The first church on Mont Saint Michel was built 1300 years ago, after which Mont Saint-Michel became one of the major pilgrimage destinations in medieval Christendom.
The parking area has been enlarged and moved away from the Mont. Today you can walk, like ancient pilgrims, or be shuttled to a point near the Mont (there is still a bit of a walk: 400 meters). Parking is no longer permitted at the base of the Mont.
Notice that the hotels and restaurants are clustered on the south and east side of the mont; the area around the Mont is marshland. It's a bit of a steep climb up to the top, where the historic features are, especially the Abbaye du Mont-St.-Michel, shown on the map by the name it has been know by since the 12th century, La Merveille.
Getting to Mont Saint Michel
From April to October there is a direct train from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Pontorson. A bus will then take you from Pontorson station to the Mont-Saint-Michel.
Mont Saint Michel Office of Tourism
Find information on Mont Saint Michel at the entrance to the town where the Burgher's Guardroom has become the Tourist Office. There are also public toilets close by this location.
The phone number is 02 33 60 14 30.
To get tickets to visit the Abbey in advance and check on prices, see this page.
Mont St. Michel Travel Toolbox
Mont Saint Michel is visited by over three and a half million people a year. The view from the higher vantage points over the marshes is spectacular, even when (or best when) the weather is overcast, as it often is.
Plan a Trip to Mont Saint Michel
Rennes Travel Weather - The closest weather station
Hotels
For finding a hotel in or near Mont Saint Michel, use the booking box below. The results of your lodging search will allow you to compare prices from several sources and to see user ratings. Inside the city, the Auberge Saint Pierre is highly rated and has a bar with a view over the city and countryside.
It is nice to have a hotel right in the midst of things, but the other option is to have a hotel with a bar and restaurant overlooking the Mont, in which case Le Relais Saint Michel will do nicely.
For those who'd like to stay a while, a vacation rental might do just fine.
