b'LE MONT SAINT MICHEL is an island commune in Normandy, France.Additions were made in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. The Romanesque It is located approximately one kilometre off the northwestern coast, at theabbey church was founded over a set of crypts where the rock comes to an mouth of the Cousnon River near Avranches. It is approximately 100 hectaresapex, and the first monastery buildings were built up against its north wall. In in size. the 15th century, the Romanesque chancel of the abbey church was replaced by The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8ththe Gothic Flamboyant chancel.century AD has been the seat of the monastery, from which it draws its name.The Mount was one of the most important places of pilgrimage for the The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society thatmedieval occident. For nearly one thousand years men, women and children constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls;went there by roads called paths to paradise hoping for the assurance of then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, fishermens andeternity, given by the Archangel of judgement.farmers housing. Its unique position of being an island only 1000 metres fromThe Abbey was turned into a prison during the days of the French Revolution land made it readily accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey.and Empire. Equally, this position made it readily defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned, would-be assailants. By capitalizing on this naturalIn 1966 a religious community moved back to what used to be the abbatial defence, the Mont remained unconquered during the Hundred Years War withdwellings, perpetuating prayer and welcome, the original vocation of this place. a small garrison successfully defending it against a full attack by the English. Friars and sisters from Les Fraternits Monastiques de Jerusalem have been ensuring a spiritual presence since 2001.Aubert, Bishop of Avranches built and consecrated a small church on the 16th October 709. In 966 a community of Benedictines settled on the rock at theMont Saint Michel and its bay are part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage request of the Duke of Normandy and the pre-Romanesque church was builtSites. More than 3 million people visit it each year.before the year one thousand.Page 5'