Bayeux : Place de Québec or Hotel Pick-Up / Drop-Off option

Place de Québec is situated just around the corner from The Bayeux Tourist Information Office. We can pick up here anytime Mon – Fri for Le Mont Saint-Michel Private Shuttle. There are toilet facilities here, as well as a cafe nearby – ‘La Garde Manger’ – perfect for passengers who wish a quick coffee prior to departure. Passengers can specify their shuttle departure time and designated pick-up /drop-off location on our booking system. (Our Bayeux Train Station pick-up is at 09:30 Mon-Fri and we will always wait for you). Private Shuttle clients also benefit from a free Bayeux Hotel pick-up / drop-off option. (08:45 or 09:45 departures are also available from Caen).

Options on this Private Shuttle service:

We have extended the route to include these very popular requests for visits from clients last year. If clients opt to add the corresponding extras at checkout kindly also add 1.5 to 2hrs to your expected itinerary.

[A] A guided visit to Omaha Beach (30 mins) plus Normandy Colleville American *Cemetery (1hr)

[B] Calvados Tasting (30 mins) at a famous local orchard, plus a guided visit to Omaha Beach (45 mins)

[C] The American Cemetery’s new 2019 multimedia Visitor Centre (45 mins) plus a guided visit to Omaha Beach (30 mins)

[D] Overlord Museum (90 mins)

2018, D-Day 74th Anniversary :  Le Mont Saint-Michel Jump

Omaha Beach: Options A, B & C (20 to 30-minute visit)

Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944. Taking Omaha was to be the responsibility of United States Army troops of the First Division nicknamed ‘The Big Red One’. However faced with the 12,020 experienced combat troops of the German 352nd Infantry Division, the battle-hardened 1st Infantry Division had its work cut out. During this memorable visit you’ll find out why nothing here went according to plan on D-Day. Thus we shall discover how ‘Bloody Omaha’ earned its name…

Colleville American Cemetery: Option A (60-minute visit)

Alternative: 1 hour 15 minutes including Omaha Beach or 1-hr visit without Omaha Beach.

On June 8, 1944, the U.S. First Army established the temporary cemetery, the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. After the war, the present-day cemetery was established a short distance to the east of the original site. Come and honour the graves of our fallen Heroes, discover the gold-embossed gravestones of the three Medal of Honour recipients – listen to some stories from their lives – and peruse the wall of the missing upon which are engraved the names of 1557 servicemen never recovered…

US Cemetery Visitor Centre : Option C (45-minute visit)

One-third of the building’s 30,000 square feet is dedicated exhibit space.

Using personal stories of participants and a mix of narrative text, photos, films, interactive displays and artifacts, exhibits portray the competence, courage and sacrifice of Allied forces.

The visitor center is designed to complement and enhance the experience of visiting the cemetery. By relating the global significance and meaning of Operation Overlord, the center pays tribute to the values and sacrifices of the World War II generation. After experiencing the cemetery and the center, visitors will have a greater appreciation of those participating in the Normandy invasion, the achievement of America and her Allies in conducting the greatest amphibious invasion in history and the importance of honoring our war dead.

In honoring the brave Americans who lie far from home, as well as those who survived the battle, the center will inspire future generations to explore, understand and emulate the values for which they gallantly fought.

It also conveys a sense of remembrance and provides visitors an opportunity to reflect upon a pivotal moment in World War II and realize how dramatically it affected the course of world history.

The Overlord Museum: Option D (90-minute visit)

Located a very short distance from “Omaha Beach”, facing the round-a-bout that provides access to the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, The Overlord Museum chronicles the period of the Allied landing until the liberation of Paris. The collection was collected by someone who was both a witness to the conflict and involved in the reconstruction of Normandy. Personal items from individual soldiers and armoured fighting vehicles from the six armies in Normandy are presented as a series of reconstructions showing over 35 vehicles, tanks and guns.

13:30 – *Scheduled arrival at Le Mont Saint-Michel

*If options chosen.

