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The Mont Saint Michel is a rocky island off the coast of Normandy, on the English Channel, and is one of the best Normandy private tours you can choose. It is located about 1 kilometer from the shore and sits in a bay that sees some of the biggest tides in Europe. A few years ago, it got linked to the mainland by a bridge that gets flooded during high tides a few times a year only.
Pick up at your Cruise Ship in Cherbourg
Today, we will come and pick you up at your Cruise ship located in Cherbourg Port of Call. Meet your English speaking driver/guide who will go over the itinerary and program of the day with you. Then, board your comfortable, air conditioned vehicle and begin your private full day tour to Mont Saint Michel, a Unesco World Heritage listed Site.
Completion of the abbey took hundreds of years
The first church was built on the mount in 709 at the request of Archangel Michael. A couple hundred years later, a small group of Benedictines settled there permanently and the church was enlarged. The first monastery was carved in the rock in the 11th century and gradually got bigger and bigger over the following centuries. In the medieval time, it quickly became an important destination for pilgrims, just like Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
The construction of the abbey as we know it nowadays was finished in the 13th and 14th centuries, and the grand chancel was replaced in the 15th century. Those hundreds of years of architectural progress have left us with a magnificent monument, now referred as the “Wonder of the Western World”.
Visit of Unesco World Heritage Site of Mont Saint Michel
During your Mont St Michel day trip, you will start by traveling from Cherbourg to the Mont Saint Michel, which you will access via a shuttle and the bridge in accordance with local requirements. While on the road, make sure to take it all in and observe the beauty of the Normandy coastline. Locally, the Mount has always been in the middle of a feud between Normandy and Brittany as to in which region the site belongs to.
Our Mont Saint Michel tour will then take you to the abbey itself, at the very top of the mount where the Benedictine Abbey is located. During this walking tour, the history of its construction will be explained in detail and while you are there, make sure to snap some pictures of the amazing views on the surrounding bay! Follow a guided tour of the abbey and then enjoy some free time for personal discovery and lunch.
The Mont Saint Michel is also a lively small town, boasting dozens of shops, restaurants, and museums
After the visit of the abbey, our guide will set you free to explore the town at your own pace and bring back some souvenirs for friends and family. Stroll through the small streets of this village that dates back to the middle ages. Your guide will also suggest some great restaurants for lunch. Of course, if you still have some questions about the history or the architecture of the Mont Saint Michel, your private guide will remain available for you.
This Mont Saint Michel private shore excursion can take in small groups of 2 to 8 persons maximum. The tour takes place in a recent and fully equipped premium car or minivan. A certified, English-speaking guide will be with you all day and ready to answer any questions you may have.
After the tour, it will be time to head back to your Cruise Ship.
