I visited Mont Saint-Michel, an incredibly famous tourist destination even among Koreans. “Mont” means mountain, and “Saint Michel” refers to Saint Michael – so it literally translates to “Saint Michael’s Mountain.”
From my girlfriend’s home in Lannion, it’s about a two to three-hour drive. Our itinerary was packed: on the first day, we explored Saint-Malo, on the second day we toured Cancale and surrounding areas before visiting Mont Saint-Michel, and on the third day we briefly visited Dinard and Dinan before returning to Lannion.
Before I researched thoroughly, I assumed it was in Brittany (Bretagne) since it seemed to be aligned with other Breton coastal cities. However, I discovered that Brittany ends just to the left of Mont Saint-Michel, where Normandy (Normandie) begins. I initially wondered if it was connected to the famous D-Day landings, but that was a different part of Normandy, over 100 kilometers away.
The history of this island fortress begins in 708 AD when Bishop Aubert received a vision from Archangel Michael and built a chapel on this rocky island. During the Hundred Years’ War with England, it was one of the last French strongholds that never fell, giving it symbolic importance. After the French Revolution, the abbey was even used as a prison until Napoleon closed it, transforming it into a cultural heritage site.
In the 19th century, an innkeeper created a quickly-prepared omelet for pilgrims, and this omelet from La Mère Poulard became the traditional dish of this place.
Anyway, let’s journey to this dream island – the castle that appears in the opening of Disney films and served as inspiration for Disney’s castle design.
1. The Road to Mont Saint-Michel
We drove there. In the green meadows along the roadside, gray sheep that looked like they hadn’t been washed in their entire lives were peacefully grazing. Beyond them, on what appeared to be the horizon, something was jutting out alone. What could that be?
“It’s me, Mont Saint-Michel.”
Since we came by car, we wanted to park as close as possible, but the nearest parking available to general visitors isn’t even at Mont Saint-Michel itself – it’s 2.5km away at the Mont Saint-Michel Passerelle Bridge. Is it free? Of course not. It’s a massive parking area in an open field, but it’s paid parking. France, the world’s number one tourism revenue country, doesn’t mess around.
Parking prices for regular cars are €15-25 per day (depending on peak/off-peak seasons). It used to be free from 7 PM to 2 AM, but now it seems to be paid all day. Anyway, since prices change frequently, I recommend checking official information before your visit.
So do you have to walk several kilometers from where you park? Fortunately, there’s a free shuttle. If you follow the direction people are walking, you’ll find the bus stop. It’s called “Le Passeur” shuttle, operating from 07:30 to 24:00 (this might have changed too). Taking this shuttle takes about 10-15 minutes to get close to the destination.
Of course, you can walk too. The landscape stretching out on both sides is quite beautiful regardless of the season. Facing the slowly approaching island is emotionally stirring. However, since you’ll be walking all day once you arrive at Mont Saint-Michel, if you dislike walking or are visiting with elderly parents, it’s better to take the bus for comfort. If you’re healthy, I’d recommend walking.
Of course, we took the shuttle. Being young doesn’t necessarily mean being healthy. The free shuttle is nice, but during good weather seasons, running bicycle rental stations between the parking lot and the fortress entrance would probably make a lot of money. I won’t charge for this business idea, so if any officials are reading this, please consider it.
When we visited, all that water had receded, revealing mudflats. The sea near here is called the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel (Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel), and this bay has the world’s largest tidal range – up to 15 meters difference. As I mentioned in my Cancale travel story, this is why the oysters from this region are considered top-grade in Europe and worldwide.
We didn’t plan to come during low tide – we just happened to arrive when the mudflats were exposed. But if the water had been 15 meters higher, it would have been a true island and we might not have been able to visit. Come to think of it, we were quite lucky??
Not everyone will be as lucky as us, so I’m including the official website address that shows tide schedules below. It’s good to travel spontaneously sometimes, but for things like this, you need to be organized.
The bus doesn’t drop you right at the fortress entrance. At first, I thought they were trying to save on fuel costs, but seeing the castle that fits perfectly in a single frame, I thought it might be the French government’s thoughtful arrangement – wanting visitors to become more immersed in that beautiful sight as they walk closer. That way, tourists drunk on emotion would make more purchases inside. Save on fuel and achieve two goals at once, right?
With each step, I kept taking countless photos of Mont Saint-Michel gradually approaching, slowly walking closer just as the French government intended. It really was magnificent. The sight was absolutely thrilling.
When we almost arrived, I noticed the height of the castle walls was enormous. But considering average human height, it probably doesn’t reach 15 meters. The water must not rise to the full 15 meters.
There was no seawater, but the sea breeze was pleasantly blowing, the weather was warm, and the sky was brilliantly blue – I didn’t want to go inside right away. That said, I didn’t have the confidence to walk all the way around the outside of those castle walls. I modestly dipped my shoes in the mud, dug around in the soil following others to see if there were any shells, took a few photos nearby, and then headed to the entrance. Fortunately, admission is free. However, there are paid sections inside.
