Treasure Island: Mont Saint-Michel
Hazel Roberts recounts a holiday in paradise.
It took a long ride on horse and carriage to reach the Island of Mont Saint-Michel. It was so pristine and peaceful, surrounded by the sand at low tide. I knew it was famous for its stunning gothic Abbey church built in the tenth century, which was the inspiration for Rapunzel’s home in the Disney film Tangled. I had never imagined how beautiful it would be. The carriage arrived at the bustle of a quite cramped, small island. The grand Abbey looked like something from a fairy tale: the turrets were shrouded in low, fluffy clouds as it dominated the skyline. It was louder than I had expected with tourists babbling excitedly to each other. We had been waiting for this trip for the whole holiday and couldn’t wait to go inside. Our first stop was the Benedictine Abbey all the way at the top of the island. The steps were steep and led us up past the paved rooftops of gift shops and holiday homes decorated with bright colours |
The activity around us was overwhelming. The path continued beside beautifully decorated windows with glass chimes tuning in the breeze and the bustle of the crowds. The walk was tiring; however, I was too eager to get to the Abbey. It was famed for the intricacy of its features. I had never been inside a gothic Abbey before. I didn’t quite know what to expect.
Beautiful paintings and arches with crystal windows decorated the first room. My eyes were captivated by the detailed features, the intricate carvings stealing the attention of everyone in the room. The windows cast beams of light all along the patterned floor, and the sun shone through and made the whole room light. The ceiling was incredibly high, decorated with engravings. As the tour continued, we entered a beautiful corridor encapsulated by large pillars separating the pathway from an impeccably maintained courtyard with beautiful luscious grass and perfectly pruned hedges. As we walked around going into smaller rooms, I thought about the people who would have worshipped at this Abbey, dedicating months to their pilgrimage.
The Abbey felt magical, like something out of Harry Potter; the high ceilings and pillars that created arches made it feel incredibly surreal. The beauty of the Abbey wasn’t surprising but still stunning; it managed to take my breath away. We stayed there for a while, as the audio tour reiterated the long history of the island. It was built in the eighth century by a bishop. He believed an archangel had visited him and that certainly made sense. The entire Abbey and gothic church mirrored God and holiness in every room. The Abbey was built in 966 as a place for pilgrims to worship after their journey.
The island is tidal - it becomes cut off during high tides as the sandbanks surrounding it disappear, making the island a truly isolated place of serenity and magnificence, apparently symbolising being alone with God and cut off from everywhere else. The gothic church made the island look strikingly elegant and perfectly portrayed a place of worship and wonder.
The island seemed slightly less busy in the afternoon; it was serene and peaceful despite the bustle of tourists. There were shops filled with souvenirs and ornaments that didn't quite capture the pure grace of the island. The streets alongside were small and paved, with intervals of steps when it got too steep. The tourists in front of us babbled as we toured the walls around the island. It was so picturesque, the flat sandbanks reflecting the radiant sun and the bright blue sky. Seagulls and pigeons circled the restaurants as the smell of freshly cooked food emerged from the doors and windows. The walkways felt like they wound on forever, hanging baskets decorating the walls with delicate flowers and hanging signs advertising every business.
We decided to stay for the evening and have dinner in one of the quaint little restaurants. A lot of the crowds had cleared to go home, and the restaurants had lowered their meal prices after peak visiting times. We found a small eatery serving French and Italian cuisine and decided to dine outside. The evening was warm, a significant difference from the blazing sun and scorching heat during the day. Everything felt so peaceful, so right.
As we left, I made a promise to myself: I will go back.
Hazel Roberts, Y12
Beautiful paintings and arches with crystal windows decorated the first room. My eyes were captivated by the detailed features, the intricate carvings stealing the attention of everyone in the room. The windows cast beams of light all along the patterned floor, and the sun shone through and made the whole room light. The ceiling was incredibly high, decorated with engravings. As the tour continued, we entered a beautiful corridor encapsulated by large pillars separating the pathway from an impeccably maintained courtyard with beautiful luscious grass and perfectly pruned hedges. As we walked around going into smaller rooms, I thought about the people who would have worshipped at this Abbey, dedicating months to their pilgrimage.
The Abbey felt magical, like something out of Harry Potter; the high ceilings and pillars that created arches made it feel incredibly surreal. The beauty of the Abbey wasn’t surprising but still stunning; it managed to take my breath away. We stayed there for a while, as the audio tour reiterated the long history of the island. It was built in the eighth century by a bishop. He believed an archangel had visited him and that certainly made sense. The entire Abbey and gothic church mirrored God and holiness in every room. The Abbey was built in 966 as a place for pilgrims to worship after their journey.
The island is tidal - it becomes cut off during high tides as the sandbanks surrounding it disappear, making the island a truly isolated place of serenity and magnificence, apparently symbolising being alone with God and cut off from everywhere else. The gothic church made the island look strikingly elegant and perfectly portrayed a place of worship and wonder.
The island seemed slightly less busy in the afternoon; it was serene and peaceful despite the bustle of tourists. There were shops filled with souvenirs and ornaments that didn't quite capture the pure grace of the island. The streets alongside were small and paved, with intervals of steps when it got too steep. The tourists in front of us babbled as we toured the walls around the island. It was so picturesque, the flat sandbanks reflecting the radiant sun and the bright blue sky. Seagulls and pigeons circled the restaurants as the smell of freshly cooked food emerged from the doors and windows. The walkways felt like they wound on forever, hanging baskets decorating the walls with delicate flowers and hanging signs advertising every business.
We decided to stay for the evening and have dinner in one of the quaint little restaurants. A lot of the crowds had cleared to go home, and the restaurants had lowered their meal prices after peak visiting times. We found a small eatery serving French and Italian cuisine and decided to dine outside. The evening was warm, a significant difference from the blazing sun and scorching heat during the day. Everything felt so peaceful, so right.
As we left, I made a promise to myself: I will go back.
Hazel Roberts, Y12