
Sacred Castle in the Sea Dedicated to the Warrior Angel Who Defeated Satan in Heaven: PHOTOS
Dating back over 1,300 years, the enchanting tidal island of Mont Saint-Michel is one of France’s most mesmerizing sights. This single rock sitting 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) off the country’s northwest coast encompasses a fortress-like abbey and tiny village to breathtaking effect. It may look like a fantastical Game of Thrones filming location, but Mont Saint-Michel, beloved of its nation, was born in the early 8th century and is abundantly rich in history. Though admittedly a major tourist destination, the island has a small permanent population of roughly 25 people, including the abbey monks and nuns. Located in the department of La Manche in western Normandy, the Mount was first dreamt up by Bishop Aubert of Avranches, who in 708, had a shrine built atop the rocky outcrop in honor of Archangel Michael—the heavenly being who cast Satan from heaven. Legend has it that the angel visited the bishop three times in visions, each time requesting a sanctuary be erected on the site....
