Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France

Mont-Saint-Michel, is a tidal island, and mainland commune in Normandy, France.

The island, lies approximately one kilometre, off the country's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River, near Avranches, and is 7 hectares in area. The mainland part of the commune, is 393 hectares in area, so the total surface of the commune is 400 hectares. As of 2019, the island had a population of 29.

The commune's position, on an island, just a few hundred metres, from land, made it accessible at low tide, to the many pilgrims to its abbey. The incoming tides, drove off, or drowned possible invaders. The island remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack, by the English in 1433. Louis XI, recognized the reverse benefits of its natural defence, and turned it into a prison. The abbey was used regularly, as a prison during the Ancien Régime.

In the 11th century, William of Volpiano, the Italian architect, who had built Fécamp Abbey, in Normandy, was chosen by Richard II, Duke of Normandy, to be the building contractor. He designed the Romanesque church of the abbey, daringly placing the transept crossing, at the top of the mount. Many underground crypts, and chapels, had to be built to compensate for this weight; these formed the basis, for the supportive upward structure, that can be seen today. Today Mont Saint-Michel, is seen as a building, of Romanesque architecture.

Mont-Saint-Michel, and its surrounding bay, were listed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites, in 1979, for its unique aesthetic, and importance, as a medieval Christian site. It is visited by, more than 3 million people each year. Over 60 buildings, within the commune, are protected in France, as monuments historiques.