Upon arrival, your driver will explain where to purchase your skip-the-line ‘Fastpass’ entrance ticket (inside The Mount) and will also accompany you to the  free navette shuttle-bus (which parks opposite your ‘meet up point’ for the end of your visit). The free bus departs the parking area for The Mount every 5-10 minutes (it is only a short 10-min ride).

Note: We remind clients that, as this is only a shuttle service – and not a guided tour service – that drivers typically do not enter The Mount. However once inside, you will find multilingual self-guide pamplets, audio-guides (Abbey), as well as free Abbey guided group-tour – run daily at 15:00 (in English) – by the staff at The Mount. In addition we can offer to book a Private Mont Saint-Michel Guide for your Private-Shuttle group (enquiries via email).

Getting Familiar

Depending on the seat you occupy on the short navette shuttle, you may not catch a glimpse of anything photo-worthy, not just yet…

So why not take the time to re-familiarize yourself with the interior layout of The Mont, and find out ‘what’s where’?

Note : Click to the right to open a larger image.

Freetime inside Le Mont-Saint-Michel (3hrs)

It can be heavy-going climbing all the stairs inside, and it is impossible to see everything in 3 hours, so why not start half-way up, at the Abbey, and make your way down from there? You may also wish to pick yourself up a mulitilingual audio-guide whilst visiting The Abbey, for an in-depth commentary on its history. These audio-guides are clients’ preferred self-guide option since, by opting for a relaxing mini-presentation, one leaves the oft noisy bustle behind and benefits from an altogether more focussed experience. It also offers one very worthwhile bonus, namely : This ‘guided-tour’ will be one delivered at your own pace…

Note : There is an additional small fee (€3) payable for the Abbey’s audio guides once inside. Simply enquire about hiring one at the welcome desk as you enter the Abbey.

Stepping Back in Time…

Le Mont Saint-Michel, is one of France’s most recognisable landmarks, visited by more than 3 million people each year and, along with its bay, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 60 buildings within the commune protected in France, classed as historical monuments.

With its population of 50, it has held strategic fortifications since ancient times. Since the 8th century AD, it has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. Since it was constructed during the reign of feudal societies, this feudalism is also reflected in its hierarchical construction, namely: With God, The Abbey & Monastery ‘on top’ ; The Great Halls below; then the stores and housing and at the bottom, outside the walls, the houses for fishermen and farmers.

Although the commune, situated on an island just a few hundred metres from land, was rendered vulerable to attack due to the ebbing tides, it was also rendered accessible at low tide to many pilgrims to its Abbey. Nonetheless, despite this perceived weakness among those who would seek to conquer it, it still remained dramatically defendable since an incoming tide effectively stranded, or drowned, would-be assailants.

The Mont has witnessed many battles over the course of time and while it has never been taken in battle, in 1425 it was almost lost when more than eight thousand English troops were sent against it in a full attack. Its honour was upheld by the valiant efforts of a mere 125 French knights.

Later Lious XI , realising the ‘benefits’ of its natural defense, was also not completely oblivious to its merits as a secure dwelling. Thereafter the abbey began to be used regularly – as a jail…

A Historical Timeline…

• 708: Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, founds a sanctuary dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel. Beginning of the first pilgrimages
• 965: Founding of the Benedictine monastery
• 1020-1180: Construction of the Romanesque Abbey
• 1204: King Philip Augustus takes possession of the Mont Saint-Michel, previously the property of the Duchy of Normandy
• 1204-28: Construction of La Merveille (“The Marvel”), topped by the cloister
• 1337-1453: The English try to seize the island during The 100 Years’ War
• 1789: The site becomes state property and is converted into a prison
•1864: The Mont Saint-Michel becomes a protected historical monument

Sweet Little Mysteries…

Medieval construction work over rugged terrain: Around the year 1000 a pre-Romanesque church was built, then in the eleventh century a Romanesque abbey and, in the thirteenth century, a sublime Gothic elevation known as the “Merveille” (the “Marvel”). Comprised of two buildings of three stories it perches precariously, and as if by miracle, on a single sloping rock, which is crowned by a cloister and large refectory.

