Written TidbitsMont St. Michel 2

By Jim and Emmy Humberd

Mont-St.-Michel is located right on the border between Normandy and Brittany (both claim this jewel). A description appears in each of those Michelin Green Guides, and we must quote the first sentence: 'Mont-St.-Michel, a solitary island standing in the middle of a desert of sand, that wonder of the Western world, leaves an indelible memory on every visitor, so individual is its setting, so rich its history and so perfect is its architecture.' We couldn't have said it better.

The biggest tides in continental Europe take place here, there may be a difference of 50 feet between high and low tide. Since the sea rushes over 20 miles at the speed of a galloping horse, it can be dangerous for people fishing or walking on the beach. At various times of the year Mont-St.-Michel almost becomes an island twice a day, as the tides ebb and flow.

The Mont was in sight of our RV in the campground located on the mainland, and as may well be imagined, the view from our dining or bedroom window was magnificent.

One evening, as the sun was setting and the floodlights were gradually illuminating the Abbey, from our campsite, two kilometers away, we took telephoto shots of the storm clouds over Mt. St. Michel, then as the sun was setting through the clouds and the floodlights were gradually illuminating the Abbey, we walked the two kilometers from the mainland and took twenty-five or thirty photos of the ever-changing ethereal scene in front of us.

The photos we snapped were the product of a low-cost camera held by a tourist who was just capturing the memories of the moment. To describe the high quality of the equipment involved, the entity used to hold the camera steady for these particular telephoto time-exposures, was of the highest quality. Emmy stood very still and held her breath, while Jim steadied the camera on her shoulder. Among the many differences from the usual tripod Emmy has only two legs!

It was interesting to learn that Gugliemo da Volpiano, a master builder of Sacra di San Michele, high on a hill just east of Torino, Italy, later exercised a controlling influence in the building of Mont-St.-Michel, high on a 250 foot granite rock on the coast of France. (San Michele in Italy St. Michel in France!)

Books by Jim and Emmy Humberd:
Invitation to France
Invitation to Germany
Invitation to Italy

Related Links:
Mont Saint Michel
Mont Saint-Michel Abbey

Hotel near Mont St. Michael:
Hotel Le Moulin de Ducey ***

French Video Immersion