Mont Saint Michel Full Day Tour from Bayeux
Description
Discover 13 centuries of history with our experienced guides. On the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1979, Mont-Saint-Michel is an incredible master-piece of architecture surrounded by the beautiful seascape of one of the largest bays in Europe. Your guide will first present you the village on the island, where shops and restaurants have existed for 1000 years. Then you will climb to the top of the rock where you will visit the different rooms of the abbey with your guide and you will have the chance to understand what was the life of a monk in the "City of Books", through different wars over centuries. Also, your guide will explain to you the slow construction of the abbey, from its pre-romanesque times to the French revolution, and the use of the different rooms of the abbey. After the visit of the abbey, you will get some free time for lunch and to explore a bit more the island on your own, before heading back to Bayeux.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will first drive 1h30 to Mont-Saint-Michel. Mont Saint Michel is the most visited site in Normandy and one of the most visited sites in France. The first construction on the rock was built in 708. A few decades later, it became a major pilgrimage site for all Christians in the world. Thanks to the work of the religious community on the Mont, the site was seen as an intellectual reference in Europe where thousands of books, manuscripts and charters were written. In the 19th century, the importance of Mont Saint Michel was in decline and it became a prison after the French Revolution in 1789. From 1793 until 1863, the site had the worst reputation and was nicknamed the Bastille of the seas… The building suffered from the lack of maintenance during that time and almost disappeared after the French stopped using it as a prison. Fortunately, it was saved from destruction and many architects renovated it from then until present day. After the visit, we will drive back to Bayeux 1h30 .
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(80)
Sophie was a wonderful guide. Gave us a great deal of detail and history and there was enough time to explore and rest or have free time. Picked us up right outside out hotel and it was a beautiful drive there. A lot of the visit was not what I expected and I likely should have checked for holidays but it was extremely busy. So many people visiting and such narrow walkways. It was exceedingly touristy inside with souvenirs and ice cream every few feet. If you arrive expecting epic congestion you’ll be fine. You can also just admire it from the outside. Many do.
Great experience, Anna is a wonderful guide. She made it engaging for our whole family. The location is spectacular to see in person.
Very convenient pick up from a central location in Bayeux near our hotel. It was a small group tour so it was able to be customized. Our guide was terrific in terms of history/background but also very practical in suggestions in terms of getting through the crowds.
Anna was a wonderful tour guide. The pick up and travel was so easy and comfortable. It was really helpful to have a guide to get to mont st Michel but also to have a tour of the abbey because there aren't signs that tell you the history. The tour consists of a guided tour through the abbey for about 2.5h and then 2.5h for lunch, souvenir shopping and walking back to the car. Great experience!
Val was a great tour guide and had a wealth of knowledge about the abbey and construction techniques over the years. We highly recommend this tour!
Suffice it to say that it was 104 degrees the day we took this tour and we're in our 70's - so it was very hard. Of course, the weather is not the guide's fault. Michael was very good, friendly and spoke good English as he gave us some history of MSM on the way. The van was OK, but the AC wasn't as good as some vans and, of course, those stuck in the third seat can't see as well. Nonetheless, there were 8 of us on the tour, including one lady who walked with a cane and immediately realized she wasn't cut out for the hike up the hill to the abbey. I'm glad we chose this tour instead of trying to tour the abbey ourselves because there is so much to see and learn that it would have been impossible without a guide. Michael seemed to know all the facts and was patient and encouraging of us as we climbed the 300 steps. I was sorry, though, that we only had one hour to eat lunch and visit any shops in town after the tour. Then we had to hurry back to the shuttle stop (1/4 mile, no shade, full heat) and wait in the long line (30 min.) to return to our van in the parking lot. The drive back to Bayeux was a bit hair-raising. I couldn't see the speedometer, but we were definitely passing every car on the road. As a result, we got back 30 minutes early, feeling like we could have used that 30 minutes to look around the shops in MSM a little more. Nevertheless, it was a good tour. Just be aware that you must be in good shape to do it.
Our tour to Mont Saint Michel was perfect. Anna picked us up at our hotel in Bayeux, and the day was just right for us. Her driving was excellent, and she made sure to get us to the right place for the shuttle. With some walking issues, we were pleased to be able to do and see a lot without difficulty. It was a beautiful experience.
We went with Yanick from HQ tours and he was wonderful. The tour was very informative and it was nice to have a guide in the city with you and going through the Abbey.
Great tour with our guide Val. He was very knowledgeable about the abbey and how the architecture evolved through the centuries. We arrived early enough before the crowds and made our way to the top with great views. Highly recommend!
Thank you Elizabeth for the recommendation! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed exploring the abbey with Valentin. Sharing the fascinating history behind Mont Saint-Michel while making the most of a quieter visit is exactly the experience we aim to provide. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again on a future adventure! Pierre HQ Company Tour
Had a great day exploring Mont St Michele with our guide Michael. I rarrr erly ever do yours, as I like to explore myself. However it was so nice to have a person as knowledgeable as Michael who you could ask questions and he knew the answers. It saved a lot of time searching on my phone for answers and was much more personalized.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted that Michael's knowledge and personalized approach added so much value to your visit. It's nice to hear that even as someone who usually prefers independent travel, you found the tour worthwhile. We hope to welcome you back to Normandy again soon! Pierre HQ Company Tour
