Le Mont Saint-Michel LIVE walking tour NO CROWDS Normandy tourism | France travel
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2020
- This is walking tour of Le Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. It originally live streamed as a Facebook Live broadcast on my page on June 13, 2020. Le Mont Saint-Michel is the most popular tourist attraction in France after Paris and has some of the biggest tides in Europe with water levels fluctuating up to 46 feet. Because of the France travel restrictions currently in place, my video shows this must-see tourist stop in a rare state -- without crowds!
If you'd like to treat me to a virtual coffee, you can leave a tip for the tour guide here. Merci!: ko-fi.com/ouiinfrance
Hotel we stayed at was the Ibis Pontorson Mont St-Michel: bit.ly/2UWTtJV
This is another walk I did just as the sun was setting. I held the static shot and talked to my viewers live as it was going from dusk to dark: • Mont Saint-Michel LIVE...
Music I use for my videos: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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Salut! I'm Diane, the American behind the living abroad lifestyle blog Oui In France. My channel's focus is "Everyday French life and beyond," so let me know what you want to see! I make videos on French culture topics, food, travel, language, and give you my thoughts about what it's like as a foreigner in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!
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Actually I would recommend to stay the night in the Mont st Michel in july and august! I did it with my family, we arrived towards 4pm and left the next day towards 11am and it was wonderful : we arrived when the tourists were leaving and left when they arrived so it was less crowded. On the evening there is no tourist left so you have the place for yourself and you can visit the abbay at night (it's a different tour than during the day and it's beautiful). As you said, there is a lot of walking so we just took what we needed for the night in a bag (the rest was in the car). I plan to come back and to do the same. :)
This place is very expensive? How much does it cost for one night, and one meal averagely in USD ?
@@43SunSon I can't tell you precisely because it was more than 10 years ago and my father paid, not me but yes overall it's more expensive than taking an hotel in a other city nearby. The hotels have also very old building (make sense) so the rooms are really small. But thanks to that, you have the medieval village almost for yourself in the morning :p
Hodge Hill Girls School. BIRMINGHAM. UK. “Mont San Michel”.
I once visited this beautiful place, having never heard of it. I found myself at this incredible location due to a series of events that took place during the month of June, 1983.
A friend and I had recently celebrated our 18th birthdays, and we booked a camping holiday near to the French, Brittany town of Cancale.
The day of departure from BIRMINGHAM coach station, saw us aboard a double decker coach. We sat aloft. On the journey out of the city, a housing estate captured my interest. The estate lay to the right of the motorway, I saw a working man´s club, petrol station, small shopping precinct and a large secondary school perched on the hill overlooking the estate. I also noticed particular homes and their neat front gardens.
We arrived at the camp site, located on the outskirts of Cancale. We soon discover that there was a group of school girls on an end of term cultural trip, also at the camp site. They told us they were from Hodge Hill Girls School, Hodge Hill, BIRMINGHAM. They had arrived in two mini vans, so I guess there may have been approximately 20 in their party.
The girls were aged 15 and 16. Instincts kicked in, and so did the only game in town.
My friend and I somehow got invited by the teachers, to accompany them all on a day trip. We must have appeared to be reasonably safe and respectable. We travelled at the very rear of one of the decrepit mini buses in a couple of spare seats. We had no idea at this point where we were heading. We supplied the teachers with Tape Cassettes, and were soon travelling through French country side listening music of the band of the day “Japan”.
We eventually arrived at Mont San Michel, and we began our pilgrimage against gravity. We slowly meandered up through the cobbled streets, taking in nearly all of the gift shops, until we eventually arrived at the summit, in the company of our new friends. Lunch time came around, and we all ate in the grounds immediate to the Abbey. The views was spectacular. The company was very lovely and 1983 school girl esc.
I can still visualize where we sat to eat, and with whom we sat. I sensed that something very synchronistic was taking place.
