Shutter Clicks and Lipstick: A Mountain of a Fortress~ Le Mont Saint-Michel

I had the privilege of visiting a national landmark of France not too long ago, and the experience left me awestruck! I began my spellbinding journey to Normandie Basse on a tour bus packed with teachers and students from L'Institute de Touraine from Tours, France early one morning. The subsequent 4-5 hour drive through the picturesque countryside was beautiful at first, but as the hours wore on, most of the passengers began to be lulled by the constant sound of the motor and humming tires on the tarmac and fell asleep. As we approached our destination, you could see people starting to nudge their seat companion in a non-verbal communication way as if to say, "we're almost there". I will never forget my immediate sense of wonder as the rolling hills of auburn grains suddenly revealed the glistening towers of Le Mont Saint-Michel in all of it's splendorous glory. I distinctly remember the phrase that was echoing through the buses' cabin: "It's like a real life Disney castle..!"

It was a mountain of a fortress: a glistening golden peak from the top of the cathedral steeple, funneling out into the gradated layers of architectural design, ending in a wide parameter of simple village homes and turreted defense wall, dotted intermittently by green, leafy trees of various sizes and species. The hungry seagulls' calls could be heard high above as the picnicking tourist horde began their search for a dry spot on the basin floor to set up their meal. The sense of openness was incredible! It was like you were on the edge of the earth somewhere. The flat skyline eventually morphed into a mirage far off in the distance, where I knew the ocean must be- waiting for her chance to make her nightly return to the castle walls and lap at the rocks that encircled the edges of the "Mont".

Mounting the walls was a grueling endeavor, as hundreds of steps led to yet more and more flights of stairs in an increasingly steep incline. Frequent pauses along the way were common, both to catch ones breath and stop the muscle burn (daily step goal achieved at least), and to take pictures of the awe-inspiring views. I marveled at the architecture as I looked down the castle walls and observed the very physically defined social structure in what was once a medieval city. Lower levels of society were quite literally in the lowest levels of the edifice and were made of cheap, less permanent materials. The quality of these homes and buildings increased as one ascended, eventually leading to the cathedral itself, where the highest points (also literally- this place had some seriously pointy spires) could be seen as a beacon of spiritual hope for faithful citizens living far and near.

On our guided tour of the cathedral, it was said that the bishop or priest (I can't exactly remember what rank he was in the monastic order) had a vision in which he saw Saint Micheal himself, or "Saint-Michel" hence the name, and was given orders by the archangel to build the marvelous structure seen today at the sight of the apparition. It has been suggested that the man of God was also given the instructions for the overall design. Regardless of the level of intricacy with which Saint Micheal gave his instructions, it took over a hundred years for the "Mont" to complete its construction, and ended up never actually being used for it's original purpose. Talk about having your plans come to nothing...! But all is not lost, as this magnificent site calls tourists from all over the globe to marvel its ingenuity and design, giving many photographers (such as myself) an unforgettable opportunity to get the perfect shot. Whenever you visit, make sure to leave in plenty of time before the tide starts coming in, as the Police Nationale will forcibly keep you on the island until it goes out again!

To schedule your own visit or to find out more about this location, visit their website here:

https://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/index.htm?lang=en