Thursday, November 29, 2012

Mont St. Michel Revisited

I'd visited Mont St. Michel on my way back from a conference a couple of years ago. This time a conference included a guided tour as part of the social activities...



There is a major project underway. Mont St. Michel used to be surrounded by water when the tides came in, but several decades ago, they built a permanent road out to it. The road caused sediment accumulate more quickly and the tides no longer come in as far. Now they are digging out the road and a bunch of the sediment and building a bridge that will allow the water to flow once again...

Part of the village on the way up the stairs...

Views from the top...




Many of the stones had symbols carved in them. We were told to that this is how the contractors got paid...





Our tour was a little rushed. As we moved from room to room a member of the staff came along behind us locking the doors. We had to leave so that the nuns and monks could begin their evening services...

The tidal flats are massive, but the scale is hard to grasp until you notice little dots moving around and realize they are people...




This wheel is attached to chains and a sleigh that was used to bring supplies up the very steep hill. What I didn't know from my first visit is that during the time that it was used as a prison, prisoners walked in this wheel like hamsters...




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