The amazing island of Tenerife in Spain attracts people from all over the world with its beauty and rich history.
Description
Near the small town of San Miguel in the south of Tenerife, there is the ancient castle of San Miguel. Every evening passions boil in the castle: six brave knights, once again trying to find out which of them is the most important. A joust is a theatrical performance in which the audience plays a key role. It is the audience who will decide which of the knights won and took the leading place.
The Castle of San Miguel is an exact but smaller copy of a real medieval castle.
It was specially built for theatrical performances. The creators of the show initially planned to take the audience back several centuries during the costume show. The medieval era is familiar to modern people from books about King Arthur and historical films. It was an amazing era, full of romance and heroic deeds.
What's in the castle
At the entrance to the castle there are two horsemen. They pose welcomingly for tourists. Every person who visits a medieval castle wants to capture everything they see on a camera. On the castle grounds, all guests are given multi-colored capes. This is due to the fact that in a tournament people will root for a knight of the same color as the person's cape. At exactly eight o'clock in the evening the castle gates open and the performance begins. To get to the main hall, tourists will go through the armory room and meet the king, who will happily greet each tourist and take a photo. It should be noted that photos will be taken by a photographer and photos will be distributed to everyone after the show is over. Tourists are not allowed to take photographs on their own in the weapons room. On the rest of the castle grounds, you can photograph anything you want. After the weapons room, tourists enter the main hall, where a grand tournament takes place. In the first part of the show, the knights will demonstrate to the audience their equestrian skills and other skills: hitting the ring on a galloping horse and much more. After the audience has chosen the winning knight, he has the right to choose a “lady of his heart” from among those who were rooting for him. She will take the Queen's place of honor for the remainder of the performance. The entertainer on the show is a black dwarf. He is the main cheerful guy here and knows how to extinguish a burning torch in his mouth.
The role of the “lady of the heart” is wonderful, but it has one drawback: she will not get a real knight’s dinner (soup and chicken). All other spectators will taste a real knight's dinner, which they will eat from iron utensils with their hands (in the Middle Ages, people had not yet invented cutlery). During dinner, tourists will drink amazing red and white wine from iron glasses.
The second part of the fight is considered the most interesting and exciting. Here a “deadly” duel begins, during which the strongest of the six “caballeros” survives. This is where fans should support their knight. The winner will be the one whose audience cheered the most. Tourists will have to actively express their emotions. This procedure is very fun and is considered useful. A person should not keep emotions inside himself. You should visit the San Miguel Castle and see a wonderful show that will help a person get rid of unnecessary emotions.
The peculiarity is that during the decisive fight, tourists can drink an unlimited amount of strong drinks.
After the show ends, there is a disco in the next room. Tourists will see a performance by the black ensemble “Drifters”. They perfectly learned the “Kalinka” dance, especially for Russian tourists.
You've probably already been to similar spectacles in other cities around the world: the idea is not new. The performance in Tenerife is not particularly original. Six colorful knights fight tooth and nail in a sandy arena using piercing and cutting weapons; the audience sits on benches, drinks and eats, gives valuable advice to the show participants and expresses their emotions in all available ways common in medieval Europe.
Just like in the film about “Highlander,” only one will survive. The simple storyline is somewhat complicated by the meanness and complete lack of nobility of some of the lists participants.
This event can be highly recommended for a family visit, especially since there are not so many options for cultural evening entertainment in Tenerife. True, on one condition: adult tourists will not ignore the amusing drinks that accompany the performance in unlimited quantities. They don't just bring them like that. Otherwise, there will be complaints about the staging of the stunts, the script, the skill of the actors... This is not the point here, but in a good mood.
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The show takes place in the Castillo San Miguel building, stylized as an ancient fortress, in the south of the island.
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Here you can look at the hero up close. The knights pose near the walls of the fortress and willingly take pictures with everyone.
In general, the favorite of the tournament is known even before the start of the performance. All characters adhere to a pre-agreed, standard scenario. But if your sector fights exceptionally actively and harmoniously, then there is a chance that your knight will win. Even if it wasn't originally intended. So spectators also have the opportunity to participate in what is happening in the arena and influence the outcome of the competition.
The performance begins with the knights demonstrating the aesthetics of horse riding and smoothly turns into a rough fight with pyrotechnic effects, where it is not immediately clear who is fighting against whom. It is not yet clear where to look, because often several events are unfolding in the arena at the same time.
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Guests of the tournament are served a simple dinner with wine (included in the ticket price) in an iron bowl, and after the performance they are invited to go to another room to listen to live music and dance.
As a summary, it’s a pretty decent show, if you don’t take it too seriously and demandingly. And the children will not be bored. Only the price of tickets is one and a half times too high.
By car, take the TF-1 motorway until you turn to San Miguel. Then about three km along TF-65 in the opposite direction from the coast to the town of Aldea Blanca.
By taxi from Las Americas approximately 25 € one way.
