Mont-Saint-Michel was used in the sixth and seventh centuries as an
Armorican stronghold of Romano-Breton culture and power, until it was
ransacked by the Franks, thus ending the trans-channel culture that
had stood since the departure of the Romans in AD 460.
Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, albumen print, ca. 1865-1895
Before the construction of the first monastic establishment in the 8th century, the island was called "monte tombe". According to legend, St. Michael the Archangel appeared to St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches, in 708 and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. Aubert repeatedly ignored the angel's instruction, until St. Michael burned a hole in the bishop's skull with his finger.[3]
The mount gained strategic significance in 933 when William "Long Sword", William I, Duke of Normandy, annexed the Cotentin Peninsula, definitively placing the mount in Normandy. It is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, which commemorates the 1066 Norman conquest of England. Ducal patronage financed the spectacular Norman architecture of the abbey in subsequent centuries.
In 1067, the monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel gave its support to duke William of Normandy in his claim to the throne of England. It was rewarded with properties and grounds on the English side of the Channel, including a small island located at the west of Cornwall, which, modelled after the Mount, became a Norman priory named St Michael's Mount of Penzance.
During the Hundred Years' War the English made repeated assaults on the island but were unable to seize it due to the abbey's improved fortifications. Les Michelettes, two wrought-iron bombards left by the English in their failed 1423–24 siege of Mont-Saint-Michel, are still displayed near the outer defense wall.
When Louis XI of France founded the Order of Saint Michael in 1496 he intended that the abbey church of Mont Saint-Michel be the chapel for the order, but because of its great distance from Paris his intention could never be realized.
The wealth and influence of the abbey extended to many daughter foundations, including St Michael's Mount in Cornwall. However, its popularity and prestige as a centre of pilgrimage waned with the Reformation, and by the time of the French Revolution there were scarcely any monks in residence. The abbey was closed and converted into a prison, initially to hold clerical opponents of the republican régime. High-profile political prisoners followed, but by 1836 influential figures, including Victor Hugo, had launched a campaign to restore what was seen as a national architectural treasure. The prison was finally closed in 1863, and the mount was declared a historic monument in 1874. The Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979, as it was listed with criteria such as cultural, historical, and architectural significance, as well as human-created and natural beauty.
steve - evans, Beardy Vulcan, dustin.farnum, Mr San, and 9 other people added this photo to their favorites.
steve - evans 37 months ago | reply
wonderful capture
Blico 37 months ago | reply
HackBitz 37 months ago | reply
Great shot - lovely clear sky
rubyblossom. 37 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The StockYard, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
FlickrCrazy Guy 37 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Photo Guestbook, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
greetings-condolencences.blogspot.com/2010/05/mont-saint-...
nuframe 37 months ago | reply
Great shot !!!
Beardy Vulcan 37 months ago | reply
Lovely clear blue sky over Le Mont.
dustin.farnum 37 months ago | reply
Awesome detail.
JoPoBePo 37 months ago | reply
A magnificent image. Majestic.
Seen in: Chapels, Churches & Cathedrals
Fantastic Shot!!
Penskinova 37 months ago | reply
Amazing!
Seen in: Chapels, Churches & Cathedrals
Fantastic Shot!!
Lukinosity 37 months ago | reply
impressive structure and a wonderful photo.
melenama 34 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called France by tips4travels, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
mad_1_spider 34 months ago | reply
Great Shot!!
We just flew back yesterday afternoon from our 2 week travel all through the countryside and had the same wonderful great weather.
Thanks for sharing.
MNFISH 33 months ago | reply
Excellent work!
JEFF@ITALIA 29 months ago | reply
Great shot!
Travelwyse 16 months ago | reply
Hi! What a wonderful photo of Mont Saint-Michel Castle. We've included your photo in our map of the most gorgeous castles in the world.
www.zeemaps.com/307407
Andrea Costa Creative 16 months ago | reply
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