When I first saw a picture of Mont Saint-Michel, I thought, ”WOW, what a really cool castle in the water! I need to go there!”
I checked on the Google Maps, and it was quite close from Luxembourg, just 7 hours by car.
After that, my French colleague told me that Mont Saint-Michel is actually an abbey and not a castle. So I digged more, and I found that the Bishop of Avranches founded the abbey at Mont Saint-Michel in 708 AD after he claimed that the Archangel Michael gave him instructions to erect a church on the island in a vision!
Quite a unique story. Isn’t it?
But despite its appearance reminiscent of a Disney castle, this abbey had more to offer. The surrounding nature is one of the kind. It turns out that during the high tide the water comes as fast as galloping horses and surrands the abbey, making it look like a castle floating on the water! Also, the scary quicksands were something that triggered my need to go there.
Yes! That’s incredible!
And that was the reason we decided to stop there on our trip through Normandy: to see how beautiful Mont Saint-Michel is and to test ourselves by walking barefoot through quicksand, which can be dangerous.
What is this place?
Along with its bay, Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France’s most beautiful sights. It is located in northern France, a small, rocky island about 1 kilometer off the coast of Normandy.
For hundreds of years, this magical island with an abbey on top was a central stop for European pilgrims.
Today, Mont Saint-Michel is one of France’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 3 million visitors each year.
Not only the stunning architecture, but the nature around itself makes the place one of the most interesting landscapes in the world.
Because of the greatest tides in continental Europe, which can cause a chasm of up to fifteen meters at low tide and high tide. Also worth seeing is the bay that surrounds the island, which is home to some deadly quicksands that have claimed lives in the past.
Can you visit Mont Saint-Michel at high tide?
At high tide, you cannot cross Saint-Mont Michel Bay on foot or with a shuttle bus. But you can watch the water rush in from the island, the mainland, or the bridge.
As the tide rises, Mont Saint-Michel becomes an island surrounded only by water. Although it might look stunning, you probably will not be able to get to the abbey. You will have to come back at low tide to explore the area.
The tides around Mont Saint-Michel are some of the highest in Europe, with a difference of up to 15 meters between low and high tide. Extremely fast tide changes are a fascinating natural event that is often called “a tide as fast as a galloping horse.”
Can you cross the quicksands around Mont Saint-Michel alone?
When the tide is low, yes but take off your shoes 🙂
With the motto “No risk, no fun,” my boyfriend and I went ahead and did it! It was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will never forget.
However, I would refrain from doing it in the presence of young children or the elderly. Please review the tide schedule and, if at all feasible, book a guide to show you the safe areas to cross the quicksands before you make the decision to go to Mont Saint-Michel by crossing them yourself.
So the answer to the question if you can cross the quicksands around Mont Saint-Michel alone is yes, but… it is highly discouraged due to the significant dangers involved!
Do not worry, though. There is a bridge all the way to the abbey that you can safely cross if you would rather keep your feet clean and not risk getting stuck in the quicksand.
How to get to Mont Saint-Michel?
From Luxembourg, we took a road trip to Brudge in Belgium, Etretat in Normandy, and our last stop was Mont Saint-Michel.
From Paris by car is around 4 hours, but you can also get a train. Here is where you can buy the train ticket for just €29.
The car park is located 2.5 km from the entrance of Mont Saint-Michel, and it cost 25 euros. From there, you have two options to get to the abbey: either walk the entire distance or take a bus. The dedicated shuttle bus called “Le Passeur” transports visitors approximately every 15 minutes, and it takes around 12 minutes.
For us, the choice was obvious! Thanks to the lovely weather and clear blue sky, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll to Mont Saint-Michel.
It took us about an hour to walk there. We could have gone faster if we had not stopped so often to capture beautiful images; the closer we got, the more amazed we were by the scenery.
Then we had to take off our shoes and socks and cross the water and quicksand.
Our legs and feet were covered in wet sand, so we had to wash them thoroughly. Luckily, the abbey provides water for handwashing upon arrival, so we took advantage of it to wash our legs 🙂
On the way back, we used the bridge to not get dirty again.
The weather, tides and best time to visit
There are two things that can greatly affect your experience at Mont St. Michel: the weather and the tides.
The weather was picture-perfect and the tide was low when we visited in May 2023. So the best time to visit Mont Saint-Michel is in the spring months, April-May. Going there on a cloudy or chilly day will result in extremely low visibility, making it impossible to see the abbey from a distance.
If you plan on visiting during the sunny days, bring water and a hat to shield your head from the sun. The one-hour walk we did in a pure afternoon sun was hitting us strongly, and there was no shadow to hide and rest.
It might be challenging to see the abbey during high tide, so checking the tide schedule is another important requirement to find out when the tide will be at Mont Saint-Michel.
How much time do I need at Mont Saint-Michel?
I think one afternoon is enough. We were there for four hours and had enough time to see the main sights. So you will need between 4 and 7 hours to visit Mont-Saint-Michel. This lets you see the ramparts and the main streets. Additionally, you will have time to explore the stunning abbey and eat something.
Do I need a ticket in Mont Saint-Michel?
Access to the village of Mont Saint-Michel (main street, ramparts, alleys, gardens) is free and possible 24 hours a day without reservation. When you want to enter the abbey church you will need a ticket that cost €13 for adults.
Are pets allowed in Mont-Saint-Michel?
Do you want to bring your furry friend with you on your trip so you do not have to leave him in the car while you are away? The answer is yes, you can bring your pet to Mont Saint-Michel, but only in the village.
Dogs on leashes are welcome to walk around the narrow streets and ramparts. The village’s parish church and the Abbey, on the other hand, are religious buildings that pets are not allowed in. Except the guide or assistance dogs are, of course, allowed.
Does anyone live there?
Indeed, there are presently about 30 permanent residents of Mont Saint-Michel, but the island was once home to almost 1,200 people.
While we were wandering around the abbey, out of the blue we knocked on the door, and to our surprise, a nun answered. We had a short conversation with her and found out that she lives there. It was a big surprise for us, as we didn’t expect anyone to live here.
There is a very small community on Mont Saint-Michel. The main residents are Benedictine monks and nuns who live in the abbey, focusing on prayer and religious life. Plus, you will find a small number of residents working in the tourist-oriented businesses, restaurants, and hotels.
What to do after?
What is the next step after seeing Mont Saint-Michel and spending a day there? You must surely keep heading east until you reach the stunning white cliffs of Étretat. This is a must-see location if you are taking a road trip and have some downtime. You can stroll along the beach, get some WWII history, and see sunsets from the enormous Étretat cliffs.
Claude Monet fell madly in love with the natural beauty of Normandy and painted this scene over ninety times. Our jaws dropped at the cliffs’ exquisite contours, and the striking contrast between the white rock and the blue ocean created an image we will never forget. Despite the pleasant weather in May, we were chilly thanks to the strong wind on top of the cliffs, so be sure to bring a warm sweater.
