A medieval abbey rising from the tidal flats
Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France's most recognisable sights: a rocky island off the Normandy coast, stacked with a single steep village street and topped by a Benedictine abbey whose spire seems to float over the bay. The tides here are among the strongest in Europe, racing across the sands and sometimes surrounding the mount entirely. Day-trippers crowd the Grande Rue at midday, so stay nearby and visit early or late, and consider a guided walk across the bay at low tide.