How To Get To Mont Saint-Michel: The Final Trouble-Free Information

There’s little in France that parallels the view of majestic Mont St Michel rising from the tides, its topmost steeple pointing – because the guides could let you know – straight in direction of heaven.

Together with the Eiffel Tower, the Mount could be probably the most photographed sights in France… Attending to this UNESCO World Heritage Website, nonetheless, is a distinct story, so let me aid you navigate the journey and offer you some professional tricks to make your go to memorable.

Mont Saint-Michel is probably the long-lasting vacation spot to see in Normandy, if not in France, and three million folks plan their go to right here every year.

When to go to Mont Saint-Michel

I took these pictures a number of hours aside…

Foremost road of Mont Saint-Michel throughout peak hours

The identical road after the crowds have gone

Sure, there are crowds, BUT please don’t be delay – you can go to with out them, even in excessive season, as you possibly can see within the second photograph, taken only a few hours after the primary.

Easy methods to keep away from the crowds at Mont Saint-Michel

Listed below are a number of recommendations on the easiest way to keep away from the crowds:

• Finest time of yr to go to to keep away from the crowds: November, December and January
• Worst time of the yr to go to: throughout faculty holidays (right here’s a rundown on France’s vacation intervals), July and August
• Finest days of the week to go to: Wednesday and Thursday
• Worst days of the week to go to: Monday, Tuesday and Saturday
• Finest time of day to go to: anytime within the morning however ensure you’re accomplished by 10am, or late afternoon, after 5pm, when most individuals have left

Obtain a map of Mont Saint-Michel and know that most individuals head straight up the Grande Rue, the primary road in direction of the Abbey, and also you’ll keep away from the worst of the crowds by heading for inside streets or the ramparts

possibility is to spend the evening and see it each within the night (together with the beautiful sundown) and within the morning.

The place to remain on Mont Saint-Michel

The mount itself has a number of lodges, and also you’ll discover a number of on the mainland close by. In any other case, you’ll want a automobile to get to the handfuls of properties inside a couple of minutes’ drive.

That mentioned, there’s a sure romance to spending the evening the place few have accomplished so, within the silence of a moonlit evening, overlooking an abbey whose constructing began virtually precisely 1000 years in the past, in 1023. One snug Mont Saint Michel lodge is the Lodge Poulard, however keep in mind, you’re on the Mount looking, so you possibly can’t see the Mount itself out of your lodge…

Two good choices on the mainland are the Mercure Lodge, with a great location however no view on the Mount, or the Hôtel du Roy, whose “Superior” class rooms have a balcony from which you’ll see the Mount. Each cost €10 per 24 hours’ parking, undoubtedly cheaper than the official parking heaps (costs could fluctuate so do examine).

Additional out, inside a couple of minutes’ drive, you’ll discover loads of lodging, from mattress and breakfasts to nation auberges to small lodges. Right here’s an inventory to save lots of you time.

I stayed in a small visitor home with 4 rooms, Aux Chambres du Mont, and this was the view from my window.

Now that we’ve discovered a number of locations so that you can keep, how do you get there?

Transportation to Mont Saint-Michel

As I discussed earlier, there are mainly 5 methods of getting right here: by becoming a member of a tour group, driving, on public transport, non-public information or bicycle.

Taking an organized tour to Mont Saint-Michel

You possibly can simply attain Mont Saint-Michel on a day journey from quite a few places together with Bayeux, Caen, Rennes and Paris.

I’ve accomplished this from Bayeux, by myself, and it was a painless course of, however Bayeux is not too far-off.

Nonetheless, in case your time is proscribed and also you solely have a day, a tour is a viable different. Listed below are a number of advisable options so you possibly can see what’s included and what they price.

From Paris

• This commonplace coach journey lasts a whopping 14 hours, with solely 3-4 hours on the Mount, however that is commonplace for a day journey from the capital.
• This bus tour consists of lodge pickup, and since most excursions start round 7am, it will prevent the issues of rush-hour journey by means of Paris public transportation.

