A day trip from Paris, we highly recommend Mont-Saint-Michel. It’s a little off the beaten path on the Normandy coast but very unique. If you have the time, make it a 2 – 3 day Normandy trip and also cover the D-Day Museum, Etretat and other surrounding attractions.
We started early from Paris on a comfortable tour bus. It’s a good 3.5 hr drive so a nap was the first thing on the agenda. It was oddly satisfying to be lulled to sleep with the sights and sounds of Paris fading away in the distance. Most people woke up only when we reached Caen, Normandy…..
Caen is the 3rd largest city in Normandy, known for many historical buildings. It has a very different vibe compared to Paris, even a little country like feel I would say. Normandy is famous for its dairy and agriculture, especially cheese and apples.
Passing Caen, the landscape started becoming flatter and more expansive. We were close to the ocean! Still a little distance away from Mont-Saint-Michel, our first stop was at La Caserne. We held our breaths as the first magnificent view of the Mont came in sight. For the next hour, we were to enjoy a sumptuous Normandy meal, with a view to die for!
La Caserne offered a leisurely sit down lunch. Perfect for the first of our two meals a day only lifestyle. We gobbled every bit of it knowing how much walking and climbing was coming up. On the menu – White Fish stew in Puffed Pastry, Salmon, Rice Pilaf (for the vegetarians), Green Peas puree, Steamed Veggies, fresh Bread, local wine and cheeses, Tarte Tatine (a popular Normandy apple pie), Teurgoule (a type of rice pudding), and the lightest Chocolate Mousse.
The bus dropped us about a mile away from the little island on which stood the majestic Mont-Saint-Michel. You can either walk, ride a horse carriage or take a local bus/tram to the foot of the mountain castle. We chose to walk with the guide and soak in the beautiful landscape on the way.
Once at the foot of the castle, you are transported into a different world. In front of you is a bustling village with narrow alley ways lined with small stores, stone houses, hidden stairways, tall towers and ramparts. Looking up, you can see the looming abbey and the statue of Archangel Michael at the top of the spire. The climb up to the cathedral is quite a workout, but our guide Francoise kept it very interesting with all the historical stories. While the history starts way back in time, and the fort and abbey were built in layers in different periods, the current structure is about 200 years old. Originally founded by an Irish hermit, it became a full-fledged Benedictine monastery around the 8th century.
Throughout the centuries, Mont-Saint-Michel resisted religious wars, foreign invasions, devastating fires, wild storms, and relentless tides. It also served as prison for a while. The place is a bundle on contradictions. On the outside, the views of the ocean and the mainland are stunningly peaceful. But on the inside, the stories get more and more ominous as you walk through abbey’s main cathedral, monk quarters, hidden passage ways, and underground cellars. It is one overwhelming experience for sure.
Tired from all the walking and climbing, kids enjoyed local ice-cream from the little fairy tale village at the base. We lingered around on the walls and ramparts, still soaking in the views. Finally it was time to get back to the bus. This time, hopping on to a horse carriage, we bid au revoir to the grand Mont-Saint-Michel. It was a day to be remembered and I hope to go back again!
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