You can buy a ticket with bus transfer.
| Thursday, Saturday Show starts at 19:00 Tickets: €41.50 adult; 23 € for children |
Until something unique, unknown and super-interesting catches our eye, we will continue to stroll through the most famous ones. There is a chance that you will learn or see something new. Well, even if not, you can still look at such beauty many times :-)
Before the advent of man-made buildings, Mount Saint-Michel was just a cliff with steep slopes, eighty meters high. The granite from which it is composed is very strong and has not been eroded for thousands of years. Around Saint-Michel there was a dense forest, which is supposed to have been called the Forest of Sissi. Over time, under the pressure of the sea, the forest disappeared. According to legend, a real tsunami - a huge whirlwind of water and wind - changed the landscape at the beginning of the 8th century. So Mount Saint-Michel, together with the neighboring Tombelin hill, seemed to be separated from the continent, turning into an island at high tide. Three rivers flow along the sandy banks around the mountain: Se, Selyun and Kuenon. The latter is the border between Brittany and Normandy. A French proverb says: “Couenon has gone mad, that’s why Mount Saint-Michel ended up in Normandy.”.
During times ancient romans Mont Saint-Michel was not yet an island. The gloomy uninhabited rock, washed by the waves of the Atlantic, was then called Grave Mountain - perhaps the Celts used this place for their burials. The Druids came here to worship the setting sun, and the Romans subsequently preserved this ritual for a long time. In the rays of the sun plunging into the sea, dazzling legends were born: according to one of them, it was on Mogilnaya Gora that Julius Caesar was secretly buried - in a golden coffin, wearing golden sandals...
In the 5th century, part of the coast sank under water, Mogilnaya Gora turned into an island, separated from the mainland by an almost six-kilometer strip of sea. Only twice a day, at low tide, did the sea expose the muddy bottom and open a dangerous passage to the island.
The history of Mont Saint-Michel began in 708, when the Archangel Michael appeared in a dream to a bishop from the town of Avranches and ordered to build a chapel on Mogilnaya Gora. At first, Aubert—that was the name of the bishop, who was later canonized—was seized with doubts: neither the first nor even the second appearance of the archangel convinced him. For the third time, Archangel Michael, having again invaded the priest’s peaceful sleep, was surrounded by a menacing and majestic radiance: repeating his previous order, he hit the hesitant Norman on the forehead with his radiant finger. Waking up from sleep, Ober felt a dent on his skull and, without hesitation, went to Grave Mountain.
Miracles accompanied the construction chapels. A huge boulder that occupied a platform at the top of the mountain rolled down at the touch of a child’s foot. The rocky island in the middle of the sea was deprived of fresh water. But Saint Ober, having already felt the miraculous touch of the archangel, struck the rock with his staff, and a healing spring began to flow from under it. And Michael himself, surrounded by heavenly radiance, occasionally appeared to the builders on dark, stormy nights.
In 966 the first monks were replaced Benedictines who adhered to vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the abbot. The monastery's possessions gradually increased thanks to the financial assistance of the lords of Normandy, Brittany, Italy and England. A huge church was built on top of the rock. In their free hours from prayer, the monks compiled, copied and studied manuscripts on literature, history and science.
At that time, Romanesque architecture reigned. Its distinctive features are powerful columns and giant arches that supported the vaults and frame. To strengthen the monastery walls, crypt-chapels were built on the slopes of the rock.
Since the Benedictine monks settled on Mont Saint-Michel, thousands of people began to come to the island to earn patronage Archangel Michael- a destroyer of the devil, protecting from evil. Many died in the quicksand of the bay, drowned in tidal waves, never reaching their cherished goal. There is a legend about a woman who, in the last month of her pregnancy, went alone to Mont Saint-Michel. Coming to the shore of the bay and seeing the close and alluring silhouette of the Mountain ahead, she, succumbing to the illusion, walked across the sands, but did not calculate her strength: the distance turned out to be too great. The tide has begun.
The wind intensified, and foamy tongues of the rapidly approaching sea appeared from behind the Mountain. The woman realized that she was dying, lay down on the sand, preparing for death and begging the Virgin Mary for support. The roaring sea closed around her, but - lo and behold! - Having formed a kind of water tower, the waves did not even touch the poor woman. Remaining inside this wonderful “well,” the woman gave birth to a boy and, when the sea subsided, baptized her baby with sea water. Fishermen who went looking for her body were shocked to find her safe and sound with a child in her arms. In memory of this miracle, which occurred in 1011, Hildeber, then abbot of the abbey, erected a huge cross in the bay. For a long time he rose among the sand and waves, until the sea swallowed him...
The bay of Mont Saint-Michel has always been famous for its the tides— the difference between the highest and lowest sea levels here reaches a record value of 15 meters. Due to the shallow depths and flat bottom, the sea at low tide retreats from the coast by 15-20 kilometers, but usually returns back at a walking speed - about 4 km/h, although, they say, in some places with a strong tailwind this speed can increase and up to 30 km/h. Legends about tides catching up with the rider, stories about carts disappearing without a trace along with horses in huge quicksands, descriptions of the terrible death of travelers dragged into wet sand - what is more in all this, truth or fiction?
The low tide in the bay always begins somehow unexpectedly: just recently, everywhere you look, a whitish-muddy sea splashed, and sand of the same color appeared everywhere, the treachery of which almost all the French classics were “hypnotized” - from Hugo to Maupassant. This sand seems quite harmless until you descend onto its treacherously unsteady surface, covered in puddles from the recently receding water. The fact is that the sand of the bay is more like silt; it is dense when it dries, but when mixed with water, it turns into a viscous clay mass. The bottom is heavily furrowed with the beds of rivulets and streams - and it is they, apparently, that pose the real danger. Streams of water easily liquefy sand, and in the beds (as well as under the beds) of even small streams those treacherous ripples can form, into which an overly arrogant traveler risks getting caught. And although today there are no such dramatic tides near Mont Saint-Michel as before, few people risk going for a walk along the bottom of the bay without knowing the “schedule” of the sea.