Measuring 3.5 meters, and weighing in close to a ton (at 820 kilos), ‘The Slayer of the Dragon of the Apocalypse’ perches at the tip of the Abbey’s spire, an astounding 156 meters (some 300 feet) above sea level. The statue of Saint Michael, the warrior angel who stands atop the spire has been carved with his sword held aloft, his heel crushing the dragon – Satan or sin.

It was dethroned, meticulously transported, before being repaired & restored and finally redeemed in 2016, when The Archangel Saint-Michel was transported back to the lofty summit of Mont Saint-Michel.  How this herculean feat was acheived is something perhaps to quizz your driver about…

 

 

Building on such treacherous ground – on a small rock in a bay that contains some of Europe’s strongest currents and most powerful tides – must have seemed like the ultimate act of faith. For the pilgrims flocking to pay homage to the archangel, the trip to reach this heavenly precinct was itself a true test of faith: Centuries ago the shore was a full seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the island (five kilometers farther than it is today). One had to wait until low tide, when the sea receded and left a flat strand of grayish mud, and get the timing right. The crossing on foot could be dangerous, since high tide can rise up to 45 feet and sweep in at some 200 feet per minute ! Moreover, at low tide the gray, claylike sand can suddenly give way to pools of quicksand where an inexpert trekker can become trapped. In 1318, eighteen pilgrims drowned in the bay and another dozen died in the quicksand. Now there are organized treks with trained guides ; even so a group of tourists got caught in the sand in 2013 and needed rescuing…

17:00 – Time to make our way back to the pick-up point

*We will depart on schedule at 17:40 and we ask clients to begin planning their return to the navette shuttle in plenty of time.

We recommend that you head back from The Mount no later than 17:00. It typically takes around 20 minutes to get back to the shuttle parking area. If you are down awaiting the navette shuttle at 17:10 then you have 20 minutes until you meet up with your driver at 17:30, which is sufficient time.

NB: During High-Season and other busy periods, it may take up to 45 minutes (or more!) to rejoin the driver at the designated pick-up point. Kindly bear this in mind.

Preparing for departure

We kindly request that clients are back at the meet-up point for 17:30 at the latest (we depart on schedule at 17:40)

17:40 – Our scheduled Departure (*If options chosen)

We will depart the parking area at 17:40. This will leave us plenty of time to make our way back to Bayeux for approximately 19:15 (Caen 19:50).

NB: This schedule has been designed for demonstration purposes only (to outline our suggested timeline) and so we ask clients to be aware that if not selecting any extras at checkout, then our current timeline may be in advance at this point on our timeline (by appx. 2 hours).

If clients have not chosen any options on this shuttle (Colleville US Cemetery, Omaha Beach, Calvados Tasting), then we may depart The Mount at appx. 15:00-15.30.

Should clients opt for either of these options, then the details on this page will apply and we will depart The Mount at 17:40.

That is why it is imperative that Paris-based clients purchase a ‘modifiable’ train ticket which permits a return from Bayeux > Paris on the later scheduled  (last) train at appx 20:00.

If we should return to Bayeux before 17:00 (*NO options chosen), then we will happily drop clients in central Bayeux, where they could do some brief sightseeing and grab a bite-to-eat whilst awaiting the appx. 18:30 return train departure (Paris). The station is only a 12-15 minute stroll from Place de Québec, in central Bayeux.

We arrive back at Bayeux Station or at your designated Bayeux location (*exact arrival time depending on options chosen, / queues at The Mount / traffic).

We will always depart The Mount on schedule, and at the very latest by 17:40, to ensure that we arrive back in Bayeux in plenty of time for clients to catch the last train at appx 20:00 [Mon-Fri].

NB: Catching the earlier 18:35 train, is 100% possible only if clients choose NO options at checkout.

Please note this request, made via the Special Requirements section of your booking form, is made entirely at the client’s discretion and that we accept NO liability for missed trains due to unforseeable delays at sites visited.

During our relaxing drive back to Bayeux you will have time to reflect on the day’s sightseeing trip and have a casual chat with your Driver-Guide. We always appreciate feedback about your experience of Le Mont Saint-Michel and welcome any last-minute questions. Please do not hesitate to let your driver know if we can be of any further assistance. Thank you for choosing NormandyONtour.