Visit Mont-Saint-Michel through its 7 museums and its abbey, on the rock and in the surroundings. The walls of this small French village , symbol of resistance and national identity, are full of history. These museums retrace the evolution of Mont-Saint-Michel, the daily life of its inhabitants, the particularities of the nature that surrounds the village and its bay.
So, come and discover these riches told in different forms on the Mount and in the surroundings. In this article, find all our advice to organize your visits.
This review is completely independent, we visited anonymously and paid our entrance tickets in full.
The museums of Mont-Saint-Michel
Which museums and how long for each visit to Mont-Saint-Michel and its surroundings?
- The Historical Museum: allow 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Le Logis Tiphaine: allow 1 to 2 hours depending on your interest in the medieval house.
- The Archeoscope: allow 1 hour.
- The Maritime Museum: allow 1 to 1.5 hours if you are a fan of model ships!
- The Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel: allow 1 to 2 hours depending on your interest for each room.
And around:
- The Scriptorial of Avranches: allow 1h30 to 2h of visit, depending on whether you visit the permanent exhibition only or the temporary exhibition as well.
- The Ecomuseum of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel: allow 1 hour.
- La Maison des Polders: allow 1 hour unless you rent bicycles on the spot, plan rather a half day with a walk.
How to visit the museums of Mont-Saint-Michel?
The 4 museums in the village of Mont-Saint-Michel and its abbey are indicated on the map above. If you walk along the Grande Rue street, you will be able to access each of the different museums and monuments.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
The reality of the museums of Mont-Saint-Michel
Within the village of Mont-Saint-Michel, the museums may seem small (except for the abbey which is not a museum but rather a monument). However, you can be sure that these places will transport you to an enchanting universe! In some museums, we discovered surprising stories and/or objects that really took us on a journey.
Also, take good shoes and comfortable clothes! And you can check for any updates to the timetable on the official website of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Practical information
Be aware that there are a lot of steps at Mont-Saint-Michel. Therefore, if you have knee problems, find out before your visit.
Are you a person with reduced mobility or do you need a wheelchair? More information on the official website of the Tourist Office of Mont-Saint-Michel to know the adapted services.
Visiting these museums with children? It is quite possible. But we recommend, especially for the museums of Mont-Saint-Michel, not to use a stroller and to choose instead a baby carrier if necessary! Indeed, the stroller may be difficult to handle with the many cobblestones and stairs.
To go to Mont-Saint-Michel: read all our advices.
Our favorite places
You’ll find details on each museum later in this article, but we couldn’t help but share our favorite places with you right now!
Among the different museums in and around Mont-Saint-Michel, we really liked them:
- The Scriptorial of Avranches for, among other things, its impressive collection of ancient manuscripts,
- The Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel for its cultural and architectural richness but also the breathtaking views of the bay and its surroundings from the building,
- Le Logis Tiphaine for the preservation of medieval furniture, knight’s armor and astrological material.
To save time and be sure to have your place, opt for the multi-museum ticket and visit 3 museums of Mont-Saint-Michel (intra-muros) – see prices and information.
1. The Historical Museum (Musée Historique)
Why visit it?
The Historical Museum tells 1,300 years of the history of Mont-Saint-Michel and the monks who built it. It makes works, objects and legendary rooms talk about, for example, the dungeons or oubliettes. A collection of paintings by Benedictine monks from the 15th to the 17th century as well as instruments of torture from that period are housed in the Historical Museum. You will be able to admire ivory, bones or mother-of-pearl carved and engraved in the Age of Enlightenment.
First of all, we liked the attention to detail and the pedagogy around each object, its usefulness, its place in the society of Montpellier of another time. We had the chance to see also fashionable outfits from Mont-Saint-Michel. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the wax dolls, wood or porcelain, replaced the parades of mannequins that we know today. Parades did not exist at that time! Fashion trends were spread through the display of these dolls in the window.
Finally, the different styles of watches were also very fashionable. So take the time to discern all the finesse and meticulousness of watchmaking know-how in the early 19th century.
Access to the museum and practical advice
The Historical Museum is located at Mont-Saint-Michel within the walls (intra-muros). So you can get there on foot once you are in the village.
Also, we advise you to opt for the multi-museum ticket which allows you to visit 3 museums of the Mont-Saint-Michel – see price, availability and information.
