The Abbey on Mont Saint Michel (50 Manche, Normandie) at the bottom of the Cherbourg peninsula west of Avranches is an impressive sight sitting offshore in St Michel's Bay connected to the mainland by a causeway. (There is a twin St Michael's Mount near Penzance in Cornwall)
29-31 March 2006 sees some exceptional high tides on this part of the Normandy coast - morning and evening. This means that the on rush of the tide is quite spectacular and it's a good time not to get stuck on the causeway from the mainland. However, low tide can be equally impressive - receding several tens of kilometres offshore - the sea then gives way to over 60,000 acres of sand, rivers and mudflats - a magnet for all kinds of birds. It's a good time to go, as in the summer there are hoardes of tourists to what is a major historical, cultural and spiritual attraction.
There is an excellent website about the Mont St Michel and the bay at www.baie-mont-saint-michel.fr/ which is avaiable in English - there are some stunning photos.
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