As you travel across the far reaches of the Normandy countryside, where France meets the English Channel, the island that punctuates the skyline is one of the most instantly recognisable silhouettes in all of France. The medieval abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is perched precariously atop a rocky island, surrounded by the tidal bay, and has a history back to the 8th century. As you soak up the beauty before your eyes, you continually wonder if you walked onto a film set or into a time vortex; it is so picture perfect that it is hard to believe it is real.

Rising high from the rocky islet amidst vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides stands the Gothic Benedictine abbey which is surrounded by a medieval village. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, it is an architectural masterpiece, a historical and still a living, breathing testament to French history and culture, and it is without a doubt, breathtaking. After visiting the island countless times, I am still amazed and impressed with the sight and wanted to share with you a few fun facts you might not know about Mont-Saint-Michel.