Rising from the tidal flats of Normandy's bay, Mont-Saint-Michel is unlike any other place in France — or anywhere else. A fortified island village, crowned by a Gothic abbey, surrounded by one of the most dramatic tidal environments in the world. It has been a place of pilgrimage, a military fortress, and a prison. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by over three million people a year — and it still manages to feel like a discovery. Five hours on the island gives you time to do it properly. Start at the base and work your way up through the Grande Rue — the main street lined with medieval houses, small restaurants, and craft shops. The higher you climb, the quieter it gets and the better the views. At the top, the Benedictine abbey rewards the climb. The cloisters, the refectory, the great hall — each room is a lesson in medieval architecture and monastic life. The views from the abbey terraces over the bay are among the finest in France.