MSM - inside or outside the walls?
 

When people suggest staying overnite 'on the Mont' does it matter if one is outside the walls? Does this mean in the nearby town? How does one get to 'experience the Mont' if we stay in a nearby town? Is transportation by our own car possible 'after hours'?
Sorry if this sounds dumb, but I get so confused. One hotel says at the edge of the causeway but shows a lot further!!

Staying overnight ON the Mont St-Michel means being inside the walls; there's not much outside the walls, meaning you would need to stay across the causeway.

You can certainly use your own car after hours, but you will need to park it in the large parking lot by the causeway; no driving beyond that is allowed. You should be sure to park as far away as possible from the area that floods at high tide.

There are a number of hotels clustered near the edge of the causeway, and some have fine views of the Mont--better than you would have on the Mont itself, as a matter of fact.

So, when it says 'no transportation after hours' it refers to a local bus? Then staying across the causeway would be acceptable? (There are no vacancies in the month of April 'on the Mont' when we are there)
May I ask... on the weeks where 'there is no difference in the tides' is it still 'dramatic or just not SOo dramatic? Do you understand?

The difference in the tides is nowhere near as dramatic as it was before the causeway was built, which has caused silting in the bay. When--and if--the new bridge replaces the causeway the tide action is supposed to be more what it used to be.

If you stay across the causeway you can just drive up to the Mont's parking lot, leave your car, and head up into the village and then the abbey buildings. Be prepared for wall-to-wall bodies as you go up the street and the many steps. I remember reading, however, that you can also go up to the abbey by taking the route that goes up around the ramparts.

I imagine but don't know for sure that "no transportation after midnight" must refer to buses, but I also imagine that the parking lot is closed at that time. That would leave foot traffic as an option.

Getting over the causeway to the mount is a bit of a walk. We actually picked up some hitchhikers when we were leaving because they could not make it the whole way across on foot. Parking on the causeway is generally reserved for overnighters during high tide – meaning if you drive over and then the tide comes in, you will need to leave. And it’s all about the tide. Well not all, but a big part. I recommend staying overnight on the mount if you can. The view across the mount is beautiful, but IMO its worth staying on the mount for one night for the experience. He re is the official website so you can check for high tides times.
http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/accueil_gb.htm

Those must have been very weary and foot-sore travellers.

Very confused by this string. What portions of the Mont are open to private vehicle traffic, and during what hours, once one is on it? We are going with older relatives, some with mild mobility problems. If one is staying on the Mont overnight, where does one park? Is parking difficult for folks who stay overnight? How much of a walk from a parking spot to a hotel on the Mont? Or do any of the hotels on the Mont have parking?

Also, are there any hotels off the Mont but with a view of it that are non-chain hotels with charm and a fairly high level of comfort?

Thanks for any advice.

There are several parking lots at the Mont end of the causeway. The nearest one is reserved for overnight parking. The attendants know all about the tide and direct you to safe areas. The other lots range from pretty close to a bit of a way. You cannot drive onto the Mont itself. It might be possible to drive up and drop off someone who has difficulty walking. People with mobility issues face a long steep climb to the abbey. I don't know if there is any service to help them.

The hotels at the other end of the causeway are clumped together like hotels at an interstate interchange in the US. A similar ambience prevails.

On the other hand, hotels on the Mont itself range from OK but overpriced to shabby but overpriced. The food is mediocre to bad -- and overpriced. That said, it is worth staying overnight on the Mont for the convenient access, an after dinner stroll (climb), and to enjoy the atmosphere after <i>most</i> of the crowds have gone.

The abbey itself is magnificent.

I spent a full day on the mont and then spent the night at a hotel at the end of the causeway. From my room I had a veiw of the Abby. This is of course a much better view than being on the mont. The mont is very different in the evening after all the daytrippers have gone. You can see the tide rush back in making the mont an island and at night with the lights the mont is very beautiful. There are hotels within walking distance of the mont on the mainland side of the causeway.

Larry J

I'm with Larry..I. would much rather look AT the Mont at night than be on the Mont and looking over at the mainland but some may feel differently.

Hi - I stayed at Hotel de la Digue. It is the last hotel before the causeway. We had a room with a little balcony that gave us a view of MSM. We walked over to go inside. I agree with some of the others, it was so cool to see MSM. When you are on it, you can't see it. We got to the hotel around 4, checked in and walked to MSM. We wandered around, had dinner and then got up early the next morning so we would hopefully miss some of the crowds.

Being there in the evening was wonderful - no crowds. Seeing it lit up at night from a distance was magical. The place is packed with people during the day. Have fun, it is truly something not to miss.

http://www.ladigue.fr/anglais/index.htm

So would it be correct to say that the lodging choices are mediocre and overpriced on the Mont, with a walk from the overrnight parking lot to the hotel, the plus being enjoyment of the Mont on foot after tour buses leave, while lodding across from the Mont iswithout much charctater, with the appeal of that choice the view? If one opts for the later, what are the dining options if the walk across the causeway for dinner is too daunting?

It's about 1.5 miles from the junction of D257 to the entrance of the mount. Your hotel may be further south, or not. I guess it depends on weather and how tired one's legs are if it's feasible to walk or not.

