Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru
Uruguay
Germany
Belgium
Spain
Greece
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Portugal
the United Kingdom
Switzerland
Ramparts · Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandia
Remparts du Mont-Saint-Michel
Hundred Years' War ramparts that surround the Mont's village, with a walkway open to pedestrians and views over the bay. The Grande Rue, just below, climbs up to the abbey.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Remparts du Mont-Saint-Michel
The ramparts of Mont-Saint-Michel were strengthened mainly during the Hundred Years' War in the 15th century, when the Mont resisted the English even with much of Normandy occupied. Towers, gates and the rampart walk still enclose the south and east sides of the islet.
Arrivals pass through the Porte de l'Avancée and the Porte du Roy, with a drawbridge. Immediately after begins the Grande Rue, the village’s main street, narrow and uphill, with old houses, shops, hotels and restaurants up to the abbey stairway.
The rampart walk on top of the walls is open to pedestrians and allows you to skirt part of the village away from the bustle of the Grande Rue, with views over the bay and the sands at low tide. Towers such as the Tour du Nord make good viewpoints.
The village has just over 20 permanent inhabitants but receives about two and a half million visitors a year. Outside peak times, the side alleys and the small parish church of Saint-Pierre are quieter.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours for the Grande Rue and the ramparts.
Best time
Early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the Grande Rue empties. Those staying on the Mont can walk the ramparts at night, with the village quiet.
How to get there
You enter through the Porte de l'Avancée, where the footbridge arrives and the shuttle stops. Access to the ramparts is by stairs from the Grande Rue.
Tip
On the climb, use the ramparts instead of the Grande Rue to escape the crowds. The Mère Poulard omelette, whipped in a copper bowl and cooked over a wood fire, is the village's most famous specialty.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Remparts du Mont-Saint-Michel
Is there an entrance fee for the village and the ramparts?
No. Only the abbey charges a ticket. Parking on the mainland is paid.
Can you sleep inside the Mont?
Yes, there are a few hotels on the Grande Rue. On the mainland side, in La Caserne and in Pontorson, there are more options.
What is the Mont-Saint-Michel omelette?
A tall, fluffy omelette, whipped in a copper bowl and cooked over a wood fire, a tradition associated with Mère Poulard on the Grande Rue.