To get to the Mont-Saint-Michel, see all our advices.
Schedules and rates
Opening hours:
- From April to October: open every day from 9am to 6pm.
- From November to March: Friday to Tuesday from 10:30 am to 5 pm.
Rates:
- 9 € per person.
- Free admission for children under 12 years old, accompanied by an adult.
- Young people from 18 to 25 years old: 12 €.
2. Le Logis Tiphaine
Why visit it?
Take a leap back to the Middle Ages to live in the time of the knights by visiting the Logis Tiphaine at Mont-Saint-Michel. Unquestionably, this historic house will immerse you in the life of a knight and an astrologer grace:
- With period furniture,
- To the arms but also the armor of Bertrand Du Guesclin, famous knight of the Hundred Years War,
- In the astrology office of his wife Tiphaine de Raguenel,
- To their rooms whose decorations have been preserved.
Access and practical advice
Like the Historical Museum, the Logis Tiphaine is located on the Mount, on the main street (intra-muros). The map of the museums of Mont-Saint-Michel is available above in this article.
Schedules and rates
Opening hours:
- From April to October: open every day from 9am to 6:30pm.
- From November to March: Friday to Tuesday from 9:30 am to 5 pm.
You too can opt for the multi-museum ticket and visit 3 museums of Mont-Saint-Michel – see prices and information.
Rates:
- 9 € per adult.
- Free admission for children under 12 years old, accompanied by an adult.
- Children between 12 and 18 years old: 3 €.
- Young people from 18 to 25 years old: 4,50 €.
3. The Archeoscope
Why visit it?
Would you like to immerse yourself in the history of Mont-Saint-Michel from the Middle Ages to the present day, just like in the movies? Then come to the Archéoscope for a multimedia show in French with simultaneous translation into English.
More precisely, it is not a film but a small show with a model, images and lights. Don’t expect a big show.
Access and practical advice
The Archéoscope is located on the Grande Rue in Mont-Saint-Michel (intra-muros).
Schedules and rates
Opening hours:
- Every day from the first weekend of February to November 11 from 9am to 5:30pm.
- During the Christmas vacations, in July and August from 9am to 6:30pm.
Rates:
- 9 € per adult.
- 4,50 € per child.
4. The Maritime Museum
Why visit it?
Come aboard the Maritime Museum of Mont-Saint-Michel to discover the world’s greatest tides. What we liked best: if you like model ships, the museum exhibits a magnificent collection of 250 antique models. Dundee, frigate, suffren, take the time to observe each model carefully. You will find something for every taste and for every era!
We too (who are not particularly fond of models) enjoyed discovering the different shapes of the boats: the wonders of naval engineering.
This visit is also an opportunity to better understand the great project of restoration of the maritime character of Mont-Saint-Michel:
- One of the largest construction sites in the Channel,
- To restore the maritime dimension of the Mount and its Bay,
- To redevelop the territory step by step in favor of the preservation of natural and cultural capital in the region.
Access and practical advice
The Maritime Museum is located on the Grande Rue, not far from the entrance to Mont-Saint-Michel (intra-muros).
Schedules and rates
The museum is open every day from May to December from 10 am to 5 pm.
Rates:
- 9 € per adult.
- 4 € per child.
5. The Scriptorial
Why visit it?
The Scriptorial of Avranches is the only museum in France dedicated to the presentation of ancient manuscripts from the 9th to the 15th century. You can admire the art of writing at its peak through the magnificent collection of the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel exhibited in this museum. But also very beautiful sculptures, paintings and several sacred objects.
For us, this museum is really worth the trip! The Scriptorial is very modern with many fascinating explanations on the secrets of the first books and the story of the creation of the “Wonder”.
Amazed by the beauty and authenticity of the well-preserved manuscripts, you will surely enjoy the original and interactive tour offered by the museum. It combines educational panels, collection pieces exhibited in the room and digital tools to better understand the importance of this collection of manuscripts. The museum updates their presentation every three months.
You also have the possibility to access the temporary exhibitions staged at the Scriptorial.
To find out about the program for your next visit, go to the museum’s official website.
Access and practical advice
The Scriptorial Museum is not located at Mont-Saint-Michel but in a neighboring town, at 6 Place d’Estouteville in Avranches (50300) in Normandy.
