Mont Saint-Michel Castle, France

adrianmada321 (52)in #history • 8 years ago (edited)

Le Mont-Saint-Michel, rocky, cone-shaped islet in northwestern France, in the Gulf of Saint-Malo, connected by a causeway with the mainland. The islet, celebrated for its Benedictine abbey, has small houses and shops on its lowest level. Above these stand the monastic buildings, many of which date from the 13th century and are considered outstanding examples of Gothic architecture. The entire islet is crowned by the abbey church, about 73 m (about 240 ft) above sea level

The first chapel on this site was founded in 708 by Aubert, Bishop of Avranches , after the Archangel Michael has appeared to him in a dream. The Archangel Michel appeared here in the year 708. The Abbey takes the name of Mont saint Michel. The oratory, consecrated in 709 was served by a community of canons. It apparently survived the Norman invasions, but the observance of the rule became very relaxed. In 966 Richard I, Duke of Normandy, established there the Benedictine monks from St. Wandrille Abbeyunder the direction of Abbot Maynard, who began the reconstructions of the church and other buildings. The church was burnt in 922 and rebuilt on a larger scale by Abbot Hildebert II from 1023, at the time of the monastic reforms in Normandy carried out by Richard II and William of Volpiano.

During the Hundred years War the fortifications of Mont St. Michel were reinforced (1420) and the Romanesque choir collapsed Construction of the present clever began in 1448. In 1622 the abbey became part of the Congregation of St. Maur; three western nave bays and the facade were destroyed and replaced with large terrace. The abbey was dissolved at the Revolution (1789-95), and it was used as a prison in the 19th. century. It was severely burnt in 1856, but thorough restorations were not undertaken until 1874.
The buildings of Mont St. Michel are constructed of granite, but there is some limestone in the cloister.
The village that grew up and around the abbey lies huddled within the fortifications and includes a Romanesque parish church, remolded in the 15 century. The fortifications include crenellated ramparts, towers and a 14th century barbican, which reinforce the abbey's own defenses. The tower Claudine protects the monastery entrance.