Rising from the tidal flats of Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel has drawn pilgrims since the 8th century when Bishop Aubert of Avranches built a chapel following three visitations from the Archangel Michael. Today, pilgrims approach on foot as medieval Miquelots did, crossing the final stretch of quicksand and tide to reach one of Christendom's most dramatic sacred sites.
📜 History & Significance
In 708 AD, the Archangel Michael appeared to Bishop Aubert, commanding him to build a sanctuary on the rocky island then called Mont-Tombe. The Benedictine abbey founded in 966 became one of medieval Europe's greatest pilgrimage centers, rivaling Rome, Jerusalem, and Santiago de Compostela in importance.
The pilgrimage to Mont-Saint-Michel (the "Miquelots" pilgrimage) flourished throughout the Middle Ages, with pilgrims from across France and beyond making the journey. The final approach across the bay—navigating tides and quicksand—made arriving at the Mount a true act of faith.
🥾 Route Overview
The traditional pilgrimage route covers approximately 350 km from Paris or Chartres to Mont-Saint-Michel, taking about two weeks on foot. From Paris, pilgrims head west through the forests of Île-de-France before crossing into Normandy.
The route passes through historic towns including Dreux, Verneuil-sur-Avre, and Domfront before reaching the coastal town of Pontorson, gateway to the Mount. The final 10 km across the bay—now on a modern causeway but once through treacherous tidal flats—remains the pilgrimage's defining moment.
☩ Key Pilgrimage Sites
Chartres Cathedral - Alternative starting point with its legendary labyrinth and Black Madonna, itself a major pilgrimage destination.
Domfront - Medieval fortress town with Romanesque churches marking the approach to Normandy.
Avranches - Bishop Aubert's city, where manuscripts from the abbey's famous scriptorium are preserved.
Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel - The destination, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Archangel's sanctuary crowns the island's summit, surrounded by medieval monastic buildings cascading down the rock.
📚 Further Reading
Curated resources to help you research and plan your pilgrimage on the Mont-Saint-Michel Pilgrimage.