As you can see, the easiest way to get there is by car. Indeed, you can park easily in the streets near the museum.
- Driving time from Mont-Saint-Michel: 40min.
- Driving time from Caen: 1h15.
- Driving time from Bayeux: 1h15.
- Driving time from Rennes: 1 hour.
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Access by train is also possible. The city of Avranches also has an SNCF train station – see train prices and schedules.
The museum is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
If you are visiting the Scriptorial with your family, there is a tour adapted for children under 12 years old. The Scriptorial also offers a changing area for young children.
Pets are not allowed inside, only guide dogs can enter the museum.
Schedules and rates
Schedules:
- From April to June and in September, open from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm from Tuesday to Sunday (last entry at 5pm).
- In July and August, open from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 7pm from Tuesday to Sunday (last entry at 6pm).
- In February, March, October, November and December, open from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm from Tuesday to Saturday (last entry at 5:00 pm).
- Closed in January and on public holidays (May 1, November 1, December 25).
Rates:
- Permanent tour and temporary exhibition: 8 € per adult.
- Temporary exhibition only: 3 €.
- Free admission for children under 18 years old accompanied by an adult (upon presentation of proof).
- Reduced rate: 4 € (see conditions on the museum website ).
From April to September, the entrance is free every first Sunday of the month (except holidays).
6. The Ecomuseum of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel
Why visit it?
Rediscover the heritage of Mont-Saint-Michel in a different way at the ecomuseum of the bay. Evolution of the region’s coastlines, impact of climate change on marine fauna and flora, preservation of the balance… This ecomuseum is a real place of safeguard and development of the natural heritage of Mont-Saint-Michel.
Access and practical advice
The Ecomuseum of the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is located on the Route du Grouin in the town of Vains (50300) in Normandy, in the heart of the bay. Like the Avranches Scriptorial, it is not located at Mont-Saint-Michel.
The place is not very accessible by public transport. There is no train station in Vains but you can reach Granville by train and then take the Nomad 308 bus which will drop you off near the Vains town hall – see train prices and schedules.
Otherwise, the most convenient way is to come by car. You can park next door.
- Driving time from Mont-Saint-Michel: 35min.
- Driving time from Caen: 1h25.
- Driving time from Bayeux: 1h20.
- Driving time from Rennes: 1h15.
Need to rent a car? Don’t panic, you’ll find what you’re looking for on our favorite platform, otherwise read all our tips for renting a car in France.
Schedules and rates
Opening hours:
- In April, May, June and school vacations (except Christmas) every day from 2 to 6 pm.
- From July to September every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
- Closed on May 1st.
Rates:
- 5 € per adult.
- 2.50 € per child aged 7 to 18 years old.
- 15 € for the Family Pass.
- 3,50 € reduced rates.
7. The house of the Polders (Maison des Polders)
Why visit it?
First of all, what are polders? These are the dyked and drained marshes on the coast. Most of the time, the level of the polders is lower than that of the sea.
In a fully restored 17th century house, indulge in a rather unique experience to retrace the history of the 3,000 hectares of the Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. If you like nature, this place will certainly please you! Bicycles are available for rent on site with walking tours in the surrounding area.
Access and practical advice
The Maison des Polders is not located at Mont-Saint-Michel either. It is located at 3 rue des Mondrins (Les Quatre Salines) in Roz-sur-Couesnon (35610) in Brittany.
There is no train station in Roz-sur-Couesnon but you can reach Dol De Bretagne by train and then take a cab for 15 minutes to the Maison des Polders – see train prices and schedules.
Otherwise, the most convenient way to get around is by car.
- Driving time from Mont-Saint-Michel: 25min.
- Driving time from Caen: 1h30.
- Driving time from Bayeux: 1h30.
- Driving time from Rennes: 1 hour.
The Maison des Polders is accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Schedules and rates
Opening hours:
- From April 2 to October 2: open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for holidays.
- Exceptional opening on Easter, Pentecost and Assumption Monday.
Rates:
- 5 € per adult.
- 4 € per child between 7 and 15 years old.
- 8 € per family with the Bay and Family Pass (visit of the Maison des Polders and the Chappe Telegraph).
- Free admission for children under 7 years old and residents of the Communauté de Communes.
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… And the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
Why visit it?