Over a thousand years, the tides brought so much sand into the bay that the coastline moved west almost 5 kilometers, coming very close to Mont Saint-Michel. People completed this process by building a dam in 1879, along which cars now speed. Today, Mont Saint-Michel is a real island only 2-3 times a year, when particularly strong tides sweep the highway. Thanks to the dam, the number of people visiting Mont Saint-Michel annually exceeds 2.5 million, high-speed TGV trains bring day-trippers here from Paris - but no more than a third climbs to the very top of the Mountain, where the 11th-century church and La Merveille monastery are located all arrivals.
tradition of pilgrimage to Mont Saint-Michel dates back to the time of St. Ober, but even today people go to the Mountain not only as a tribute to fashion - many try to stay here for several days. In the evenings, when buses full of tourists leave Mont Saint-Michel, the Grand-Rue street leading up becomes less busy and the halls of the monastery become empty. These early evening hours are the best time to explore the architectural ensemble of Mont Saint-Michel.
Since its founding, several disasters have tested the strength of the abbey's existence. In 922 it was struck by fire, in 1103 the upper parts of the nave of the church collapsed, and in 1203 fire again tried to destroy the monastery. Other disasters were caused by people. The Hundred Years' War between France and England, along with the plague, devastated the lands. After the defeat of the French at Agincourt in 1415, Normandy passed to the British. In 1423, the islet of Tombelen was besieged by the British. The siege of Saint-Michel began in 1424, when the British decided to capture the rebellious bastion, protected by fortress walls and the sea, however, the attempts were unsuccessful. Troops were stationed along the perimeter of the bay, a small fort was built opposite Saint-Michel, and a flotilla blocked the island from the sea. Throughout the Hundred Years' War, Saint-Michel remained the only French territory in Normandy not captured by the British.
According to legend, the monastery was helped to survive by Saint Michael, who appeared to Joan of Arc and called her to lead the salvation of France. The last attempt by the British to take the fortress in 1433 was unsuccessful, although a fire broke out in the city, wooden houses burned down and the walls were damaged.
Construction of the monastery church began in 1023 and lasted for almost a century. The tower and nave, built in the Romanesque style, have retained their original appearance. The church rose high above the Mountain (the usual spire on the tower, however, was not there yet) and was immediately attacked by lightning. Every 25-30 years, major fires broke out on the island. And after France annexed Normandy in 1204, the obstinate Mont Saint-Michel was set on fire by the will of the people.
The old abbey completely burned down, and in 1211 the French king Philip II, obviously wanting to atone for his sin before the Archangel Michael and his burned monastery, began construction of the famous Abbey of La Merveille(translated as “miracle”). In just 17 years - an incredible period for that time - an architectural masterpiece was created, which is now considered a generally recognized example of medieval Gothic.
La Merveille, striking in its size, is built on a narrow rock and therefore, unlike other monasteries, has a vertical structure: it consists of two three-story sections. The eastern section, according to the creators, was intended to satisfy bodily needs. On the ground floor there was a hall for the poorest pilgrims, here they had to live and eat. Above them - in the guest hall - the abbot received and treated high-ranking persons; the third floor was a refectory for the monks. In the western section, the first floor was occupied by a storage room. On the second floor was the Knight's Hall, which, with its huge stoves, actually served to heat the monastery.
This hall, originally called the scriptorium, was intended for working with manuscripts, but it was too dark, so the monks carried out all handwritten work in the refectory, where an even and clear light poured from unusually narrow, high and closely spaced windows. The third floor in the western wing was occupied by a covered gallery - a kind of “shelter of tranquility”, intended both for reading and reflection, and for walks of the monastic brethren. The unique architecture of this gallery, as if hanging between heaven and earth, in the words of one of the chroniclers of the monastery, “allowed the Lord to descend to man without losing his greatness.”
During the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), Mont Saint-Michel, which was never taken by the British, inspired the famous Joan of Arc to her exploits, and after the war its fame went far beyond the borders of France. During this period, the inexplicable mass pilgrimages of children reached their peak. Leaving home and parents, thousands of boys and girls aged 7 to 15 years old headed to Mont Saint-Michel. A mysterious heavenly call gathered them from all over Europe - from Poland and Flanders, Germany and Switzerland. They walked through France, lined up in a column of two, and chanted: “In the name of God we march, to Saint-Michel we go!” Adults were afraid to disturb them. So, the father of one child, trying to stop him, exclaimed in his hearts: “In the name of the devil I conjure: come back home!” - and then fell dead. The mother of another young “pilgrim”, who tried to hold him by force, became numb and deaf. Many children died on the way, froze from the cold - the parents were in horror and confusion. Finally, religious authorities began to condemn such exaltation, and one German theologian even called the heavenly call that prompts children to pilgrimage “the voice of the devil.”
