A French Holiday Jewel

Mont Saint Michel is a good hour's drive from our holiday château but well worth the trip. Taking the A13 and then A84 offers a direct route, although you may wish to vary that and take the opportunity to stop at other fine spots. The Château de Balleroy, or the archeological museum at Vieux-la-Romaine are not out of the way, or the Abbaye de Hambye, with historic connections to Saint Michel.

A Year Round Venue

Neither are you obliged to make an early start at the abbey. They are open until 11 pm in the summer and the wonderful Son et Lumière gives every reason to be there in the evening. Along with a spirit that seems to take hold of the powerful buildings at dusk and of course, the varied cuisine that is readily available.

Even for our château's winter guests, there are special and moving days to choose. Not least Christmas, with fine choral performances and tasteful illuminations throughout the village at night. We often feel these days capture the mood of how the abbey would have been centuries earlier, with the monks celebrating an important time.

Whatever part of the day, or year you choose to visit, there is much to see. Four museums on site, a range of cultural and historic treasures to meet all tastes, a reflection of the time this island has endured.

Thirteen Centuries of History

Three more centuries, if you include the Romano-British occupation of the Mount but 708 AD is generally recognised as the starting point for religious settlement. A simple church at first, which gradually developed and received greater impetus through the Abbey supporting William of Normandy in his claim to the English throne.

This began the path to the exceptional Norman architecture we see today, as well as land grants in Britain. Including a similar enclave on Saint Michael's Mount, taking forward the connection with England which still joins our history to that of Normandy.

We hope you find time for Mont Saint Michel while you are staying at our French holiday château, a true part of France's history you should not miss. You can also find other places of interest on our site, including our page about la Côte Fleurie