Classified as a historic monument and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel is a “Wonder” of architecture and history. High place of pilgrimage of the Christianity since centuries, the abbey, perched at more than 50 meters above the sea level, comes “to crown” the Mont-Saint-Michel, .
If you are in the area, do not miss this majestic place under any circumstances. The rooms of the abbey, some of which were built at different times, the originality of its rooftop cloister, and its breathtaking views of the bay and its surroundings will leave you speechless.
We were captivated both by the history of the place and by the architectural feat that the abbey represents.
As Mont-Saint-Michel and its abbey welcome more than a million visitors every year, don’t wait any longer and reserve your time!
Access and practical advice
Would you also like to be transported through the ages in a grandiose setting? Then find our article dedicated to the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel with more details to facilitate your visit!
The abbey is located in the village of Mont-Saint-Michel (50170) in Normandy. These places are isolated and difficult to access by public transportation. The best way to get there is by car, paying parking lots are located on the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel and allow access 24 hours a day (free shuttles).
Schedules and rates
Opening hours:
- From May 1st to August 31st: 9am – 7pm.
- From September 1st to April 30th: 9:30 am – 6 pm.
- Closed on January1st, May1st and December 25th.
Full adult rate: 11€.
Free (except for groups) for :
- Children under 18 years old.
- 18-25 years old (nationals of European Union countries and regular non-European residents on French territory).
- Person with a disability and his/her companion.
- Job seekers and recipients of minimum social benefits (upon presentation of a certificate of less than 6 months).
- Education pass (valid for the current year).
We advise you to buy your ticket in advance. To make sure you can visit, book your time here as soon as possible (places are limited). You can also opt for a ticket to avoid waiting in line when you arrive.
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- Where to stay in Normandy – best places and hotels
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Frequently asked questions
How many museums to visit in one day at Mont-Saint-Michel?
You have several options to visit in one day.
Remember to book your multi-museum ticket for Mont-Saint-Michel – see prices and information.
Option 1 – You can visit the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel in the morning (less crowded) and then 3 to 4 museums, close to each other, located at Mont-Saint-Michel. For example:
- The Historical Museum,
- Le Logis Tiphaine,
- The Maritime Museum,
The queue at the abbey’s ticket office often extends into the alleys! We advise you to buy your ticket in advance. Remember to reserve your visit time (limited places).
Option 2 – Start your day at Mont-Saint-Michel and visit a nearby museum:
- By opting for a tour of the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey in the morning,
- Then, after the lunch break, you can drive to the Scriptorial of Avranches, for example, which is only 40 minutes away from Mont-Saint-Michel.
This opinion is completely independent, based on our experiences. We visited the area anonymously, making our own choices, and paying all our bills in full.
A MAGICAL EXPERIENCE AT Mont-Saint-Michel
Step 1: Plan and get there
Step 2: Decide on your program
Step 3: decide where to sleep
How much does it cost to enter Mont-Saint-Michel?
The Mont-Saint-Michel is accessible for free, like any other village in France. Read our article on all the ways to get there here. Entrance fees are charged for museums and monuments on site. All the information is available above in this article. Have a good trip!
Lodgings in the vicinity
On the Mount? On the campaign trail? In a nearby city? You will be spoilt for choice! Discover our selection according to your tastes and desires.
WHERE TO STAY AT Mont-Saint-Michel
Option 1:
Choose one of the 7 hotels on the mountain, within the city limits – see our article
- The historic Auberge Saint-Pierre Hotel – see prices, photos and availability
Option 2:
Or sleep in the part called La Caserne which is between the parking lots and the footbridge to Mont-Saint-Michel.
- Mercure 4-starhotel – see prices, photos and availability
Option 3:
And if you are looking for luxury, check out our article dedicated to luxury hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel.
- The charming guest house Clos de Gilles – see prices, photos and availability
Option 4:
The Normandy countryside is very green and inspiring. At the bend in the forest or in the fields, pretty villages with beautiful buildings transport you to another world, or even another era.
- Hotel Ermitage at 5min – see prices, pictures and availability
- Château de Boucéel at 30min – see prices, pictures and availability
Nearby restaurants
In the same way, you will have the possibility of choosing restaurants in the Mont-Saint-Michel, in the Barracks or in the surrounding villages.
To decide which place will be the best for you, read all our advice on the 12 best restaurants to eat in and around Mont-Saint-Michel .
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