Mont Saint-Michel：
A World Heritage Site
and one of the most poplular tourist destinations in France：
Le Mont-Saint-Michel (French pronunciation: [lə mɔ̃ sɛ̃ miʃɛl]; the Mont Saint-Michel is a tidal island ( which means that it is only totally surrounded by water two times a year ! During the summer and winter solstices ! ). Mont Saint-Michel is also the name of the entire mainland commune where it is : in the department of La Manche, in Normandy, France. The island lies approximately one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 7 hectares (17 acres) in area. The mainland part of the commune is 393 hectares (971 acres) in area so that the total surface of the commune is 400 hectares (988 acres). As of 2017, the island had a population of 30. Mont Saint-Michel and its surrounding bay were inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979 for its unique aesthetic and importance as a medieval Christian site. It is visited by more than 3 million people each year. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France as monuments historiques.
Mont Saint-Michel
