Mont-Saint-Michel (1)#

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The fortified island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel Mont Saint-Michel, Le Mont-Saint-Michel, Frankreich off the coast of Normandy. At one time the site was disconnected from the coast at high tide, but silting has since connected the island to the mainland. Today, an operation is underway to desilt the area around the island.

It was not until the 8th century that the first monastic establishment appeared on the island. Before that it was a stronghold of Romano-Breton culture and power. In the Hundred Years War, the French successfully prevented the English from capturing the island. During the Reformation, the popularity of the Mont declined, and during the French Revolution it became a prison which finally closed in 1863.

In 1874, Mont-Saint-Michel was declared a historic monument; in 1979, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.