Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Perched on a rocky islet in the midst of vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides between
Normandy and Brittany stands the 'Wonder of the West', a Gothic-style Benedictine abbey
dedicated to the archangel St Michael, and the village that grew up in the shadow of
its great walls. Built between the 11th and 16th centuries, the abbey is a technical and
artistic tour de force, having had to adapt to the problems posed by this unique natural
site. It was transcribed by UNESCO in 1979 to the World Heritage List. Once a pilgrimage
site, it now sees more hungry tourists than devout followers - about 3.5 million each
year - but it's still a destination. Donning traditional black robes and hats, the 'mothers'
on the island make the best crepes and butter cookies around. La Mere Poulard's butter cookies
in a red tin box bring back childhood memories for many a Frenchie, and foreign visitors
will also taste the love.