At the beginning of the 16th century, the face of the city on the mountain changed. The viceroy of the French king completed the construction of the fortifications. The entrance to the town was protected by the city gates, fortified with a moat, drawbridges and portcullises. Then the abbey became embroiled in religious wars. Protestants tried to capture it. Knowing that the fortress was impregnable, they decided to take it by cunning. Disguised as pilgrims, the Huguenots got inside, hid weapons there and gave wine to the guards. Having discovered the enemies' intentions, the abbot sounded the alarm, and the Protestants' plan did not come true. Over time, monastic life worsened, and funds for the reconstruction of buildings became less and less. Later the fortress turned into a sea fortress prison, where kings exiled rebellious aristocrats, priests, and politicians.
In 1469, King Louis XI established the knightly order of the Archangel Michael, and in 1472 he placed an iron cage for especially dangerous criminals in one of the dampest cells of the monastery - the infernal invention of Cardinal Balu. The cage was a palisade made of thick wooden rods bound with iron; it was suspended on chains from the vault, so that with every movement of the prisoner the cage began to swing. The unfortunate people trapped in this cage had nothing to hope for - despite the efforts of the monks who sympathized with them, pretty soon they went crazy and died of hunger and cold. The cage served the French kings well for 300 years; one of the last to suffer in it was Victor Dubourg, a journalist convicted in 1745 for a pamphlet on Louis XV. Dubourg died a year after his imprisonment, and in 1777 the terrible cage was finally destroyed. Under Napoleon, the monastery served as a state prison, and only in 1863 the prison was closed, and Mont Saint-Michel was declared national treasure.
During the French Revolution, the Benedictine monks were expelled from St. Michael's Abbey, and the island became known as the "free mountain." In fact, the monastery was plundered. The Romanesque stained glass windows were removed from here, and the abbey became simply a prison receiving political prisoners. The dungeon was abolished during the Second Empire, and in 1874 Saint-Michel became a "historical monument". From that moment on, new travelers - tourists - began to come here. At the same time, the Benedictines came here and founded new abbey. The restoration of the monastery began; Mont Saint-Michel received the last important detail of its appearance in 1897 - the cathedral tower was crowned with a neo-Gothic spire and a 500-kilogram gilded figure of Michael the Archangel.. In 1900, construction began on a pier that opened the way to Saint-Michel. In 1965-1966 The monastery celebrated its thousandth anniversary. In 1979, Saint-Michel was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mont Saint Michel can be seen from afar. Day and night, the lonely silhouette of the Mountain, carrying a fairy-tale city, looms over the roofs of neat Norman houses. The spire soaring into the sky is like the threatening finger of the Archangel. Perhaps it reminds us that the spirit of Mont Saint-Michel remains as firm and impregnable as it was hundreds of years ago.
Return of the sea
The dam disrupted the tidal regime established by nature, and sections of the bay around Mont Saint-Michel began to fill with sand and silt. The former water meadows - polders - have long since become a grassy shore, moving close to the island. Herds of Norman sheep have already “besieged” the walls of the historical monument, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
To return Mont Saint-Michel to its former, legendary appearance, construction of a tidal barrier has begun at the mouth of the Couesnon River, which goes around the Mountain. The new dam will stop silt from entering the river at high tide and help it wash out into the English Channel at low tide. In this way, the lands around the abbey, which are constantly under water, will gradually be cleared of sediment. The expensive project is expected to be completed next year.
With the floodgates fully open, the dam will be virtually invisible. In the future, when the sea returns, the old access dam will be replaced by a pedestrian bridge, vehicular traffic on which will cease, and tourists who want to visit the historical monument will be transported to its territory on a special ferry.
Neighboring Saint Michel Tombelen islet, translated from French as “little grave,” was at one time a modest replica of the neighboring abbey. A monastery and chapel were built there, where monks went in search of solitude. Gradually, it also turned into a fortress, in which, according to legend, King Arthur’s bride Helen died, but was later destroyed by order of Louis XIV. Today it is a deserted island.
Walk around Mont Saint Michel
The island's buildings consist of monastic and secular buildings. All buildings are surrounded by fortress walls with watchtowers built in the 15th century. This is evidence of the creation of the abbey's defensive system. The towers, connected to each other by patrol routes, do not rise above the fortress walls, but are protected by them. The horizontal loopholes housed bombards - giant cannons of the late Middle Ages. At the top of the mountain there is a church, the construction of which began in the 11th century. The nave of the church was built in the Romanesque style, part of the cathedral was completed in the 15th century in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The spire of the church is crowned with a golden figurine of the Archangel Michael. In the abbey it is worth seeing the gallery for the monks' walks, the Hall of Aquilon, and the apartments of Robert de Torigny. This abbot of the monastery ordered the construction of premises overlooking the sea. Here he received guests and judged monks.
An interesting monument is Church of Notre-Dame-sous-Terre, built in the mid-10th century, dating back to the pre-Romanesque period. Once it was in the open air, then its vaults were erected, then it was turned into a tomb. The Gothic part of La Merveille Abbey was built after the destruction of the 13th century to replace the monastic buildings of the Romanesque period. On the lower floor, food was distributed to the poor, on the second floor, in the living room, the abbot received influential visitors, and above was the refectory. A wonderful place for walking is the covered gallery - the last floor of La Mervea. This place is called the garden between sky and sea, as it overlooks the ocean. The arcades of the gallery are decorated with sculptures made of Caenian limestone.
