French Castles

Mont-Saint-Michel - Normandy

One of the most picturesque castles in France, and perhaps all of Europe, this stronghold is a city unto itself, built in the Saint-Michel bay. Tides would bring in a daily barrier of water between the castle and the mainland. In 966 the Duke of Normandy founded a Benedictine abbey here.

This site was changed throughout the following centuries to include a Carolingian church, one of Romanesque style and finally with the massive Gothic complex that exists today. This medieval fortress survived many sieges and has been restored after fires swept through the complex on several occasions.