On Day 6 we would have a long day in the bus traveling to Mont Saint Michel. From Tours to Mont Saint Michel is was about a three hour drive. The three hour drive was definitely worth it when we saw Mont Saint Michel in the distance.
WOW!
Mont Saint Michel is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately just over half a mile off the country's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The population of the island is 41, as of 2006. The island has been a strategic point holding fortifications since ancient times, and since the 8th century AD it became the seat of the Saint-Michel monastery, from which it draws the name. More than 3 million people visit Mont Saint Michel each year.
Trent's view of Mont Saint Michel.
The cemetery where those who live on the island are buried.
There were lots of steps to get to the top.
Statue of Archangel Michael atop the spire.
Trent, Tim and Zach checking out the views.
The tides can vary greatly, at roughly 46 ft between high and low water marks. Popularly nicknamed "St. Michael in peril of the sea" by medieval pilgrims making their way across the flats, the mount can still pose dangers for visitors who avoid the causeway and attempt the hazardous walk across the sands from the neighboring coast.
A group of brave people making their way over to the island during low tide.
The abbey where there was a church service going on.
Trent worked hard to get this picture. People kept getting in his way.
Trent taking a break from the tour to play some goldfish...against his imaginary friends and yes he was winning the game.
"R" for Reimers
We had lunch at Mont Saint Michel and then headed to Bayeux where we would tour the Tapestry Museum and more importantly meet up with Aunt Debbie.
Madison and Trent greeting Aunt Debbie. They were so excited to see her.
The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth, not an actual tapestry nearly 230 ft long, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England and in the Battle of Hastings. The tapestry consists of some fifty scenes with Latin captions, embroidered on linen with coloured woollen yarns.
We couldn't take any pictures in the museum, so I copied this one from Wikipedia.
From the tapestry museum we walked a few blocks to the Bayeux Cathedral. The Bayeux Cathedral is a Norman-Romanesque cathedral. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bayeux. It was the original home of the Bayeux Tapestry and is a national monument of France. The Cathedral dates back to 1077.
We had a very enthusiastic local tour guide. He was great, but we had had a long day and just couldn't match his excitement for the Bayeux Tapestry and Cathedral.
Narrow streets of Bayeux.
After touring the cathedral we were all ready to go to our hotel in Bayeux. We had dinner at the hotel and then got some sleep. We were all excited for the next day where we would visit Normandy.
No comments:
Post a Comment