Are you planning to visit Mont-Saint-Michel, one of France’s most visited historic monuments? Here’s where to stay near Mont-Saint-Michel!
The second most visited monument in France after the Eiffel Tower, Mont-Saint-Michel – a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979 – is a rocky islet that is home to the famous abbey dedicated to Saint Michael, built in the year 708. Mont-Saint-Michel, located in the Manche département on the border between Brittany and Cotentin in Normandy, is a major pilgrimage site and tourist destination. The Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is home to a wealth of flora and fauna, as well as the highest tides in continental Europe (up to 15 metres). As a result, the bay is almost completely uncovered at low tide, and the mountain becomes an island again at high tide.
An emblematic monument of France’s historical heritage, the site has also been a subject of tradition and creation in all the arts (literature, cinema, photography, painting, sculpture, engraving, music) since the Middle Ages. With just 37 permanent inhabitants but over 2 million visitors a year, where can you stay near Mont-Saint-Michel? Here’s our mini-guide to accommodation in the surrounding communes.
Mont-Saint-Michel
Mont-Saint-Michel is the gateway to the historic medieval monument, but also refers to the monument’s namesake commune, where the famous abbey is located. Staying at Mont-Saint-Michel is useful if you want to reach the islet on foot, visit the mountain, its architecture, its viewpoints and its heritage in complete tranquillity – including Mère Poulard ‘s crêpes and cookies – or cross the Mont-Saint-Michel shores with a tourist guide (and see the Tombelaine rock). You won’t find many hotels to stay at in Mont-Saint-Michel, so make sure you book well in advance, especially during the summer months.
Find a hotel in Mont-Saint-Michel
Find an Airbnb accomodation in Mont-Saint-Michel
Pontorson
Photo credit: Flickr – Paul Gagnon
Pontorson is a commune in the Manche department, located 9 kilometers south of the monument, on the border with Île-et-Vilaine (Brittany) and crossed by the Couesnon (the famous river that fueled rivalries between Normandy and Brittany over the ownership of Mont-Saint-Michel). With a population of 4,350, it’s easy to rent a place to stay near Mont-Saint-Michel. The town center, between the town hall and the SNCF train station, features several bars and restaurants, shops and hotels where you can stay in Pontorson. Staying in Pontorson will also give you the chance to take some great photos of Mont-Saint-Michel!
Find a hotel in Pontorson
Find an Airbnb accomodation in Pontorson
Avranches
Photo credit: Flickr – Beth
Located 22 kilometers to the east of the Mont-Saint-Michel, Avranches is a town of 10,068 inhabitants, and could be your refuge if the hotels on Mont-Saint-Michel are fully booked. Tucked away at the end of the Normandy-Breton Gulf, the town is home to a few bars, restaurants, museums and a few hotels. The town center is pleasant to stroll around, but social life is rather quiet. Nearby is the commune of Val-Saint-Père, with its superb views over the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Find a hotel in Avranches
Find an Airbnb accomodation in Avranches
Granville
Photo credit: Flickr – Sylvie Mitteaux-Martin
A renowned seaside and climatic resort on the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, Granville is as much a tourist town as it is a pleasant one to live in. As a native of La Manche, it’s one of my favorites in the département, close to both Mont-Saint-Michel and the beaches (Jullouville, Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, Donville-les-Bains, Coudeville-sur-Mer, Lingreville and the Passous beach at Agon-Coutainville). Granville has a real urban feel, with all the amenities, bars and restaurants to go out in, and numerous cultural facilities. If you can drive a little (we’re an hour’s drive from Mont-Saint-Michel), booking accommodation in Granville is an excellent choice.
Find a hotel in Granville
Find an Airbnb accomodation in Granville
Cancale
Photo credit: Flickr – — FedericoLukkini —
You can also choose to stay close to Mont-Saint-Michel on its Breton flanks: in Cancale (35), a small town with a population of 5,144, renowned for its oyster park and its location on the Emerald Coast. Staying in Cancale means you can explore the sublime bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and the city of Saint-Malo.
Find a hotel in Cancale
Find an Airbnb accomodation in Cancale