Thanks. In this case it's a knee problem of one person in the group of six, so given that distance, I'm pretty sure the answer is no causeway walk.

Dave, I think you have it about right. I can't comment on qualityof the mainland restaurants. If I was to return to MSM -- which I hope to do to take the in-depth tour -- I'd bring a picnic for dinner. Simple bread, cheese, sausage and/or pate and wine.

Is there public transportation from the Causeway to the mont? (meaning from the hotels at one end of the causeway and the Mont)

My husband had knee replacement and I want to secure arrangements for him.

Speaking as a knee-problem expert, I can say that just walking from the causeway parking lots up through the walls and the village and up the abbey stairs is absolutely daunting and painful. Someone with bad knees will find going up the many, many stairs to and within the abbey quite difficult; last time I stayed in a caf&eacute; with a book while by two friends made the climbs (I'd seen the abbey before the knee went bad). The Mont is just not designed for anyone with walking difficulty.

There are any number of places to eat in and around the hotels on the land end of the causeway.

If you want to see the Mont at night, you can always drive over after the tour buses leave.

There is a handicapped parking lot close to the entrance, but I think it is one of the lots that are affected by the tides so you'd have to check to see if it will be available. I don't think there were busses that drive across the causeway, but I'm including a website that should give you more information.

I second Underhill. It is not really handicap accessible on MSM. You go up steps to the entrance and then up the road to the top. Once inside, you walk down steps through the various rooms and then out.

You may want to contact the hotel to ask if they offer shuttles. I didn't see any but I was there about 4 years ago and things may have changed.


http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/accueil_gb.htm

Thanks to all. I will pass these remarks on to our friends/relatives/travel companions.

Yes, there is a bus that goes out to the mont. I rode if from the train station at Pontorson to the mont.

Larry J

Mont St. Michel is lovely - I really recommend it, we stayed there for the second time in September. But it is not for someone who can't walk well, definitely. I have photos at neesie.org, you can see all the steps, the hills, etc. We actually stayed on the Mont, and I think it's really worth doing. However, there are also hotels within a very short drive - I mean, like a few minutes down the road. I know there is a Bed and Breakfast nearby that was highly rated, and there are actually a lot of B&amp;B's that are on the way in.

If you are staying on the Mont, you can have your own car there. After hours, it will be a little bit of a walk from where you are parked to the Mont. It is BEAUTIFUL at night! My favorite thing in 2005 was going in May, it didn't get dark until 11pm or so! In September, it got dark much quicker. But this time we didn't miss the tide. :)

Sorry people-but staying on the mont after the others have left and walking the ramparts with the wind and salt air is magical!!!!

cls2paris. Thanks for the hotel link. The view looks lovely. Is this the closest hotel to the causeway? Is there day parking on the mont end of the causeway, so one doesn't have to walk the first 2 miles? I think I'd be tired before I ever started the climb.

The hotel is the last one before the causeway. The public parking is closer to MSM than the hotel but it is still a walk to it from the lot.

We walked there in the late afternoon, it didn't seem like 2 miles but maybe it was. We stayed on MSM until after sunset and enjoyed the magic that dutyfree mentions. But we also got to sit on our hotel balcony and look it all lit up - and that was magical also (or maybe it was the wine we were drinking). In the morning, we drove and parked in the lot.

Have fun! I really enjoyed visiting this wonderful place.

We are also planning a visit to the Mont in May. We will be arriving in the afternoon between 3 and 4 p.m. I would imagine. If we stay in a B&amp;B outside the Mont will we have enough time to visit the Mont after taking time to ck in? We will have a car and have no difficulty walking. Assuming we can get there no later than 5p.m. is there time to park somewhere and walk in? At what time do we need to leave the Mont? We will be there in the morning as well for a few hours before heading to Paris. I did visit the website for the Mont but am still a bit confused.

Hi normal - you can go to MSM after 5. We did that and wandered around looking at the views, had a nice dinner, did some shopping and walked back to the hotel. I'm not sure when the last tour of the inside is but I seem to recall a nighttime tour but probably not inside. Get there early the next morning for your tour of the building.

You can find opening times, tides, etc on MSM's official site:

www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/accueil_gb.htm

Last admission to the abbey in May is 6pm, and you have an hour to complete the abbey tour.

The restaurants down on the main street will still be open, but not sure about the shops. When I went in September, the shops basically started to close about 30-45 minutes after the abbey did.

we are staying on the mont in Sept. and I am wondering if it will be safe to leave our large suitcase in the trunk of our rental car and just take a smaller one (for the steps..etc). Has anyone done this? I worry that someone might break in to the trunk...but to lug that monster suitcase is hurtful to think of.

Pooga: obvioiusly this would be at your own risk, but we left most of our luggage locked in our trunk which was in the parking lot closest to the entryway (reserved for hotel guests).

To make it less obvious we were leaving items in the car, we stopped at a rest stop well in advance of MSM and we took the time to place our overnight suitcase, computer and camera in the back seat. This way we didn't have to expose the trunk upon arriving at the Mont.

My vote is for staying on the Mont--it was so romantic out on the ramparts at night and great fun watching from our hotel window the next morning how they clean, and restock supplies via electric vehicles/carts.