Saint-Michel, like any ancient French city, has its own coat of arms. The abbey's coat of arms features a scattering of black shells intertwined with the fleurs-de-lis of France. Shells are reminiscent of pilgrimage, as they were the distinctive sign of the pilgrims. Lilies speak of the guardianship of the monastery and fortress by the king of France. Sometimes a staff and miter were added for decoration, indicating the rank of the abbey, equivalent to a bishopric. Each abbot had his own personal family coat of arms, which was often depicted on the stained glass windows of churches.
Relics of the monastery
The Abbey of Saint-Michel was famous for its relics - the golden statue of the Archangel Michael, its precious ancient manuscripts. The collection includes 203 manuscripts, 199 of which date back to the Middle Ages. Over time, the collection became scarce. When the abbey's library collapsed in 1300, some of the manuscripts were buried, but most of the relics were lost and looted during the French Revolution. In 1882, an unknown visitor in a cassock stole a breviary from the 14th century. Today, twenty manuscripts are scattered around the world, for example, a Romanesque Bible in two volumes is in Bordeaux. 203 manuscripts make up the finest collection in Europe of the Romanesque era, being a monument to the art of calligraphy. The manuscripts were compiled in the scriptorium, a room in the abbey in which the monks received knowledge not only of theology, but also of philosophy, law, history, medicine, music and even astronomy. The heyday of the creation of manuscripts occurred in the 11th century. However, soon, already in the 13th century, decline began. The monks went to Paris to receive education, and the manuscripts they brought were compiled by secular people. The manuscripts of the monks of Saint-Michel, original and one of a kind, are rightfully considered a world cultural heritage.
Nature of the bay
Many people come to Mont Saint-Michel not only to see the sights, learn the history of the monastery and admire the beautiful views of the ocean and continent from the walls of the abbey. A breathtaking spectacle is the tide, the amplitude of which (or rather, the difference between the low tide level and the high tide level in the selected water location) is considered the strongest on the entire European Atlantic coast. In a few hours, sea waves travel several kilometers, and their speed is incredible. In order not to miss the hour of high tide, upon arrival in Saint-Michel you should contact the tourist office for information.
The bay is a unique natural reserve. 10 thousand tons of mussels are grown here annually, and vegetation occupies only 1% of its area, nevertheless being a pasture for 10 thousand sheep. Ducks and other birds fly here to feed on the fertile mud. This area has been designated a “natural zone of ecological significance.” The bay is a crossroads of migratory routes, a kind of international transit point for ashen geese and black scoter ducks. In the waters of the bay, 80 species of fish are born, as well as Risso's dolphins, gray in color with small specks on their backs, the length of which reaches 3.5 meters. Every year, about a dozen fur seals come here to breed their young. However, the picture is not so idyllic. Saint-Michel is at risk of finally merging with the continent, since the construction of polders for the needs of agriculture and livestock farming significantly accelerates the advance of sand. In 1997, French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin approved a program to restore the bay to its original surrounding landscape. The goal is to stop the growth of so-called natural prairies.
The French say that all roads lead to this architectural miracle. From Paris, Saint-Michel can be reached by high-speed train TGV or by car to Rennes, then along the road towards Dol-de-Bretagne. About a million tourists visit Saint-Michel every year, people come here by train, car and buses. The parking lot is small, but there are a lot of people wanting to stay. Climbing the mountain, you can see thousands of cars and buses. Entrance to the monastery territory is paid, for children under 12 years old it is free. The monastery is open to visitors all year round, with the exception of some holidays (January 1, May 1, November 1, November 11 and December 25). On St. Michael's Mount there is a cafe, 25 souvenir shops and three museums - the Maritime Museum, the Archaeological Museum and the History Museum. You can stay on the continent and in Saint-Michel itself.
Those who are amazed by the view of Mount Saint-Michel during the day should stay here until dark. At night the island becomes even more mysterious. They say that the nights of Mount Saint-Michel are more beautiful than its days. The lines of sky, land and sea merge, the landscape is illuminated by moonlight. During the day you can appreciate the architectural and historical merits, at night - the spiritual ones. The excursion program also includes a night walk around the island.
To get to the abbey complex, you need to go to the end of Grande rue and then climb the stone stairs. Most of the premises can be explored on your own, but the ticket price includes a one-hour guided tour (in French and English). There are 5-6 excursions per day. The last one starts half an hour before closing.
The layout of the abbey is atypical. It was initially determined by the shape of the rock and the shortage of construction space. The monks were forced to place elements of the architectural complex on top of each other. The top of this unique medieval “skyscraper” was the abbey church and the La Merveille (Miracle) group of buildings. There were no building materials on the rock either. Stones and bricks were brought here by sea during high tides, and then dragged to the top with the help of ropes.
Having climbed the steep stairs to the entrance to the abbey, we find ourselves in guard room (hall of guards), where the ticket offices and information stands are located. Next, following the brown signs, we climb the stairs of the Grand Degre to terrace of Sault Gautier, and then to the western terrace. It appeared in the 18th century. after part of the abbey church was destroyed in a fire. The terrace offers views of the bay, Tomblain Island and the Chauzet archipelago, where granite was taken to build the monastery. Every year on November 8 (St. Michael - autumn) from the terrace you can watch the sun set behind Mount Dole. According to legend, on this day Saint Michael fought a dragon there.
