Le Mont-Saint-Michel Mont Saint Miché is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. The island lies approximately one kilometer off the country’s north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches, and is 7 hectares in area. The mainland part of the commune is 393 hectares in area so that the total surface of the commune is 400 hectares.
In the 11th century, William of Volpiano, the Italian architect who had built Fécamp Abbey in Normandy, was chosen by Richard II, Duke of Normandy, to be the building contractor. He designed the Romanesque church of the abbey, daringly placing the transept crossing at the top of the mount. Today Mont Saint-Michel is seen as a building of Romanesque architecture.
