---
lang: en
type: TouristAttraction
record_kind: entity-profile
title: Mont-Saint-Michel
description: A spectacular Gothic-style Benedictine abbey built upon a rocky tidal island on the coast of Normandy.
llms_summary: "Mont-Saint-Michel. (Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, Normandy, France). TouristAttraction. Annual Visitors 2.8 million. Buffer Zone 192k ha. Category Type Cultural. Conservation Status Excellent. Epoch Origin Middle Ages (11th C.). Latitude 48.64 °. Longitude -1.51 °. Primary Material Granite Block Masonry. Property Area 6,560 ha. UNESCO ID 80. Year Inscribed 1979. Best for medieval historians, religious scholars, and landscape photographers.  A spectacular Gothic-style Benedictine abbey built upon a rocky tidal island on the coast of Normandy.  canonical profile on Chrisyst Datasets"
canonical: "https://datasets.chrisyst.com/mont-saint-michel/index.md"
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slug: mont-saint-michel
record_kind: entity-profile
content_sha256: 2fb275571da23dc13fcb2dd2e2da7272cddb61c2b2419f22039de7a63dc97c8a
indexed_at: "2026-07-16T13:15:13.715Z"
license: citation-free
entities:
  -
    role: subject
    slug: mont-saint-michel
    name: Mont-Saint-Michel
    type: TouristAttraction
    profile_url: "https://datasets.chrisyst.com/mont-saint-michel/index.md"
    same_as:
      - "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7458"
---
# Mont-Saint-Michel

A spectacular Gothic-style Benedictine abbey built upon a rocky tidal island on the coast of Normandy.

## Record

- **Title**: [Mont-Saint-Michel](https://datasets.chrisyst.com/mont-saint-michel/index.md)
- **Geo target**: Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, Normandy, France
- **Website**: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/80
- **Address**: Grande Rue, Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, 50170, France
- **Coordinates**: 48.6361, -1.5114

### Summary

A spectacular Gothic-style Benedictine abbey built upon a rocky tidal island on the coast of Normandy.

### Description

## The Wonder of the West

Mont-Saint-Michel is an architectural marvel, rising dramatically from its tidal island. The abbey's construction spans several centuries, primarily from the 11th to the 16th, showcasing a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Its most iconic section, "La Merveille" (The Wonder), is a three-story monastic complex on the northern side, featuring the Almonry, Guests' Room, and Crypt on the lower levels, and the Knights' Hall, Refectory, and Cloister above. The abbey church, perched at the summit, integrates Romanesque nave and transept with a flamboyant Gothic choir, demonstrating the continuous evolution of its design to adapt to the challenging granite outcrop.

Historically, Mont-Saint-Michel served as a crucial pilgrimage site dedicated to the Archangel Michael since the 8th century, attracting pilgrims from across Europe. Its strategic location and formidable fortifications, including the ramparts and watchtowers, rendered it virtually impregnable, famously resisting English sieges during the Hundred Years' War. This dual role as a spiritual sanctuary and a military stronghold cemented its cultural legacy, making it a powerful symbol of French national identity and resilience. Today, it stands as a testament to medieval engineering and faith, drawing millions of visitors annually.

### Attributes

- **Annual Visitors**: 2.8 million _(quality 85)_
- **Buffer Zone**: 192k ha _(quality 99)_
- **Category Type**: Cultural
- **Conservation Status**: Excellent
- **Epoch Origin**: Middle Ages (11th C.)
- **Latitude**: 48.64 ° _(quality 50)_
- **Longitude**: -1.51 ° _(quality 50)_
- **Primary Material**: Granite Block Masonry
- **Property Area**: 6,560 ha _(quality 75)_
- **UNESCO ID**: 80
- **Year Inscribed**: 1979 _(quality 90)_