Monastery of Mont Saint Michel - details and images

Monastery of Mont Saint Michel rises to a height of 165 meters in the heart of a huge bay, a granite rock that measures one kilometer from end to end. Monastery and the castle also unique in form, it is in the Gulf of Saint Malo (northwestern France) in the English Channel, the boundary between Brittany and Normandy.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, in 708, bishop of Avranches Aubert, following an appearance of the archangel Michael, received orders to build an edifice on Mount Tomb, so called because it was once used by others as a cemetery. Almost 300 years later, in 966, Norman Duke Richard I send thirty Benedictine monks to start building a new church in Romanesque style.

Construction difficulties were great, so, after local war between Duke of Normandy and King of France (in 1204, Normandy is attached to the kingdom of France), some place of worship collapsed. Resumption and continuation of construction work is initiated by slaughterhouse Jourdain. They will end after 25 years with zeal and Raoul de Villedieu abbot trouble.

The monastery receives the "marvel" (La Merveille). In the thirteenth century it witnessed a period of great prosperity, which is why the monastic complex is extended considerably. It comprises two sections massive rises in three levels. On the lower eastern slopes are so-called Aumonerie where monks offered shelter poor pilgrims, they rise above the guest room and in the top room of the monks tables, brightly lit place with a series of large windows in ogive shape.

The monastery plays a role in importing French history, the only place that was not conquered by English armies during the War of 100 years (1346-1453). This period marks the beginning of the decline of the building yet. During Napoleon Bonaparte, Mount Saint Michel is transformed into a permanent prison since 1811, following that, later, during the Restoration, he became the strength and Correction House. In 1863, Napoleon III declared close the prison rock as a natural monument.

On August 6, 1897 will be installed in 32 meters arrowhead church convent and a distance of 160 meters above sea level, stautia copper Holy Archangel Michael, will benefit in 1987 of multiple repairs . Starting June 24, 2001 at the request of Jacques Fihey, bishop of Coutances and Avraches, monastic fraternities in Jerusalem, two communities of monks and nuns, provide the service again and received permanent divine pilgrims. Thus, the Mont Saint Michel monastery was reopened, even if it remains state property and is managed by the National Centre of historical monuments in France.

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