The holiday ended, and my friend and I returned home. Part two of this story commenced after receiving a phone call, from one of those delightful young ladies. I would later learn that the housing estate that had caught my attention was home to most of the girls and the secondary school on the hill was their school.
Gorgeous. Here is where Peter Jackson got the visual inspiration for Minas Tirith. I can almost hear Gandalf shouting:"Fight! Fight to the last man!"
I loved his place but I saw it when I was 14 in 1964 - I never forgot it
It was pretty quiet in those days
I am now 71 ... but I think I want to return again ....
I love traveling during covid ...
Geez, people who live there must be in good shape! Thanks for posting. Beautiful!
Diane! Thank you for all your time & all you share! I love that I feel like I'm walking beside you & you're sharing all you know. You're the best 'non-tour-guide' I've heard! I just had 1 hip replaced in April & the 2nd on Monday, so virtually walking with you is all I can do for at least a year. So thank you so much. If I wanted a silent film I'd just turn off the sound, but I prefer it as you do. Still, I s'pose if enough folks wanted it you could film the walk through with just the street sounds & nature sounds & upload. Then if you had no life, LOL, you could upload the same film but with your commentary. You're doing us such a grand favor & this channel isn't your money-maker, so I know you really don't have the time to reserve for all that. Hi Tom & woofs to Dagny! Blessings & thank you for such a lovely day. Peace ! Q Durham, North Carolina!
You're SO welcome, Q, and sorry to hear about the hip replacements. That's not an easy recovering so sending you healing thoughts and a gentle hug from afar. So happy you enjoyed the video. ;-)
@@OuiInFrance Thanks, I was wondering why I felt so good this morning! Healing thoughts DO help! Miss hugs, so thanks for that, too. !st hip, which was in terrible shape went much better than this one, which is my stronger hip, so all I'm doing is sleeping, which doc says is fab. So naptime again. Although I always enjoy your vlogs, the lives have that wonderful, special feeling of being there that I love in addition to all the fun info you share, so thank you for you time! Blessings! Q
Brought back beautiful memories of driving through France from north to south and west to east twice with my Mother- stayed away from highways so we could get a good feel of the country. Thank you for this.
What a beautiful tour, to heck with the limited info, being able to see as much as you brought us was incredible! Thank you so much for the opportunity! What fun it would be to explore behind the nooks and into the crannies, behind the doors and the look back into history! Wonderful job!
Thank you SO much for this tour--it's relaxed, informatifve, and beautifully . Visited with family in 95/96. We at that famous restaurant. The omelette was a big -show--cooked in an open fireplace
Glad you enjoyed it!
Visited in 2016, oddly in exactly the same weather as depicted in your vid., drizzle, wind, turning into real rain over the course of a few hours. Enjoyed a famous wood cooked omelet @ Mere Poulard & quickly got off the (crowded) main drag & up via the small connected side routes. which you've artfully described. In fact, your video was almost exactly our trip as well... sans crowding! Loved it!
Thank you I enjoyed seeing everything again. I went to this beautiful place in 2017 and will return one day.
I was there in the year 2000 early spring. Diane 'CityRama' tours of Paris France is the company I went with. Worth mentioning. I walked the spiral granite streets and rested seated inside the Abby.
Hope you're able to come visit soon!
This wonderful tour may be the closest I ever get to visiting Mont St-Michel. It was a great experience! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very thoughtful of you to include everyone on this wonderful trip. What a rare situation to have an almost private tour! Merci😍
So wonderful I will enjoy over and over
Thank you for a nostalgia trip. I visited here on a high school French Club "field trip" in the spring of 1972. No bridge, so our time there was dictated by the tides. Utterly fascinating place.
So glad you enjoyed my walk!
Thank you for your valent effort of showing us this magnificent place in France, most appreciated. very medevil romantic looking...as you showed us the steps and landings all I could think of was Beauty and the Beast when Belle was singing my provencal life! Merci 🌹
Been here twice. Love this place. Sad to see it empty like that.