From here you can clearly see bell tower spire(1867, neo-Gothic, copy of the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris), crowned with a gilded figure of the Archangel Michael (sculptor Fremier).
Abbey Church(Eglise Abbatiale, 11th century, mass daily at 12.15) built on the top of a cliff at an altitude of 80 m above sea level. Its transept rests on rock, and the nave, choir and transepts are supported by the massive walls of the monastic buildings located below. The transept is oriented so that on May 8 (St. Michael - spring) the sun rises exactly behind the altar and moves across the sky along the main axis of the temple.
The classicist façade was added in 1763. At the entrance, pay attention to the stone carved comb of Mont Saint-Michel - 10 shells (scallops) and 3 royal lilies. The nave of the church is in the Romanesque style, with the south wall remaining from 1084 and the north wall built after the nave collapsed in 1103. The nave vault was originally flat, and the modern wooden one was built in the 15th century. The place where the choir connects with the nave took on its final form only in the 19th century: the dome of the cross (architect Petigran) with an opening from where a ray of sun falls on the altar at noon rests on four columns. The Romanesque choir collapsed in 1421, so in the 15th century a new choir was built in its place in the “flaming Gothic” style. The choir of the Rouen Abbey of Saint-Ouen was taken as a basis.
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From the gallery, a straight passage, illuminated by lamps, led to the seventh gate. Behind them was the Upper Court, the famous reservoir with a fountain and the White Tower, built in 1900 by T.E. (rebuilt in 2698 T.E.), in which the palantir was kept. (With)
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Let's take a virtual walk around the castle! Click on the pictures below
For active tourists, Tenerife offers another entertainment - a knight's tournament.
The theatrical show takes place in the town of San Miguel, where a building was built especially for this - an exact but reduced copy of a real medieval castle. The attire of the show participants and the interior decoration of the halls takes guests several centuries ago, to the era of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
At the entrance you will be greeted by two armed knights. Here you will be given a cape of a certain color, corresponding to each of the six competing knights.
After the greeting in the armory room, Duke Don Rodrigo and his daughter escort the guests to the large hall, where the performance takes place. In the first part of the show, six knights compete in strength, agility, and horsemanship. The winner of the sports tournament receives the right to choose from among the guests a “lady of the heart”, who will be escorted to a place of honor at the ducal table.
The second and most exciting part of the performance is the jousting match. At the same time, all guests from spectators turn into direct participants in the show, because the winner of the fight is the knight whose team is most actively “sick.” There is no need to be shy here, and the abundant red and white wine served adds excitement and good mood.
The general atmosphere is complemented by a medieval dinner consisting of chicken, potatoes and vegetable soup. But keep in mind that you will have to eat with your hands - the Middle Ages, after all...
After the tournament, you can visit a flamenco show in the ballroom or a shop where you can buy knightly armor, weapons or a T-shirt with the castle emblem as a souvenir.
During the show you will be unobtrusively photographed; if you like the finished photo, you can pick it up at the exit. But it is prohibited to take photographs in the castle building.
The show is suitable for family holidays; both children and adults will be interested in seeing live knights, especially since the performance and stunts are staged quite well.
The most convenient way to visit the show is as part of an organized excursion - there is no need to look for transport, and it’s more fun.
Working hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (summer), Saturday, from 20:00 to 23:00
Tickets: 48 € - adult; 24 € - child
How to get there
By car: Take the TF-1 motorway until you turn to San Miguel. Then about three km along TF-65 uphill to the village of Aldea Blanca.
By bus: 416 from Las Americas, but it is still more convenient to take a taxi (about 30 euros one way).
Basic moments
At high tide, this place becomes an island, almost completely cut off from the mainland. Only the dam, built at the end of the 19th century, retains its connection with the abbey. At low tide, the water recedes and the territory of Mont Saint-Michel becomes an ordinary part of the mainland. The walls, cliff and buildings of the abbey create a holistic impression. The height from average sea level to the top of the church spire is 170 m.
The castle of Mont Saint-Michel will seem familiar to many: it became the prototype of the fortress in the film “The Lord of the Rings”. The object did not appear for defensive purposes or for the entertainment of the nobility - it was founded as a monastery. The ancient castle has seen monarchs, military cannonade, and people's discontent during the revolution. Mont Saint-Michel is considered impregnable - it survived three English blockades and did not submit even during a 30-year siege. From ancient times until today it has been a place of world pilgrimage.
Creation of a fortress
The history of Mont Saint-Michel dates back to 708. The Benedictine monks were fascinated by the granite island of Mont Tomb - so they decided to create a chapel on the cliff. The name is associated with a medieval legend: the bishop was ordered to build the church by Archangel Michael. He came three times, but the clergyman doubted the correctness of the sign. Then the Archangel tapped the bishop on the head with his finger, and only then did construction begin.
Guillaume de Volpiano, a very famous person, was appointed as the architect. He was raised by Benedictine monks and built more than one monastery. But the building was a unique structure: it could not be expanded horizontally, so the emphasis was placed on vertical construction. Some rooms even hang over the rock on special platforms. It turned out to be difficult to deliver granite for construction from neighboring islands. The lack of roads, quicksand, and ebbs and flows hampered our efforts.
