Mont-Saint-Michel
French commune in the Manche department / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Le Mont-Saint-Michel (pronounced [mɔ̃ sɛ̃ mi.ʃɛl]; English: Saint Michael's Mount) is an island and commune in Normandy, France. It is in the Manche department. It is located about one kilometre (0.6 miles) from the country's northwestern coast. It is at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. It is 247 acres (100 ha) in size and it has a population of 44 (2009).[1] People that live there are called the Montois.
Le Mont-Saint-Michel | |
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Coordinates: 48°38′10″N 1°30′41″W | |
Country | France |
Region | Normandy |
Department | Manche |
Arrondissement | Avranches |
Canton | Pontorson |
Intercommunality | Communauté de communes de Pontorson - Le Mont-Saint-Michel |
Government | |
• Mayor (2008–2014) | Éric Vannier |
Area 1 | 0.97 km2 (0.37 sq mi) |
Population (2008) | 42 |
• Density | 43/km2 (110/sq mi) |
Demonym | Montois |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 50353 /50116 |
Elevation | 5–80 m (16–262 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
The island has had strategic fortifications since ancient times. The name Mont-Saint-Michel comes from the monastery built there in the eighth century AD. The way in which the town is built is an example of how feudal society worked. At the top there is God, the abbey and monastery. Below this, there are the great halls, then stores and houses. At the bottom, outside the walls, there are the houses of fishermen and farmers.
Mont-Saint-Michel is one of France's most famous landmarks. The island and its bay are part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.[2] Every year, more than 3 million people visit it.[3]