Mont St Michel
As the weather in the autumn of 2011 was superb we stayed in France much longer than we would normally have done when on our way south so we finally managed to see this well known tourist attraction in 2011 when we stayed at Camping Haliotis (see Camping Cheques for out of season visits). A lovely campsite, excellent facilities free wifi. Click here to reach their web site Camping Haliotis
We were able to get to Mont St Michel by cycling along the towpath beside the river just behind the campsite. it is about 9 kms. It is possible to drive down and park for a charge - plenty of room for motorhomes too.
The Abbey is now accessible all through the day because there is a road along the causeway, just as well as it is a very very popular tourist attraction and there was a huge number of coaches there. This meant that the lower parts of the abbey - where all the restaurants and gift shops were, was absolutely heaving but the higher you climbed the less crowded it got as most visitors stopped off to shop or have lunch and it was well worth it to see the splendid views across the bay where lots of tourists were doing organised walks (it was low tide) which involved paddling through some of the remaining outlets.
We were able to get to Mont St Michel by cycling along the towpath beside the river just behind the campsite. it is about 9 kms. It is possible to drive down and park for a charge - plenty of room for motorhomes too.
The Abbey is now accessible all through the day because there is a road along the causeway, just as well as it is a very very popular tourist attraction and there was a huge number of coaches there. This meant that the lower parts of the abbey - where all the restaurants and gift shops were, was absolutely heaving but the higher you climbed the less crowded it got as most visitors stopped off to shop or have lunch and it was well worth it to see the splendid views across the bay where lots of tourists were doing organised walks (it was low tide) which involved paddling through some of the remaining outlets.
car park
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little specks on the beach on the lower left are people.
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crossing at low tide
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The Mascaret
A sign in the office of the campsite intrigued us, apparently it was possible to see the mascaret in the coming days. Further investigation revealed that it was a tidal bore that occurs when the tides are especially high. So we took the scooter up river to Pontaubault to watch the mascaret come up the La Selune river. We waited on the river bank not sure what to expect but as the time passed by more and more people came to join us and the kayakers were waiting on the river for the wave that would give them a real push. Sure enough at 8pm the wave came up the river, not as high as we had imagined but a strong current nevertheless.
To end an unusual evening we got a chance to see Mont St Michel shining like a beacon in the surrounding darkness.
To end an unusual evening we got a chance to see Mont St Michel shining like a beacon in the surrounding darkness.
