We arrived at the small village on the mainland just off of the causeway to le Mont Saint-Michele in time for lunch at a local restaurant. We had found out that on Friday and Saturday nights in the summer, there is an evening admission to the abbey, which includes candle-lit rooms and live music. Bonus: the crowds that pack the little winding Medieval streets on the mont have mostly left the island by the evening, so you get a nicer view of the abbey and its rocky island.
Just across from our hotel, there were several restaurants (all with similar menus, featuring salads and crêpes). Sheep are the big thing here, as there are salty meadows nearby where the sheep graze. The special diet creates a unique tasting lamb that is quite prized. We didn't try the lamb, but these cows were kind of fun.
We hung-out and relaxed a little at the hotel before heading over to le Mont Saint-Michele for the evening.
On the stairs, heading up to the abbey. I'd have loved to have seen the Mont in high-tide, but it was low tonight as it had been on my first visit with COC a few weeks ago.
The place was just beautiful in the light of candles.
There was a floutist in the rectory, harpist in another lower room, and a cellist playing in the cathedral. It really added to the beauty and ambience of the place.
The art displayed for the evening entrance was interesting. Some very old, and some quite modern, like the projected image which referenced the video game, Portal:
The evening light really enhanced the beautifully-carved details of vines and flowers in the cloister.
Funny story about the golden statue of Archangel Michel that sits atop the abbey: When it was sculpted, apparently the artist didn't know much about swords. The statue has the scabbard on his right, and he holds the sword in his right hand. The scabbard is always on the opposite side of the hand that holds the sword in order to be a ble to pull the sword out.
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