Wow. Great views and a fantastic walking tour, Diane. For those asking about mobility issues: there is a less-steep path up to the abbey. The turn/path to get there is near La Mere Poulard, up the hill a short way. It's necessary to ask a local, most tourists will never find it.
Excellent tip! Still a hike but an easier one. :-)
I visited Mont Saint Michel June 2016. It was crowded,lots of parents and kids( some brought pets). Since it was quite hot and humid I didn’t get up to the top.. so I appreciate your total effort especially. Fills in what I missed. Bought some lovely souvenirs there which delighted my sister and her friend. Merci beaucoups pour tout🌹🌷❤️💖🪅!
Thankyou so much for this. I did visit St Michel in 2014. We were with a tour and it was packed with people. Your tips are very good about footwear. We had not been told about what to expect regarding walking upwards all the way and the cobblestones. One lady in our tour missed the whole thing because she had problems with her legs and walked with a cane. She sat in the cafe near the entrance! I had blisters on my ankles from swollen legs on the long plane flight from Australia. I wore Mary Jane shoes but they rubbed against my blisters and they were deeply gashed and bleeding. On top of this, half way up, my 21 year old daughter got lost because of the crowds. I had to return back down to the entrance to find her. Two other people on our Tour looked for her too and found she had wandered ahead with a different tour group! She was very upset and wanted to return back down to me. So we both missed out on going up to the top. Never the less it is the most AMAZING place I have ever seen! I loved it. This video was fantastic. I could see the parts we went to and the parts we had missed. How lucky not to have the crowds. Thanks a million.
I've been to Mont St. Michel. There were so many tourists you had trouble climbing the steep road and could see little of the shops and restaurants.
Wow! I've only ever seen pictures of the mount, always wondered what the community looked like! Thank you so much for this tour!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great job Diane!!! Really enjoyed this walking tour!
Thank you SO much for showing us around. I did a cardio work out while watching this, so it felt like I was walking/running with you. The last time I was in France was 10 years ago, and it was one of the best experiences. I hope to go back some day and explore more. Please keep making these walking videos. I love your insight as well as learning about the history. Merci! ❤
You're so welcome! Thanks for watching and will try to make more anytime I go anywhere. ;-)
Very interesting tour of a fascinating historical location! Thank you! 🙏
I missed this one Diane, just caught up and what a fascinating place. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for your support, as always! xx
I really enjoyed this video. I live in the United States and have visited France 10 times but have never made it to Mont Saint Michel, it's definitely on my list for next time.
Brought back wonderful memories. I must return someday. The Mont without people is amazing! That new bridge replacing the causeway is interesting. I still wonder what all the little doors are along the walk up. Too bad the abbey wasn't open. It is spectacular.
Ohh..i went there a few years ago..maybe 7 years ago..the bridge was under construction..such a beautiful place
What a charming tour you led us on. And what a champ you are to narrate & run & climb & share the history of le Mont. Thank you!
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it ;-)
Visited Mt St Michel in 2018. Definitely want to go back again and spend the night there.
Absolutely breathtaking, thank you for video
We ate at La Mer Poulard 30 years ago. It does not seem to have changed much. One thing which is a trademark of the restaurant is that the eggs are beaten in copper bowls to a cadence, then the omelets are cooked over an open wood fire. Would love to visit again and I highly recommend eating there if possible.
This was amazing. Im just so fascinated by this place. Keep doing what your doing! Love hearing and learning about the place you pass.
Hi San Diego, beautiful views of the Abbey
Merci Diane ! Amazing to see the Mont so empty...
Thank you for this. I was there in 2019. Mont St. Michel is gorgeous, peaceful, serene. I wish I gave it more time.
I have been watching your videos for quite a while now and recently subscribed. Since I have started editing my travel vlogs on my channel I have a new appreciation for the hard work you put in to make these vlogs.
