17 – The Marvellous …

Merveille

In French they call it simply Merveille, which translates into English as the Marvel or The Wonder. Mont St Michel in its entirety is often (perhaps confusingly) dubbed the “merveille de l’ouest” (the Wonder of the West). So what exactly should we expect when visiting the Merveille?

Most simply explained it is the core of buildings which formed the original (circa 1228) monastery - six tiered magnificent halls added to the then existing church. Predominantly built in the Gothic architectural style they combine the outward strength of a fortress with the plainness of their original religious intentions.  Built on three levels (our guide explained) the lowest level of the Marvel was the place for the pilgrims and the bourgeoisie coming to pay homage to St Michel. They had their own chapel and rooms as well as plentiful accommodation in the town buildings we have already seen in passing. The middle level was inhabited by nobility and royalty, whilst the upper level of the abbey and cloisters was the preserve of the clergy, those closest to their God.  If today that seems like a class system - indeed it was. And despite the often quoted divine rights of kings the power, wealth and influence of the church should not be underestimated.

This name – whether you choose Merveille,  or Wonder,  or Marvel - seems apt, as the soaring edifices of its construction dominate the Mount, from that first inland approach, all through the climb up its 900 or so steps, right to the top. It was Victor Hugo who was recorded in 1865 as having said, " Le Mont Saint-Michel apparaît … comme une chose sublime, une pyramide merveilleuse." Undoubtedly that is not the first nor last use of that adjective applied to the Mont for an often read analogy is that Mont St Michel is to the sea what the Great Pyramid of Cheops is to the desert.

I couldn’t put it any better myself. 

And still we climbed.