Mont Saint Michel: the island with a long and incredible history

A few days ago I came across this really beautiful place, which I must admit attracted my attention completely. But, not only this wonderful island caught my attention, but also the great history it possesses.

It is important to note that this is a small island municipality of just 240 hectares, which we can locate off the coast of Normandy. Its history begins in the year 708, where the bishop Aubert decides to build an oratory in honor of the divine personage Saint Michael the Archangel with whom he had 3 visions.

Over time, the abbey of Mont Saint Michel became a center of pilgrimage, prayer and devotion. However, due to the strategic location of Mont Saint Michel, the abbey also became a target for enemy forces in the conflicts going on at the time, but, the expansions of the abbey also involved the reinforcement of the island's defenses.

Then Mont Saint Michel became a French version of Alcatraz during the reign of Louis XI. It thus became a penitentiary institution, housing inmates until 1860. But, during the French Revolution, the residents were imprisoned in the abbey's cells and the 650 inmates were transferred to the mainland when the prison was closed a century later due to an imperial mandate. Not to mention that at the time many people advocated for the prison's closure.

What does Mont Saint Michel look like today?

Well, the hidden enclosure was separated in 1992, but it was not until 1996 when the monastery decided to celebrate its millennium, since then the pilgrimages returned with force. However, the improvements were under the supervision of the French government, being the current owner of the abbey. It is important to mention that in 1879 a road was built on an embankment to facilitate the access of pilgrims. They demolished the parking lot to build an entrance with pillars that allow the waters of the English Channel to flow freely, I mention this because nowadays this old road is gradually being undermined by the entrance of the waters.

However, they currently have a challenge which is based on continuing to allow access to the abbey to the 3,500,000 visitors who come each year. This happens because the Mont Saint Michel is registered as a national historic monument.

It is very important to point out that this municipality has a lot to show to its visitors, that is to say, it has great places that you will surely love. For example, its abbey, the Saint Pierre church, the Grande Rue, the Porte du Roy, among others.

That said, it is also believed that Disney was based on this beautiful place to make the famous Rapunzel movie. This is due to the shape that this place has, as it is very similar to the town where before being adopted, Rapunzel together with her real parents the king and queen, lived happily together with its inhabitants.

Personally this island is really wonderful with a lot of history still to tell. I really hope to have the opportunity to visit it at some point and be able to appreciate every place it has. And would you visit it?

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