From Bayeux

• There are many excursions from Bayeux, which is underneath two hours away. This tour has a most of 8 folks, which makes it fairly manageable and nice.

That is the right possibility if you would like somebody to care for every little thing for you, or when you’re touring solo or with one different individual.

Driving to Mont Saint-Michel

In case you have your individual automobile, you are all set. But when that you must lease, ensure you reserve as far forward as you possibly can, particularly through the excessive vacationer season.

This text tells you every little thing that you must learn about renting a automobile in France.

In case you plan to drive, listed below are some pattern distances and approximate journey occasions on primary roads (taking smaller roads, as I like doing, takes longer):

• From Paris (Charles de Gaulle airport): 378km/235mi, or about 4 hours
• From Rennes: 65km/40mi, or about an hour
• From Caen: 122km/76mi, or about 1hr 30min
• From Bayeux: 112km/70mi, or about 1hr 25min

When you get to Mont Saint-Michel, you’ll be guided to a bit of the large parking zone by an attendant. In case you come outdoors peak hours, there can be no attendant however digital indicators will level the best way. A crimson signal that claims “Fermé” implies that lot is closed – merely preserve driving till you discover one which’s open.

I received’t quote parking charges as a result of these can change however whereas the Mount is free to entry, parking is dear. I stayed a very good chunk of at some point and paid €20. I then returned for dinner and paid €14. That’s all in the identical day. In case you learn French, you possibly can examine the complete value checklist right here.

When you’ve parked, and please memorize your alley, make your approach to the Passeur, the free shuttle buses.

That is the right possibility if in case you have the time and plan to roam across the countryside a bit, or keep someplace that requires a automobile, or when you’re a household or bigger group of 3-5 folks.

Taking public transport to Mont Saint-Michel

This could truly be accomplished, even in winter. And whereas the Mont Saint-Michel itself has no practice station, there’s one close by, with a bus connection. And it’s an actual connection: the practice will watch for the bus, and the bus will watch for the practice.

There are a lot of methods to take the practice to Mont Saint-Michel:

• From Paris, in excessive season: direct practice from Gare Montparnasse station in Paris to Pontorson, with a assured bus connection to Mont Saint-Michel
• In off-season, search for practice schedules to Mont Saint-Michel (Le Mont) from Montparnasse, and get off at Villedieu les Poêles, from the place you possibly can take a bus to the Mount with the Keolis bus firm
• From different cities, it will get trickier however is feasible, for instance from Caen, Rennes or Bayeux. Your vacation spot continues to be Pontorson, however you’ll must seek the advice of the bus schedule from Pontorson (however examine to verify it’s the newest one – they do change and don’t all the time join)

In case you’re coming by public transport out of season, your greatest wager is to name the extremely useful vacationer workplace (they converse English) and examine the proper schedules with them.

That is the right possibility in case your finances is tight and when you’re an skilled traveler who can simply navigate French public transport.

Organizing a personal tour and driver

One other approach to depart all the trouble to another person is by hiring a personal information or driver. You’ll have your individual transportation and the liberty that comes with it, together with somebody who can clarify issues as you go alongside.

There are a selection of personal excursions from Paris, and whereas at first they could seem costly, costs are fairly aggressive when you’re touring in a gaggle. You can even rent a personal driver from Caen or Bayeux, when you occur to be leaving from there.

That is the best choice for a household or bigger group who need the independence of getting a automobile with out the trouble of driving it and navigating French roads, and who get pleasure from having somebody available to reply questions and level out locations of curiosity.

Biking to the Mont Saint-Michel

It is a fantastic approach to expertise the Mont Saint-Michel in addition to preferrred for native aspect journeys, as a result of the world is stuffed with bike paths.

Attending to the Mount itself by bike is simple now that crossing the causeway on two wheels is allowed. You possibly can stash your bike within the bike parking space close to the left entrance, within the Fanils courtyard, or you possibly can depart it within the car automobile parks by following the cycle indicators.