But looking at the photos again, it really is magnificent. I want to go back later to see the night view.
2. Mont Saint-Michel Alleys & Abbey (Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel)
In the Lord of the Rings movies, there are scenes of fortress interiors. Narrow alleys wind like ant tunnels, and most of them are sloped hills. There are stairs here and there replacing some hills. It looks exactly like that.
Buildings in Paris also have a strong medieval feel, but this place takes it further. In a good way, much further. Most buildings are made of stone and wood. It’s 15th-17th century architectural style preserved as-is. The stone paths that monks and pilgrims once walked remain unchanged. While the quaint shops are filled with modern goods, the vintage lighting hanging overhead and signs jutting out from walls maintain that historical atmosphere beautifully.
France isn’t a cultural heritage and tourism powerhouse for nothing. Napoleon was truly remarkable.
Our goal was the abbey at the very top with its golden decorations. Before that, we wandered through all sorts of alleys. There were alleys with shops scattered throughout, staircases that looked like where knights in armor would have climbed to see the king. There even seemed to be residential areas. Despite appearing to be quite a small fortress, it surprisingly had everything you’d need.
There were Korean tour groups with Korean-speaking guides. Not just one group, but several. They seemed to be group tours from Paris. The only time I’ve done a guided tour was at the Colosseum in Rome, and even though it was an English guide rather than Korean, it was quite informative. From that experience, I think paying for guided tours isn’t bad. But these days, many places have Korean audio guides and apps available, so you can choose whatever’s convenient.
When you climb up a bit and look down from the castle walls, a spectacular view unfolds. The Passerelle bridge that took us quite a long time to drive across looks finger-sized, and the people walking on it look like ants carrying food in a line. The scenery is refreshingly expansive. It seems like you could clearly spot anyone trying to attack. It’s a fortress for good reason.
We’ve almost reached our destination, the abbey. I can see stairs where the entrance and exit routes are separated. Looking up at the castle walls from here, they’re incredibly tall too. I’d love to live in a house with this kind of ceiling height once. The heating and cooling bills would be astronomical though. Since the climate here isn’t like Korea’s, maybe it would be okay?
3. Mont Saint-Michel Abbey Reservation Method
The abbey requires an entrance fee and advance booking is recommended during peak season. Visit the official ticketing website using the link below to secure your entry slot.
🔗 Official Ticketing Website: Mont Saint-Michel Abbey Tickets
The booking process is straightforward – simply select your preferred visit type from the available options displayed on the homepage.
3-1. Entry Times and Pricing
Entry times are divided into four specific time slots between 9:30 AM and 5:00 PM to manage visitor flow:
- 09:30 – valid for entrance between 09:30 and 11:00
- 11:00 – valid for entrance between 11:00 and 13:00
- 13:00 – valid for entrance between 13:00 and 15:00
- 15:00 – valid for entrance between 15:00 and 17:00
3-2. Ticket Prices
- Adult: €13-16 (varies by season)
- Partnership ticket: €11.50-13 (with valid partnerships including La Cité de la mer, Grand Aquarium de Saint-Malo, Carte Cezam, SNCF Voyageur)
- SNCF-Grand Voyageur cardholders: €10-11
- Free admission: Under 18 years old
- Free admission: EU residents aged 18-25
- Audio guide rental: €5 (available in 10 languages including English)
3-3. Booking Strategy and Guide Options
During peak season, it’s better to book in advance, but if you’re not visiting during the absolute peak season, you can explore the fortress first, check available time slots, and buy tickets on the day.
The photo above shows what appears when you select “Entrance fee – Visit on your own,” and different notices appear if you choose an English guide. The price remains the same even with a guide, but the times are fixed. Group size is limited to 30 people, so you can only book if spots remain.
Having a guide is nice, but they provide excellent multilingual audio guides in 10 languages when you enter, eliminating the need for guided tours unless you prefer the interactive experience.
3-4. Important Notes
- Tickets are non-refundable and time slots cannot be modified
- Each person needs a ticket, including children
- Allow approximately 1 hour travel time from parking areas to abbey entrance
- Audio guides must be returned before 4:45 PM
- Valid ID required for audio guide rental
- Tickets purchased from Tourist Offices, tour operators, hotels, or partner websites can go directly to entrance – no online reservation necessary
4. Abbey Exploration
- West Terrace (Terrasse de l’Ouest)
- Abbey Church (Église Abbatiale)
- Cloister (Cloître, monastery garden)
- Knights’ Hall (Salle des Chevaliers, knight’s cloister)
- Refectory (Réfectoire, monks’ dining room)
- Prison & Underground Crypt (Crypte & Prison)
The first place we encountered was the West Terrace. After coming out here, you need to enter through a different entrance, but the sunlight is warm and the view outside Mont Saint-Michel is magnificent. It’s a magical place where you’ll find yourself lingering for a long time.
The sunlight was so good that day that there were people lying down sunbathing. Vitamin D charging as a bonus.