Thanks for the video! Missing France. Should do live here in CZcams as well!
Tres magnafique...I was there a few years ago ❤️💃🏻💕
Appreciate the tour. Hope to get the chance to visit soon. 😊
Thanks so much, Diane! It's snowing here in Maryland today and very cold, so you can't imagine how much I appreciate seeing such a beautiful video!! Merci ❤️ 🇫🇷
What an incredible tour thank you. I could only dream of actually being able to step foot there 😮💨😓
BrILLIANT video thank you so much for posting. I really enjoyed watching. I Love France it’s a beautiful country. Thanks for sharing , I’m learning a lot.
You have a great Chanel very informative. Merci
Glad you enjoyed it!
That was magnifique! Merci!
I love your tour!!!
So glad, thanks!
awesome vid mate keep going buddy!
Thanks for the tour.
Thank you. This brought back memories.
The train from Paris brings you to Renne from where there is a bus that runs all the way to where the shuttle tales you to Mont St Michel. It will take 3 hours to get to Mont St Michel so it can be a day trip if you wish.
That's freaking awesome
A wonderful video. Hubby and I are catching up with all the lovely videos you put out. We watch them on our big screen so it takes a while to catch up on comments. Thank you very much for all your work :)
I love Mont Saint Michel. I hope someday i can visit there.
This is a very charming place, I hope I can visit again sometime in the future when all this is over. Seeing and sharing places like this is why I love traveling and make videos so much!
Magnifique! 🇨🇵❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
There are many small alleys and hidden passages, not to mention the number of stairs :)
Diane, enjoy your site very much. The last time I was in France on business I rented a car with the intent to see Mont Saint Michel. I drove up from Brest using the ecology setting on the GPS so I saw a lot of the country side. I believe the drive was like three hours from Brest to the Abbe. After such a drive I walked from the parking lot to the site (maybe 25-30 minutes) and spent the rest of the day there. I was lucky the sky was blue and since it was April there was mostly only school groups visiting. This place is absolutely my favorite place and hope to get back to Brittany and Normandy with my wife.
PS The big difference I find between the US and France is there is so much paleo/neolithic sites to visit. The Cairn de Barnenez, Stones Alignment at Carnac were also great sites to see. Because I had to work I did most of the site seeing on the weekends.
My regret was that my hosts wanted me to speak French (very rudimentary understanding) but I was to hesitant to speak. Next time.
Great view
Looks like you hit it at the right time no annoying tour groups and other tourists.
Smack in the middle of the pandemic when there was no international travel. Thanks for watching!
Merci beaucoup! On vas visiter Mont St. Michel le mois de septembre 2022.
Enjoy! What a great trip that'll be!
Love your videos.
I visited a few years ago - but it looks so much better without all the tourists!
Was there in 1975- wish to go back
Where did you see the beautiful water? Will be there in a few weeks and was going to pop out to the beach at San Malo for a day
Cancale!
So fun, thanks for doing this and left you a tip via your Ko-Fi link in the description! :-)
Thanks so much!
Hi! I've watch your vid on this majestic Mont Saint Michel. Feels like I have a tour in France. Thank you for featuring this, Diane. I'm praying I can visit this beautiful place in the future. Btw, all the love from the Philippines. Mabuhay!
Formidable !!!
Great video! Ive been there with my wife as part of our honeymoon last 2019. It was such a magical place but crowded when we went there mid july. Just curious, would you happen to know how people become residents there since they have houses. Can you just buy a house there?
Diane..thank you for your videos! Your time and dedication to explain in detail your surroundings on this video and the others I've seen so far (supermarket..chocolatier..patisserie..) is so impressive and I know it takes time to film and edit these! Thank you for a wonderful thing you are doing. I'm making my way through your videos one by one..if I may I would love to share your channel on some Francophile Facebook groups I belong to.and get you some more subscribers.
Maybe I missed it but where is your Patreon link??
