Grande Rue & ramparts

Where it is & how to get there

• Entrance: Enter through the Porte de l'Avancée, the Boulevard gate and the King's Gate at the bottom of the village.
• Shuttle: The free shuttle drops you about 400 metres from the entrance.
• Route: Go up the Grande Rue and come down along the ramparts to avoid the crowds.

The story of the Grande Rue and ramparts

The Grande Rue winds up from the King's Gate to the abbey, lined with half-timbered houses that for centuries welcomed pilgrims with inns, food and souvenirs. It is still the only real street of the island, and the small parish church of Saint-Pierre stands halfway up.

The ramparts were strengthened in the 15th century during the Hundred Years' War. Defended by a few knights, the Mont was besieged by the English for about 30 years and never taken, the only place in Normandy to resist. Two English cannons, the Michelettes, are still displayed at the entrance.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Take the ramparts for quieter paths than the busy Grande Rue.
• Try the famous fluffy omelette at La Mère Poulard, first made by Annette Poulard in the 1880s.
• Use the ramparts as a quieter path between the village and the abbey.

What's around the Grande Rue and ramparts

• The AbbeyAt the top of the Grande Rue.
• Église Saint-PierreThe small parish church with a silver statue of Saint Michael.
• The MichelettesEnglish cannons left after a failed siege.
• The bayViews over the sands and the tide from the walls.

Questions travellers ask