Thursday, July 21, 2011 Rennes, France to Mont-Saint-Michel Abby

Today we take the train from Paris to Rennes, France on the Northern Coast of France in the Normandy Area.  It is about 214 miles from Paris, about 2 hours on the train then a 30 minute bus ride to the Abby.

Mont-Saint-Michel Abby (another UNESCO site) is a tidal island -  at high tide an island and low tide you can walk to it.  It was built in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides.  It is a Gothic-style Benedictine Abbey.  Build between the 11th and 16th centuries.  The Abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force, having to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site.  Very impressive!!!!

We pass through LeMans, France on the train.

Also see a few old windmills

There it is when we drive up on the bus.

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Narrow streets to go up to the Abby at the top.

 

At the tope you can see the road they built to get to the Abby at any time.

Lots of steps to get to the top.

WOW! what a view.  England is over there somewhere across the English Channel.

They were having a Mass.

The huge wooden doors

Beautiful courtyard.  Reba said it reminded her of the Sound of Music.

View through the window

Edward, Reba and Bridget having a rest.

Bridget and the tall buildings.

A beautiful garden at the top.

This is a wheel used to haul up supplies from the bottom to the top.  It appears that people would get inside the wheel and move it much like a hamster goes on a wheel.

View from the bottom to the Abby.