Private Mont Saint-Michel - Bayeux or Caen

5.0 (one review) 8 hours Free cancellation Private tour

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Private Mont Saint-Michel - Bayeux or Caen — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Mont Saint-Michel - Bayeux or Caen, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Explore the island of Mont-St-Michel, one of the most popular attractions in France with its medieval village and its stunning views on the largest bay in Europe. This historical site was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979. The place is surrounded by vast sandbanks and becomes an island only when the tides are very high.

Originally called Mont-Tombe, the island became known as Mont-Saint-Michel in the 8th century due to a vision of a bishop that built the first sanctuary in 708.

After that, the site turned into a pilgrimage site and in 966 a Benedictine abbey was built. Later, the island had been fortified and resisted the wars in 14th and 15th centuries. Then the site became a state prison under the French revolution until Napoleon III decided to close it in 1863.

You will learn about the architecture but also the legends of the site with an opportunity to eat one the three local dishes : soufflé omelet, lamb or mussles.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English, French
Operated by: ACSM-Tours

What is included

Included

Included: Free shuttle
Included: Access free to the island
Included: Guiding services
Included: Gasoline
Included: Private transfer
Included: Tolls
Included: Parking fees
Included: Bottle of water

Not included

Not included: Lunch of the participants
Not included: Entrance fees for the abbey 16 euros per pers.

Itinerary

Mont-Saint-Michel

5 hours

Explore this island with its medieval village and its famous abbey overlooking the bay, whose foundations were laid in 708 by Bishop Aubert in honour of the Archangel St Michael.

In the 10th century, the Benedictines settled there and the place became a major place of pilgrimage.

The building of the abbey will be done over a period of 1300 years from the simple construction of a sanctuary through the periods of Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

From the 14th century onwards, successive conflicts during the Hundred Years' War between France and England made it necessary to build new powerful fortifications defended by knights sent by the King of France.

In the 17th century, the abbey became a prison that closed in 1863 under Napoleon III trying to develop the tourisme industry. In 1969, a religious community returned after having been chased under the French Revolution. 10 years later.

We will have 3 hours of transportation within the Tour.