May 21 2017

once-in-a-lifetime experience.

More than 3 million people visit this medieval monastery every year and it was the dramatic backdrop for the start of the Tour de France cycle race last year.

There are many stone steps to climb and they lead to a multitude of unbelievable Gothic rooms as well as the human hamster wheel that was used during the prison era to transport supplies in and out of the island. A wine cellar is also a feature of this amazing feat of construction.

Mass is held daily at noon. When we were there, it was well attended. One could only stare in awe and try to imagine how generations of monks carried granite building blocks up this steep edifice, eventually crowning it with a gilt statue of the archangel Michael high atop the abbey.