Mont Saint Michel - Abbey Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel

From the entrance of Mont Saint Michel another flight of steps leads up through the Salle des Gardes or Belle Chaise (13th C.) into the 13th C. north wing of the abbey, known as the Merveille (Marvel). On the lowest floor is the Aumônerie, a large columned hall which in the 13th century was a dormitory for poor pilgrims, now the starting point of the conducted tours, with a small exhibition hall. The conducted tour takes visitors through the Cellier (a cellar or storeroom) and up to the first floor, on which are the Salle des Hôtes, a reception room for distinguished guests situated over the AumoPnerie, and the imposing Gothic Salle des Chevaliers (Knights' Hall, 1215-1220), later the working room of the Benedictine monks. Here too, below the choir of the church, is the Crypte des Gros Piliers (15th century), with 10 piers 5m/16ft in circumference. In another crypt is the pre-Romanesque church of Notre-Dame- sous-Terre, a 10th century predecessor of the present church. On the second floor are the Refectory, later used as a dormitory (over the Salle des Hôtes), and the cloister built in 1225-1228 (over the Knights' Hall), with 220 graceful granite columns in double alternating rows. On the south side of the cloister is the abbey church, begun in 1020, its Romanesque nave forming a charming contrast to the 15th century Gothic choir. From here the Escalier de Dentelle, a magnificent staircase supported on a buttress, leads up to an external gallery 120m/395ft above the sea from which there is an extensive view over the sea. There are also fine views from the terrace in front of the west facade of the church. Below the terrace, to the north, is the beautiful abbey garden.