« Gem of the Occident », Mont-Saint-Michel is situated at the heart of an immense bay hit by some of the most dangerous and changing tides in Europe. At the request of the archangel Michael, “head of celestial beings,” Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, built a church and dedicated it to Michael on the 16th of October 709. This grand spiritual and intellectual place was one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in the medieval occident along with Rome and Saint-Jacques de Compostelle.
The celebration of the monastery’s 1000th birthday in 1966 preceded the arrival of a religious community which moved into the lodgings of the old abbey promoting the original ideals of Mont St Michel; Prayer and Welcome. The brothers and sisters of the Monastic Fraternity of Jerusalem have maintained this spiritual presence sine 2001.

The village has existed since the middle ages and prospers on the south east side of the mount sheltered by high walls that protected it during the 100 years war. The village has always been a commercial place. In 1979 Mont St Michel was listed as a World Heritage Centre by UNESCO. Today, over 3 million people per year continue to visit this tourist spot.

Less than an hour away from Dinan, take the opportunity to discover Mont St Michel’s fascinating history.