Mont Saint-Michel: the eighth wonder of the world

 History of Mont Saint Michel (Mount Saint Michael) as the only inhabited island in the archipelago has its origins in the seventh century AD. According to legend, one of the French Bishops announced that in a dream he was the Archangel Michael with the command: build a chapel at the grave grief, the one where the pagans for centuries carried the dead, apart from a rocky island, washed by high tides, the gateway to another world. Thus, in 709, was laid the first stone buildings in the form of an amazing grotto, as predicted Bishop Aubert in a dream. Over the years, the change of power, war and occupation of territories of Saint-Michel was reconstructed several times, turning it into an abbey, then a prison for political prisoners, the military facility with bastions.

In 1979, Mont Saint-Michel has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the last building on the island was the dam of two long uilometra up to the mainland, which appeared in the late 19th century. Today on the mountain is a Benedictine abbey with a chapel and monastery gardens, St. Peter's Church with the adjacent cemetery, and elements of military heritage: fortifications. In addition to the clergy, on the mountain lives constantly only about 30 people: they are engaged in agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but also contain a hotel in which almost all year round tourists stop.

Since ancient times, the abbey of Saint-Michel attracts pilgrims from all over the world because according to legend it over him, in the sky there was the decisive battle of the Archangel Michael and his angels with Satan, disguised as the seven-headed dragon with ten horns. However, the bulk of visitors are curious tourists who want to just look at the wonder of nature: a rocky island, washed on all sides by ocean waters. Around Saint-Michel rage most powerful tides in the world: the speed they are ahead of the galloping horse and reach twenty kilometers per hour. twice a year, during the spring and autumn equinoxes, rocky island is completely cut off from the land: swim up to it except that you can boat. But the rest of the time around Saint-Michel, you can go on the sand, nude shimmer. However, to go further barriers prohibited: at some point the normal river sand turns into quicksand and may tighten too curious tourist. There are lots of stories and legends that hide terrible Bay Sands River Couesnon: there remains knights and pilgrims, and a wooden cross, erected in the 11th century in honor of the pilgrims, who had miraculously escaped during high tide. 

A trip to Mont Saint Michel, many tourists combine with a tour of the nearby attractions: the town of Saint-Malo and Konkalya first famous ancient Fortova facilities, the second - the oyster farm. However, the real gem of France on the border between Normandy and Brittany still remains a mysterious island in the morning as if dissolving in the coastal fog ...