Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay
Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between Normandy and Brittany stand the 'Wonder of the West', a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural site.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/80
Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay is characterized by the rocky tidal island that holds a 11th century Benedictine abbey and a fortified medieval village. The complex was built at a unique natural location, resulting in an unforgettable silhouette.
The tides in the Bay can vary greatly, at roughly 14 metres (46 ft) between high and low water marks. The coastal flats have been polderised to create pastureland.
The monastery was an important place in medieval Christianity. It was dedicated to the archangel St Michael. The first monastic establishment here dates from the 8th century.
The mount is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, which commemorates the 1066 Norman conquest of England. Norman ducal patronage financed the spectacular architecture of the abbey in subsequent centuries.
The core zone also includes the Old Windmill of Moidrey, which is located on the top of a hill adjacent to the Bay. The Mill was built in 1806 to produce flour.
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/montsaintmichel.html
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