Mont Saint Michel

My new friend, Oleya, taking a photo of Mont Saint-Michel

We arrived in the afternoon to this awe-inspiring view of the abbey which is perched on top of a triangular rock in the bay. Our guide, Malek, told us how, in 708, a dream (well several dreams) led Saint Aubert, the bishop of Avranches, to create a shrine of Saint Michael here. It has been a major pilgrimmage site ever since. Through the centuries, the abbey has seen many changes. 

In 966, the Duke of Normandy entrusted the Benedictine monks with the site. The abbey they built "in the Middle Ages was considered as the image of the Heavenly Jerusalem on earth." Did you know that Jerusalem is where we get "Salem", & "Shalom", meaning "Peace"?

The town under the abbey. . .

SO CROWDED! Definitely touristy -- and the food is super-expensive (and not very good).

This is Fiddler and his owner. A very sweet old Golden Retriever I got to pet. A Conversational French project while I'm here will be to visit with people who have dogs (easy to do, as Parisians love their dogs). Fiddler was resting about 2/3 the way up the hill to the abbey (LOTS of stairs).

Over the years, the abbey has taken new form. It was a Romanesque monestary & church in the 11th & 12th centuries. When some of it burned in 1204, it was decided to replace the part that was destroyed with the famous "bâtiment de la Merveille" . Eventually, in 1421 part of the church was replaced with  a Flamboyant Gothic structure. Each style of medieval architecture can be found here.

Not just for men anymore. Just another day at the office.

The Benedictine monks can be credited with designing the workday schedule of 8 hours of work, 8 hours  of rest and (for them) 8 hours of prayer. Here in the abbey, these monks worked designing illuminated manuscripts. Their work was done in a well-lit, cold room. The fire in the winter was not for them to be warm, but the means to keep the ink from freezing. They stood while they worked, and were allowed to occasionally , and one at a time (to discourage talking), warm their hands a little. 

The garden in the cloister -- a sheltered walkway.

While the monks were eating in an unheated hall, visiting royalty would eat in this room, heated by 3 enormous fireplaces (these two could roast whole game). All of these rooms were decorated with bright paintings, and tapestries hung on the walls. It must have been quite a sight. 

Our guide, Malek, Oleya, Phylise, Iris and Dara.