Merci beaucoup,
Dora
Thank you so much for your kind words Dora. You can of course share any of my video links. I really appreciate it! I have a Ko-Fi link (no Patreon at the moment) linked here: ko-fi.com/ouiinfrance
Merci encore!
@@OuiInFrance 😊😉
When’s the best month to visit Mont Saint Mitchel?. How’s the weather in October, rain, dry, cold, hot?
Was it built with the shops and restaurants in mind originally?. Taking how long to build from begin to finish?
watching from Pasadena, CA
Great Travel video. Very interesting to watch...
😍😍😍
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
👍👍👍👍👍49
Watching now. Thank you for doing this. I follow you always. Joe DiPrimio
I was there 5 years ago, so nice to see mont saint michel without the people! It reminds me of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter😁
Obviously, it's not pram-or wheelchair-accessible, less than the rest of Europe./we manaed w toddler and stroller. Worth it!!
Good video. Good job
Best time for me when I visited will be Off Season.
Good morning from Wyoming a sock or mitten may muffle the wind
Love your video, you need to do more. ❤️
Nice
The first view point that you took the stairs to is where the original main gate was and way out front is the island the English used as there main garrison. The English spent years in the double digits, throwing everything they had trying to capture this fortress. It’s during that time they sealed up the main gate and placed it where it is today. Making it even harder for the English. So besides coming up with the brilliant idea of building the new fortress walls right down into the water during high tide they now made it so the English would have to March around the whole castle if they wanted to try and breach the main gate which is the weakest point of any fort.
Diane’s enthusiasm is infectious
oh boy am i going to be out of breath. great wall of China is a steep climb, too. thanks for the video.
Hello from saint augustine fla
I ate there in May 2014
How wonderful it is without the thousands of effing tourists! Vive le confinement !
Je suis ici en Californie !
Don't go to La mère Poulard ! It's way too expensive for an omelette (which is not that good btw...)
I hear the service is terrible too. Just a tourist trap.
I half expected an medieval English army to storm the bay, and then the local police taking them away at the last minute.
🧡🧡
5:25 ... It might be a little overpriced...".
Well...... do you know where you are, right there? You are on a world famous island. The land value is enormously high. It's nearly impossible to buy a house and/or a shop, there. Rent and maintenance is far above average. Thousands of shopkeepers would like to have a shop, there, but once you're in, you just don't leave........... It's too profitable to sell it.
Try eating at a Michelin star restaurant. THEN you will know the true meaning of overpriced. I can not afford to look at the menu, let alone order something.
Besides that, thanks for making and uploading this nice video ! ;-)
Dont eat for dinner in michelin **, but eat for lunch... you can eat for 50€ instead of 150€.
From North Carolina
Bonjour Diane, as far as “La Mère Poulard Restaurant”, their menu prices are pretty good compared to a 3 stars French Restaurant in Upstate N.Y. or N.Y.C. keep in mind, in the U.S. in general, le service n'est pas compris, and No Prix Fix except during holidays, and they don't serve you omelette for $40 like they do in France.
I love your videos and all, but I am not into this restaurant loud middle ages ambiance!! Désolé, voila c'est tout!
Can you recommend a French speaking school where one could learn more on the speaking side than on the book learning side?
on "Discord", you can try disboard.org/ (I haven't tested it, just found)
why is the video quality so low?
That's a question for the town. Hope they get fiber up there soon, otherwise live streams are at the mercy of the local cell network.
You can conduct masses and prayers with Dominicans or Benedict monks or priests or whichever congregation looking after this place.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
They need a high pressure sprayer to brighten all the stones makes look like new thank you for a nice walk
why? it's old there 1300 years or even more. it shouldn't look like new tbh
But, is that true? I don’t think that it needs to look “newish.” I understand the comment though.
too bad the image quality is bad because it was live streamed.
Thanks for watching! Very poor phone signal out there, no 4g or 5g
Geezus lady, catch a breath