At the top of the abbey stands a golden statue. This is the master of this fortress, Archangel Michael.
Unfortunately, it’s not pure gold but made of copper with gold plating. Still, they used 24K gold for the plating.
It’s 3.5m tall, weighs about 820kg, and stands 157m above ground level. Like an angel, it’s quite tall and heavy. How does it fly?
Next, we encountered Saint Michael’s Abbey Church (Église Abbatiale). As the central church of the abbey, it’s located at the highest point of the complex. Built in Romanesque style, massive stone pillars support arched ceilings, and the windows are beautifully done in stained glass.
How much power would you need to build such a church at this height?
Next is the Cloister (Cloître, monks’ garden). This is where monks prayed and meditated. A beautiful Gothic-style cloister garden. The distinctive feature is columns arranged in double rows, creating a well-balanced and harmonious feeling. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the abbey. With such gorgeous scenery, prayers and meditation must have come naturally.
Next is the Refectory (Réfectoire, monks’ dining room). The ceiling is covered with wood, and soft light enters through densely placed arched windows. This is where monks dined in solemn silence. Long tables line both walls.
To get from the Cloister to this Refectory, you must pass through the Knights’ Hall (Salle des Chevaliers, knight’s cloister), which served as a library. After the Refectory, viewing the Prison & Underground Crypt (Crypte & Prison) completes the tour. The prison and underground crypt are the abbey’s basement level, which served as monks’ cemetery in the past and was used as a prison at one time. It’s a historical space with a dark atmosphere.
This completes the abbey circuit.
5. The Return Journey and Dining at La Casa de Quentin
We finished our tour with the abbey located at the very top. On the way down, we stopped at gift shops scattered here and there to browse. I was tempted by a snow globe with the Mont Saint-Michel fortress inside, but since it wasn’t exactly cheap, I just admired it.
Instead, I bought a €0 banknote for €3. I should have bought a coin too.
We left the fortress and headed back to the Passerelle bridge. I turned back one last time to capture the castle’s image in my eyes and camera. Far to the right, I could see seawater coming in. I wondered if we could have seen Mont Saint-Michel surrounded by water if we had stayed until late evening, but leaving something to be desired makes you want to return. I promised myself a future meeting, whenever that might be.
I can see a long line ahead waiting for the free shuttle bus. Should we queue up? As I approached, I realized it was longer than expected. I had a feeling we’d need to let two or three buses pass before we could board. Eventually, we decided to walk to the parking lot.
We shouldn’t have done that. By the time three buses turned into four, then five buses had passed, we still hadn’t reached the parking lot. Mont Saint-Michel had grown smaller, and cracked rice fields were visible on both sides of the road. If you’re ever in this situation, wait for the bus on your way back. That’s my tip. It took us about 30-40 minutes of walking to reach the parking lot. Our feet were already screaming from climbing hills and stairs all day in the fortress, but they quieted down once we reached the parking lot. Survival instincts must have kicked in, making our brains suppress the pain.
For dining, we considered La Mère Poulard that I mentioned at the beginning, but the reviews are extremely polarized. On Google, it has 3.6 stars from 7,091 reviews. Reading reviews left by Koreans didn’t make me want to go there. Of course, there are some good reviews about the food taste.
Anyway, since an omelet is just an omelet whether baked in a wood oven or cooked in a pan, I had no regrets about going to a nearby city for dinner.
The place we chose was a restaurant called La Casa de Quentin (Quentin’s House).
There was one more main dish, a steak variety, but I found it boring and apparently didn’t take a photo. I should remember to take photos even of boring dishes for future reference. I need it now but don’t have it.
This place has 4.7 stars from 2,028 reviews on Google. It’s a restaurant where you’ll spend about €20-30 per person. If you order everything from entrée (appetizer) to plat (main course) to dessert, that’s usually the price range. But you don’t have to order everything. We usually order 1 appetizer, 2 main courses, and 1 dessert to share between us.
The food quality wasn’t bad, but the interior and exterior looked like a family restaurant. Should I say it had a TGI Friday’s vibe? Since it was early afternoon for dinner, we were the only customers, and one thing I still remember is the swarm of flies I saw beyond the window frame… Flies coming and going through the open window was quite distracting. We could safely watch our car while eating since parking was available on the roadside in front of the restaurant, which was nice. By the time we left, the restaurant was quite full. True to a nation that eats dinner late.
6. In Conclusion
Mont Saint-Michel is not just famous in the Normandy region of France, but throughout all of France and indeed worldwide. This isn’t simply because of its beautiful castle and magnificent scenery, but because it’s a special island that simultaneously holds deep history and religious meaning.
One regret is not seeing the famous night view, not seeing it become an island surrounded by seawater with its image reflected in the calm waters. Actually, that’s two regrets, not one.
That’s why I want to go again someday. I’ve seen enough charming sights that are deeply etched in my mind and come to thought occasionally, but I want to be even more soaked in dopamine. The next time I go to Paris, I’ll definitely take the direct train and visit again.