Normandy, France
God is absence; God is the solitude of man.
—Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980), French existentialist philosopher, writer, and Nobel laureate
Mont-Saint-Michel, a granite islet rising 260 feet above the Bay of Mont-St-Michel and separated from the mainland by a channel of turbulent water, is virtually impenetrable, and during the sixth and seventh centuries A.D., it served as a Romano-Breton stronghold. Yet, the site has stood as a sacred sanctuary for more than a century, since the first monastery was built there in the eighth century. Today, the Romanesque abbey and church built in the eleventh century to replace the Gothic monastery provides a place of refuge and safety for both the community of monks and nuns of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem who live and worship there and the pilgrims who journey there.
Whether you seek respite from turbulence in your life or are fascinated with French pilgrimage destinations, come to Mont-Saint-Michel, a World Heritage site. From Paris, take the TGV to Rennes; then catch the regional bus. The nearest rail station is in Pontorson. Alternatively, you can rent a car or take a coach tour from Avranches or Saint-Malo.
Be prepared for the steep stairway to the abbey—the only access. The best time to visit is winter when there are fewer tourists.
Soak in the serenity and sense of security emanating from these sacred walls. Pray for the release of trouble or protection from turbulence.
Visit the adjoining cloisters, where hermitic monks live in secluded devotion, reading scripture, praying, meditating, and tending their gardens.