In 966, a Benedictine monastery appeared on this site in honor of St. Mikhail. A settlement of fishermen arose at the foot, because pilgrims needed to be received and fed, and local monks needed domestic services. But the construction of the fortress continued until the 17th century: walls and towers appeared. The abbey became a powerful structure, combining religious and military architecture. The fortress island had important strategic significance. During the Hundred Years' War, Mont Saint-Michel was considered a reliable French outpost - it did not succumb to the enemy.
In 1790, during the French Revolution, the monastery ceased to exist - the monks were expelled, and the island was called “Mountain of Freedom”. The castle became a prison where inveterate criminals were sent. The people nicknamed Mont Saint-Michel the “provincial Bastille”. The prisoners were kept in stone cages where they could not rise to their full height. The chain of slaves rang with every step. But the pilgrims still came - a chapel was created especially for them.
Since 1863, a new stage in the history of Mont Saint-Michel began. The castle opened its doors, but now for tourists. In 1874, the Benedictines returned here and founded a new abbey. At the end of the 19th century, restoration of the complex began, which continues to this day. You can visit half of the abbey’s rooms; access to the rest is closed. Rooms that are of no interest to visitors were reserved for monks' housing.
Tricks of the Sea
An interesting feature of the area is the ebb and flow of the tides. The change occurs once per lunar day - every 24 hours 50 minutes. The tides are considered the strongest in Europe and the second on the planet. In terms of speed, they are even compared to a galloping horse. But this is wrong: the tide “accelerates” to a maximum of 6 km/h, and the average speed of a horse is from 21 to 60 km/h. Due to the shallow depths and flat days, the sea “runs away” 15-20 km from the castle, and then returns.
The “games” of water allowed the castle of Mont Saint-Michel to remain impregnable. The enemy ships could get close to the island, but when the sea left, they ran aground. The infantry also received an inhospitable reception. At first you had to move through quicksand, and then the tide came and the enemies drowned. Fog also served as a natural protection for the fortress - a frequent occurrence in these parts. Local fishermen relied on the sound of a bell, which they rang specifically for those who were lost. The enemies were simply lost in the impenetrable darkness.
In the 19th century, Mont Saint-Michel lost its inaccessibility. To connect the object with the mainland, a dam was built. But it disrupted the water circulation in the bay, and the unfavorable environmental situation in the bay forced us to look for an alternative option. The dam will soon be removed and a bridge will be built in its place. In March 2015, due to a solar eclipse, the tide was so strong that it also flooded the dam. The height of the water reached 14 meters - this is almost a 5-story building. This phenomenon occurs approximately once every 20 years - on the days of the spring or summer equinox.
Mont Saint-Michel welcomes guests
The complex fascinates even from afar. It proudly occupies the top of the rock, and the end of the spire is crowned by the golden figure of an archangel. The walls are impressively thick. Travelers enter through the protruding gates of the fortress wall - the Royal ones. As artillery developed, their design changed its shape. After all, until the beginning of the 16th century, cannonballs were fired from cannons, and only then - shells.
This place unites two towns. The first is the settlement of Mont Saint-Michel. There is a town hall, shops, a parish church and a cemetery on site. The path goes along the main street of Grand Rue. It is occupied by ancient houses of the 15th-16th centuries, which are tightly huddled together. The premises were allocated for souvenir shops, hotels, restaurants and cafes. The residents of this town (about 30 people) not only work in the service sector, but also devote time to agriculture. The town has several museums that will enhance tourists’ knowledge about the fortress. You can watch educational films, see ancient objects and “sketches” on a medieval theme using wax figures, and look at models of ships from different eras.
The second town is more “spiritual”, monastic. From the settlement to the abbey there is a climb along the southern slope of the mountain. There is also a more difficult road that does not cover the main street and museums. You need to turn left after the post office. A steep path leads directly to the gardens. This is the only place on the island where you can have a picnic in the shade. Another path goes through the stairs, which are on the right - near the Royal Gate. Tourists climb the steps to look at the magnificent view. The stairs allow easy access to the walls of the fortress and the tower. The third path leads through the bustling town - the main road with souvenir shops and restaurants. This road is suitable for those who have time.
Walking around the Abbey
Life in Mont Saint-Michel revolves around the abbey. It was built in the XI-XVI centuries. The complex is a fortified monastery and occupies approximately 55 thousand square meters. m. To avoid getting lost, tourists take a brochure with information about the attraction at the entrance. To move from the lower level of the monastery to the upper one, you need to climb the Great Staircase between the rock and the monks' housing. This way guests go out onto the Western Terrace in front of the church. This temple is located on the top of a mountain. It was built in the Romanesque style at the beginning of the 11th century. True, there was not enough space on the rock, and therefore the temple rests on the first church. Over the years of its existence, the building was repeatedly damaged, suffered from fires, and the main tower was struck by lightning. The building was complemented with elements of classicism, Gothic, and neo-Romanesque style. The church is crowned by the spire of the Archangel Michael, which acts as a lightning rod.
To the left of the church, if you are facing the facade, is La Merveille - “The Miracle”. The three-story complex is an architectural masterpiece of medieval Gothic. La Mervey is located on a narrow rock and therefore, unlike local buildings, it has a vertical structure.
