Bonjour
My husband and I are going to Paris in August and have been reading about Mont Saint Michael and we would love to go. Could that be a day trip outside Paris? We originally thought it was to far but realizing now what a worth while destination it would be as we both love history. Would we be allowed to listen to the religious office sung by the monks in the Abbey? Merci Beaucoup
Posted by
Chicago
8166 posts
There are tours from Paris. But It will take more or less 4 hours to get there from Paris and the same amount of time coming back so maybe stay the night so you can possibly attend mass
Posted by
Chicago
8554 posts
It is worth doing once in a lifetime and I would plan to stay over one night.
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/mont-st-michel-is-that-a-real-place/
We did it in late October and there were few people there. In August it will be hot and there will be a solid wall of people moving up the hill. If only to have a moment of peace and be able to experience the beauty of the place, it would be good to be there at night after the tour buses have gone.
Posted by
San Francisco/Marin County
9436 posts
I agree with janet to spend a night on Mont St. Michel (not Michael)... you'll enjoy it much more than just a daytime visit. Mont St. Michel is magical in the morning, evening and night without the daytime hordes.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, US
1005 posts
Please don't do this as a day trip from Paris. It's a four-hour bus ride one-way, and you'll arrive with all the other tourist buses. The island will be overcrowded and miserable--especially in August.
Here's what I'd do. Take the high-speed TGV from Paris Montparnasse to Rennes, and then the bus directly to Mont-St-Michel. This route is run by the French train company SNCF, so you just buy one ticket and it covers both the train and the bus. I'd take an afternoon train so that I got to the island about 5 p.m., when the tourist buses are leaving. Stay on the island overnight (hotels may be pricey, but it's worth it). You'll hear the monks chanting at night--and may even be able to attend a service. In the morning, get on the SNCF bus at 9 a.m. that takes you back to Rennes, where you get a TGV to Paris.
Check Rick's France book for more details. Bon voyage!
Posted by
Birmingham AL
346 posts
Yes, you can sit in on the services. We happened along at the right time and go to sit in the back to listen. Absolutely beautiful. They have a few rows of simple benches where you can sit.
Posted by
Chicago
8554 posts
I'd go up as suggested and spend the night and then take the morning to tour the abbey which will be closed probably by the time you get there in the evening before.