From Rennes: Mont Saint Michel Private Day Trip
Discover the history of Mont Saint-Michel on a day trip from Rennes. Explore the medieval town and abbey with a guide, and learn about the site's significance as a pilgrimage center. Enjoy a crepe tasting and lunch at a local restaurant (food fees not included). Depart from Rennes and travel to Mont Saint-Michel in a private car. Upon arrival, meet your guide and begin your tour of the medieval town and abbey. Learn about the site's significance as a pilgrimage center and its religious and cultural importance. Visit the abbey, which was originally called Mont Tombe before Charlemagne chose Saint Michael as the protector of his empire in the 9th century. Hear how the history of Mont-Saint-Michel began in 708, after the archangel Michael appeared to Bishop Aubert the Bishop of Avranches three times in a dream and asked him to build a sanctuary in his name. See the town that began to develop below the abbey to accommodate the first pilgrims. Learn how Mont Saint-Michel has served as a significant pilgrimage center throughout history, embodying both religious and cultural importance. Discover how it initially functioned as a local religious site before evolving into a prominent pilgrimage destination dedicated to Saint Michael during the Middle Ages. Interest surged in the 11th and 12th centuries, with many pilgrims undertaking long journeys for spiritual renewal. Hear how the site's significance grew alongside major religious movements, including the Crusades, as it became a symbol of spiritual journeys and purification. In the Renaissance, Mont Saint-Michel attracted not only pilgrims but also artists and thinkers, enhancing its cultural reputation through festivals and celebrations. Today, it remains a vibrant pilgrimage site, drawing visitors seeking spiritual experiences and a connection to history. Mont Saint-Michel thus stands as a lasting symbol of pilgrimage, religious faith, social bonds, and cultural heritage. Mont Saint-Michel and its bay were inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1979. After the tour, enjoy a crepe tasting and lunch at a local restaurant. Then, take a walk along the fortifications and enjoy a 360-degree view of the islet. See the various landscapes of the Normandy coast and the dark silhouette of the islet of Tombelaine.