In the eastern part of the “Miracle” there was a refectory for monks, accommodation for the poorest pilgrims, and a place for receiving high-ranking guests. The western wing was allocated for the pantry and the Knights' Hall. The monks spent a lot of time there, working and studying. Books and manuscripts were copied here. The northern part of the “Miracle” had to be strengthened with buttresses, but this did not spoil the building at all - on the contrary, it created a delightful artistic effect. And Victor Hugo, admiring the “Miracle” from the sea, noted: “this is a view of the most beautiful wall in Europe.”
A walk along the top floor of La Merveille will be unforgettable. There is an indoor gallery with views of the ocean. The observation deck has earned the reputation of “a garden between heaven and earth.” The impression is completed by the limestone sculptures that adorn the gallery.
There is also an older church here - Notre-Dame-sous-Terre. This building dates back to the 10th century. At first the building was located in the open air. Later it was decided to add vaults to the church, and then it was turned into a tomb.
Around all the structures of the island are powerful fortress walls and watchtowers. These defensive structures were erected in the 15th century. The towers do not rise above the walls - they are protected by them. The loopholes once housed bombards - huge cannons of the Middle Ages.
Picturesque nature of the bay
Many tourists flock to Mont Saint-Michel to enjoy a magnificent view of the water surface from the medieval walls. The bay, with its vast expanse without vegetation, resembles a desert. The calm here is illusory and dangerous. The natural beauty hides powerful tides, fog, thunderstorms and many dangerous areas.
At high tide, the waves travel several kilometers. At the same time, the bay is considered a natural reserve - about 200 species of inhabitants live here. The fertile mud attracts ducks and other birds that feed on it. About 100 species of fish are born in the waters of the bay. The place is also attractive for fur seals, which breed here. About 10 thousand mussels are grown here every year. Although plants cover about 1% of the area, thousands of sheep graze here.
Sheep grazingLunch within the walls of the fortress
If you plan to stay overnight, bring a small lunch. Having lunch during the daytime will not be difficult: travelers will find snack bars, burger bars and pancake bars. Breton restaurants are open. The menu includes meat dishes, seafood, salads. In the evening, establishments close. Be sure to try the local omelet. It would seem a simple dish, but its fame resounds throughout the world. Previously, they were treated to pilgrims who always appeared unexpectedly. Today they treat tourists. The omelet recipe is still kept secret.
Checking the schedule
It is better not to plan a trip to Mont Saint-Michel in the summer - at this time there are too many tourists, which means it will be difficult to enjoy the extraordinary view from the fortress walls of the abbey. The weather in this part of France is influenced by the harsh winds of the Atlantic. It's cool here - you need warmer things than sundresses and sandals.
Be sure to check the tide chart. Then you can choose the right time for a photo hunt. The tides begin unexpectedly: just a few minutes ago the sea was splashing around, and the sand began to appear. He seems harmless. But once you step on the surface, it turns out that the sand is treacherously unsteady. It has a special structure: when mixed with sea water, it becomes viscous; when it dries out, it is dense, so few tourists are willing to risk walking along the bay without checking the sea’s “schedule.”
Mont Saint Michel at dusk
People, having created a 2 km long dam, “stole” Mont Saint-Michel’s unusual appearance. It is now a real island only a few times a year. Then especially strong tides flood even the surface of the dam. But usually the raging elements do not interfere with cars, so the number of tourists only increases. However, only a third of visitors reach the very top of the cliff, where the ancient church and monastery are located.
Many decide to stay in a sacred place for several days. The abbey has small inns where travelers stay. In the evening, the corners of the castle are free from noisy tourists. You can breathe in plenty of the salty, intoxicating air of Mont Saint-Michel, and catch the magical moment of the onset of the tide. The abbey is beautifully lit, but the walls are only illuminated by the reflections of the lanterns. Guests are offered night tours of the fortress. At this time, the halls of the monastery are empty, the main street becomes less busy - you can leisurely get acquainted with the architectural features of the abbey.
The Mont Saint-Michel fortress also has opening hours. In May and summer the abbey opens from 9 am. The last tourists are allowed into the territory until 6 pm. During the rest of the period, the time shifts: from 9:30 to 17:00. But if the tide prevents access to the site, the opening time will change. On holidays, Mont Saint-Michel “rests”: January 1, May 1 and December 25.
In the Extruded Gate Pavilion, check out the Visitor Information Center. Here they will provide information about the attraction, as well as a tide schedule. The cost of visiting is 8.50 euros. You can use an audio guide, but then entry will cost 12.50 euros. Tours are conducted for visitors: twice an hour - in French, twice a day - in English.
Parking near Mont Saint MichelFrom the capital to the fortress island – 285 km. Tourists rush here by trains, buses and their cars. A trip to Rennes by rail costs 55.8 EUR. Then you need to transfer to a bus, which leaves directly from the train station, and get to your destination. The ticket costs 11.4 EUR. The journey in total will take a little over three hours. Tickets towards the abbey are purchased from the cashier, and when traveling back - from the driver. Brown "Attraction" signs are a great help for tourists.
The location of the rock island does not allow buses and cars to drive directly to the site. The vehicles are parked in a parking lot a few kilometers from the attraction. There is a narrow path leading to the abbey, so tourists travel the rest of the way on foot or use special buses that run here. Previously, the features of the road did not even allow them to turn around. Because of this, the vehicle had two entrances, like subway cars - on the sides. Now the path has been slightly widened.
