Saint - Malo, Brittany and Mont Saint- Michel, Normandy, France
Just after 6am National Geographic Explorer entered one of the locks which would give us access to the inner harbour of Saint-Malo, a picturesque town on the coast of Brittany in western France. From the 12th century onwards this settlement became a thriving centre of trade and was ringed by a formidable granite block wall with defended gates. Although severely damaged by aerial bombings during 1944 it was meticulously restored and is now one of the most attractive towns in France. Breakfast finished, we were taken by coach to visit one of the architectural and historical gems of Europe, the medieval monastic site of Mont Saint-Michel.
We traversed the countryside for almost an hour. Here the land is rich and the patchwork quilt of fields attest to its fertility. Vegetables and maize are grown here in abundance and the stone built farmhouses pepper the landscape. Autumn’s abundance was manifest in the heavily laden apple and pear trees. This region, like so many others along France’s Atlantic seaboard, is famed for its ciders. Mont Saint-Michel is visible from afar and dominates the skyline perched on a granitic outcrop. Passing through the main fortified gate at its base we entered the medieval village and veritably stepped back in time. Its bustling shops, eateries, narrow lanes and cobbled streets have been thronged by pilgrims for centuries. Some hundreds of steps later we entered the cool interior of the abbey and marvelled at the work of the masons who block by block honed this architectural marvel. Like the metallic pealing of its bells sanctity, reverence and tradition resonate here. This place leaves an indelible mark on one’s memory.
Following lunch aboard ship the afternoon was spent exploring the walled town of Saint-Malo itself. Walks atop the ramparts afforded panoramic vistas of the town, seascape and hinterland. Shops crammed with locally produced items and top class clothes and fashion accessories tempted at every turn. Chilled locally produced wines and oysters awaited us on the aft sun deck of the ship and were a mouth watering finale to a day exploring this engaging region.
