a symbol of the devil, or evil. The Benedictine Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is dedicated to the Archangel Michael.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is adorned with gargoyles. The abbey became one of the most important destinations of medieval Christian pilgrimage. The Mont Saint-Michel Way, one of the branches of the Route of Santiago de Compostela, starts at the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. Already since 1862, the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel has been protected as a French 'monument historique'.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: Low tide viewed from the courtyard garden of Mont Saint-Michel. Mont Saint-Michel is completely surrounded by its beautiful bay. The Bay of Mont Saint-Michel is known for the greatest tidal ranges in Europe. Mont Saint-Michel is accessible via a footbridge or shuttle bus. Before the construction of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel, the island was originally called Mont Tombe. Mont Saint-Michel is one of the most iconic monuments of France.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The Abbey Church of Mont Saint-Michel and the cloister garden. The Abbey Church seems to have a window in the shape of a heart. One side of the cloister gallery has three arched windows which offers amazing views over the bay. The cloister was a place where monks could retreat for prayer and meditation. The Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is also known as the 'Wonder of Mont Saint-Michel', and as the 'Wonder of the West'.

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   Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The rectangular cloister of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel. The charming cloister garden is surrounded by an open gallery. The gallery of the cloister is covered by a wooden roof. The roof is supported by a double row of columns. The arcades of the gallery are decorated with sculptures of leaves and plants. The garden beds are planted with medicinal plants, the garden beds are surrounded by low boxwood hedges and roses.

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    Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The refectory of the Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel is flooded with daylight, the windows of the refectory are hidden between the columns. The construction of the refectory dates back to around 1215. The 13th century Gothic buildings on the north side of the abbey church are called 'La Merveille'. The refectory is part of 'La Merveille'. The Gothic buildings of 'La Merveille' were built on top of each other.

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    Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The Salle des Chevaliers is the Room of the Knights and was the scriptorium of the abbey. About seventy illuminated manuscripts were made in the scriptorium, the oldest manuscript dates from the 8th century. Now, the precious manuscripts are housed in the Museum of the Manuscrits du Mont Saint-Michel - Le Scriptorial, this museum is situated in the town of Avranches, about 25 km northeast of Mont Saint-Michel.

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    Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay: The commemoration of the 65th anniversary of D-Day landings. During World War II, the tiny island of Mont Saint-Michel was occupied by nazi-Germany, it was liberated by Allied forces in 1944. Each year, in the beginning of June, the French have a D-Day commemoration in Normandy. Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay were declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979.