Destination: Mont St. Mihel, Normandy, France |
The magnificent abbey has been standing like a sentinel guarding France astride an isolated strip of sand on a Normandy bay since the Sixth Century. In addition to its permanent occupancy by cloistered monks, the abbey and nearby town have been the destination of Catholic pilgrims and tourists ever since.
The abbey is unique because the high tides totally isolate it from land for several hours a day, and at those times for many centuries, it could only be reached by boat. Brave and/or foolish hikers try to time the movement of the tides by dashing ahead of them, through the sticky mud, as they’re threatened to be overwhelmed by the sea. If they can keep up the pace of about 15 miles an hour, they succeed. Otherwise, they make sure to carry life vests or inflatable boats. For those less adventurous, there’s now a modern causeway for cars, bicycles and buses to make their way back and forth from the mainland. |