FR-571446 Mont Saint-Michel in France

Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The island is 100 hectares (247 acres) in size and has a population in 2009 of 44 people.

The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century it has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, fishermen's and farmers' housing.

Mont Saint-Michel’s unique position of being an island only 600 metres from land made it readily accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey. Equally, this position made it readily defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned, would-be assailants. By capitalizing on this natural defence the Mont remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War with a small garrison successfully defending it against a full attack by the English in 1433. The reverse benefits of its natural defence were not lost on Louis XI who turned the Mont into a prison. Thereafter the abbey began to be used more regularly as a jail during the Ancien Régime.

Mont Saint-Michel is one of France's most recognizable landmarks. Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and more than 3 million people visit it each year.       Source: Wikipedia

This postcard came from Brigitte (22 September 2015) Postcrossing.