07 – Arrival

We’re Finally there…

We’d crossed the (controversial) causeway to the parking area. Mont St Michel towered above us, and only then I noticed that to a person everyone on the coach was already up, out of their seats - eager to alight and begin their exploration of the site.  Slowly the coach took its parking place alongside two others already there. This was apparently to be a quiet day!!!! The excursion offered an initial guided tour around the hallowed buildings and historic areas (in English and French) followed by the promise of three hours of free time to wander at will through the streets and shops of the small town – and for those a little more adventurous a chance to go down to the shore and, tide permitting get a three hundred and sixty degree perspective of the Mount from the there. I hoped to do it all.

On the journey, punctuated by our stopover at Carrouges with its own story, our guide Segolene had already explained much of the remarkable history of the Mount. Now it was time for that history to come to life.  Before us lay our point of entry, the Overhang Gate identifiable by the large oak beam built into the masonry of the, flanking walls of the Burghers’ Guardhouse - now home to the tourist office. There was not much new material I could gather here – I’d done my preparations well. Built about a century after the other two inner gates the Forward Gate (Porte de l’Avancée) is the first encountered of the three portals designed to strengthen the town and abbey fortifications against attack. The guardroom was originally manned by people of the Bourgeoisie (local townsfolk) who stood as an advance guard to the Royal militia stationed at the later gates and along the parapets.

And in we went .....