For extra info on biking to the world, take a look at the Veloscenic route.

Easy methods to get into Mont Saint-Michel

Nonetheless you get to Mont Saint-Michel – on a tour, driving, on public transport or with a personal information – you’ll must get throughout the causeway. The one exception is when you trip a bicycle throughout.

In any other case, you’ll must take the shuttle, Le Passeur.

Easy methods to take the shuttle

The shuttle is free and takes you from the big parking zone to the doorway of Mont Saint-Michel.

However until you’re outdoors peak occasions, you’ll have to affix the (generally big) line-up to get on.

That mentioned, it goes rapidly, as a number of shuttles ply the route they usually depart each couple of minutes. It takes ten minutes or so to get to the Mount from the start line close to the automobile park.

Within the excessive season (roughly April to October however examine for the precise dates), the shuttles run between 7:30am and 12:45am in season, and a bit earlier out of season.

No canines are allowed on the shuttle, so in case your pet is with you, you’ll have to make use of the walkway to get there. (I extremely suggest you NOT carry a canine until you’re visiting earlier than or after peak hours.) Canine are allowed all through the village however not within the Abbey. What with the warmth (in the summertime months) and crowds, this may not be a lot enjoyable to your canine…

Throughout from the parking zone is an info heart, and round to the again are the remaining rooms. Ensure you use them earlier than lining up for the shuttle – discovering a rest room on the Mount is not any straightforward job. Traces are horrendous, and the choice is to go to a restaurant and order one thing in an effort to use theirs.

After all, you possibly can stroll throughout the causeway and keep away from the shuttle altogether – it’s a 45min stroll and the view will get higher with every step. I strongly suggest you do that when you can.

Clockwise, within the pictures above, is what the Mount appears to be like like while you begin out, and while you lastly get there. Completely definitely worth the stroll!

Issues you must know

Excessive tide: In case you time your go to for when the tide is available in, try to be in for a significant spectacle! A excessive sufficient tide will convert Mont Saint-Michel into an island for a short time. You’ll discover extra info on the tide schedule right here.

Abbey visits: Mont Saint Michel abbey is open for visits from 9am-6pm in excessive season, and from 9:30am-5pm in off-season. If you wish to go to as soon as the crowds have gone, you are able to do so in excessive season in direction of the tip of the day.

Lunch on the Mount: In case you’re taking a gaggle guided tour, ensure you pack some meals (and water can be good) as a result of your time on web site can be restricted and you might not have time for a sit-down lunch. You will discover takeout sandwiches and desserts alongside the best way however anticipate to waste time standing in line.

Footwear: Remember that you simply’ll be strolling uphill, on stone all the best way, so put on acceptable footwear or threat being stepped on or twisting an ankle.

Accessibility: Principally the Mount will not be accessible if in case you have mobility points, though wheelchairs can simply cross the walkway, and I noticed a lot. In case you can’t climb stairs and nonetheless need to go to the Abbey, there’s a particular affiliation that may make it occur however it’s important to contact them at the least six weeks forward of time. Porters will then carry you up in a bit “joelette”. The group will be reached by cellphone at +33 674910353 or by e mail at cjfsansfrontieres@gmail.com. You’ll additionally must e mail the Abbey and coordinate communications between it and the affiliation by emailing  resa.montsaintmichel@monuments-monuments-nationaux.fr

Sadly there’s actually no approach to keep away from the numerous stairs in any other case.

Earlier than you go…

It is a bewitching nook of Normandy and a go to to the Mont Saint-Michel generally is a memorable expertise. I’ve now visited twice, as soon as with crowds and as soon as with out, and even with crowds, there are corners the place yow will discover a little bit of peace and serenity.

It is a magical place, and I admit I felt a bit one thing once I took my (thirtieth or so) selfie with the Mount within the background.

In case you have sufficient time, are staying close by and have a automobile, know that the Normandy D-Day seashores aren’t too far-off, and that the well-known Bayeux tapestry can also be close by.

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