Mont St. Michel - worth the effort?
 

A friend and I are traveling to France this Sept., hitting Paris/Versailles, the Loire valley, and the south of France. While in Paris, we wanted to take some day trips with our limited time in France, and considered Mont St. Michel.

Obviously, this is a major site in France and a stunning one at that. But considering it takes approx 4 hours to get there by train/bus from Paris, as well as navigating through the excessive crowds, is a day-trip worth it?

Alternatively, we thought of doing a day trip to Fontainebleau and Vaux le Vicomte.

Does anyone have personal travel stories or recommendations that would help sway our decision?

How much time do you actually have in France?

Mont St. Michel is better done as an overnight. The day trip gives you very little time there.

When you list the places you are "hitting" my hunch is that you are trying to do too much.

You are probably right about staying overnight. When the crowds start to disperse in late afternoon and things quiet down, I am sure it’s amazing. Unfortunately we are booked in Paris with hotel points to save on cost and will need to return w/out an overnight stay.

We have three days in Paris, side trip to Versailles, two days in the Loire Valley and the rest of the time Provence.

Is this your first time to Paris? If so, there will be lots to do and see just in the city in three days.

What are you doing a 10 day trip? Eliminate either the Loire Valley or Provence. France is larger than you think and you don't want to spend a lot of time moving about.

Personally, I would forget Mont St. Michel or, if you go to the Loire, do it as a side trip from there when you rent a car. Doing the Loire without a car is not really possible unless you are on an organized tour.

You do not want to spend all your time in buses, cars and trains just to end up with a drive by of this and that because you don't have time.

Versailles should be done as a day trip from Paris.

I would not take time out from Paris to do Versailles. I would rent a car when leaving Paris, stop at Versailles and continue to the Loire Valley.

I have been to all three: Fontainebleau, Vaux le Vicomte, and Mont St. Michel. If I were to spend a day anyway away from Paris, I would go to Mont St. Michel especially when you are already going to Versailles.

It is not to say that a day trip is ideal: as others mentioned, you have to contend with the crowd and miss the magic of tranquility that permeates the Mont after the tourists are gone. You might also not get to see the famous tide come in. Nevertheless, it is an impressive place.

I agree with GoSox. I would go to Versailles on the way out of town and not try to go to Mont St Michel this time. I really can't imagine going there on a rushed day trip and enjoying it or appreciating it. Three days is hardly enough to scratch the surface in Paris, anyway.

Fontainebleau and Vaux le Vicomte are a trip you could sort of hold in reserve -- or do one or the other -- and if you find you'd just like to spend that day in Paris, you haven't made elaborate plans that you feel locked into.

Mont St. Michel has lost much of its magic since it hardly gets engulfed by the sea any more.

It certainly is a nice old abbey on a steep rock. But you can find a dozen similar places in France and Mont St. Michel has been spoilt by an overdose of souvenir shops selling plastic swords.

Hence, my answer to your question would be a clear "no".

There are indeed many other options for daytrips:

- Fontainebleau is a gorgeous palace, and especially when combined with Vaux le Vicomte, it will make a rewarding daytrip.

- Chantilly might even be more impressive, with its art collection which is only rivalled by the Louvre.

- But if you have not been to Versailles do this first. It is far more impressive and both historically and architecturally significant than Mont St. Michel.

Really, 1959, a dozen similar places in France? I can't think of even one but would be delighted to see your list. The chateaux, on the other hand, are a dime a dozen. And that from someone who would rather see chateaux than almost anything else. Mont St. Michel would be that exception -- it is truly a special place. We drove a couple hours from southern Brittany on a day trip and it was totally worth it.

I agree with the “Mont Michel is touristy” posters, but when it first hoves into sight from a few miles away, this unforgetable, unique pile of rock will take your breath away. You don't have to go inside (though views from the higher levels are spectacular) just sit and look at it for a while.

I agree it is beautiful on the approach. But I would go if it was my first time because there is alot of renovation to be soon happening. They are going to enlarge the parking area. I will be sad to see changes.
How long in the Loire? Go to MSM from there, maybe

I would not take any time away from three skimpy days in Paris. I would either:

Skip Versailles and do your chateau thing in the Loire

or

Skip the Loire, stay 2 extra days in Paris and visit Versailles from Paris.

I would choose the latter.

Visit Mt ST Michel on a Normandy/Brittany trip some other year. Either see it early in the morning (8:30), or stay overnight.

Stu Dudley

Mont. St. Michel was one of the most memorable day trips in our travels. We were the only two people on the "English" tour and had a wonderful guide who showed us the monks garden and other "off the tour" areas of interest. It IS stunning. I think you should go for it. Plan to have a nice lunch there and book a restaurant in Paris for dinner when you get back.

So - let's see how much time you have for a side trip.

Much of this is just a guess.....

Day 1 - arrive at hotel at 12 noon, stash bags, and explore the immediate neighborhood. Return to hotel at ?? (4pm), nap a bit to try to recover from jet lag, clean up for dinner, and have dinner at a neighborhood spot.
Time exploring Paris - 4 hrs

Day 1 - get up early and do a day trip to Mt St Michel.
Time exploring Paris when shops/most sites are open - 0 hrs

Day 3 - explore Paris
Time exploring paris - 8-10 hours

Day 4 - take TGV to Tours, rent car, and visit 2 Chateaux

Day 5 - Visit 3-4 Chateaux

Day 6 - return car, hop on TGV & get to Provence. Arrive in Provence around 2pm. Explore immediate area in Provence -

I suggest that you put together an ACTUAL schedule like this, and then see how much time you will really have to explore Paris, Loire, and Provence.

Travel less, and explore more.

Stu Dudley

Mont St Michel is well worth the trip - as long as you stay overnight. (Fontainebleau doesn't compare.)

Why see it as a day tip from Paris.

Assume you're renting a car for the Loire (it's quite difficult and time-consuming to get around without one). Why not just drive to Mt St Michel after you leave Paris?

>>Why not just drive to Mt St Michel after you leave Paris?>>

Again - count the hours you will spend "getting there", and the hours you will spend "being there" and touring (not eating, naping, sleeping).

Stu Dudley

Hi gopp; I would suggest that a lot depends on your future plans. If France is in your future plans, skip Mont St. Michel this trip. If not, do not miss this spectacular monument. It's just an incredible sight as you approach and as you visit the whole Mont. Iris

HI gopp; ENJOY Iris www.mont-saint-michel.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/

Mt. St. Michel is an unique place, but I think that you can use better your time (and you will be less tired if you will visit Fontainebleau , Vaux le Vicomte or Chantilly, or Chartres,or Reims as a dya trip.
Maybe you will visit next time Normandy and Bretagne, so M.S.M. will be on the route.