ST MALO, FRANCE

Our tour takes us through the attractive and typical Breton countryside, to the marvels of Mont St Michel – called the wonder of the occident owing to its island setting, rich history and the beauty of its architecture. At any season of the year it laves an indelible impression.

Our tour takes us through the attractive and typical Breton countryside, to the marvels of Mont St Michel – called the wonder of the occident owing to its island setting, rich history and the beauty of its architecture. At any season of the year it laves an indelible impression. As the bay is already partially silted up, the Mont is usually seen surrounded by huge sandbanks, which shift with the tides and often reshape the mouths of the neighbouring rivers. The movement of the tides in the bay is very great and the difference in sea level between high and low water can be over 12 metres (40 feet), the highest in France. The abbey’s origin goes back to the early 8th century, when the Archangel Michael appeared to Aubert, Bishop of Avranches who founded an oratory on the island – then known as Mount Tombe. In the Carolingian era the oratory was replaced by an abbey, and from then until the 16th century a series of increasingly splendid buildings – in the Romanesque and then in the Gothic style – succeeded one another. The well-fortified abbey was never captured. Our visit begins form the King’s Gate along the Grand Rue, the main street on Mont St Michel. We will pass the Mère Poulard, without doubt the most expensive restaurant and hotel on the island, but the one which the rich and famous make a beeline for. Before long the street narrows dramatically, and begins to climb steeply. In summer it is lively and crowded with souvenir stalls, as it was in the Middle Ages at the height of the most Fervent pilgrimages. After visiting the magnificent abbey, the church and the cloisters, we will enjoy some free time. Just wandering around is a delight in itself, and reinforces the fact that Mont St Michel is a community, not just a tourist attraction.

This tour involves a strenuous amount of walk

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES

ing and there are literally hundreds of steps to negotiate. Not suitable for passengers with limited mobility or wheelchair passengers.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2007 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES