Mont St. Michel – Daryl Lee, Photographer

One of the most iconic images of France outside the city of Paris is Mont St. Michel at the boundary between the regions of Normandy and Brittany (Bretagne).

Originally built in the 10th century as a retreat center for an order of monks who venerated Saint Michael, the usage of the building evolved over time. It soon became a Benedictine center during the reign of Richard I (Lionheart), eventually being relegated to the role of state penitentiary under Louis XI. During this time, one of the more interesting (to me, as an engineer) additions was the crank used to hoist provisions from the middle levels of the mount to the upper prison area. You can see from the photo how a prisoner or a few could enter the crank, gerbil-like, to provide hoisting power.

Finally, the mount was made a historical landmark, and a few finishing touches were added, such as this garden in the cloisters. Definitely the original cloister would have had a bit of life in it, but not so much color as today. Be aware that this is all rooftop space, with very little structure extending above this garden.

Back on the mainland, life goes on. For our visit to this part of France we have been the bed-and-breakfast guests of a gracious hostess whom I have christened “Mrs. As-You-Wish”. No matter what we ask about, her biggest desire is to do whatever will make us feel more at home. And here’s home:

It’s a 150-year old home that she is continuously tinkering with. On one end of the modernity spectrum are electrically actuated window shades and on the other is a 150-year old staircase with enough headroom for Anita but not for me, unless I remember to duck! We are in the community of Roz-sur-Couesnon just a few kilometers south of the mount. A few miles away, where we had dinner tonight, is Beauvoir. If you’re ever in the neighborhood looking for a place to stay, and aren’t the B&B types, consider Hotel Gue de Beauvoir below; we can definitely recommend the restaurant “Le Fermette” across the street.

Tomorrow we trek south to Amboise in the Loire valley. Expect chateaus.