Press file, 18 May 2017

The Centre des monuments nationaux presents the restoration site of the of the "Merveille" of Mont-Saint-Michel as well as its cultural programming

An exceptional monument

Although Mont-Saint-Michel and its abbey are renowned, the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) is using all its resources to receive and satisfy the public in the best possible way, while ensuring the proper preservation of this monument. The CMN, a public institution placed under the supervision of the Minister of Culture and Communication and 's leading cultural and tourist operator, ensures the conservation, restoration and opening to the public of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, and a hundred other monuments like the Arc de Triomphe, the Sainte-Chapelle, the ramparts of Carcassonne and so on.

The first property in France to be listed as a World Heritage site in 1979, Mont-Saint- Michel and its bay, with its stunning natural surroundings and exceptional architectural heritage, exemplifies the unique universal values upheld by UNESCO. The subject of a second World Heritage listing in 1998, as a Route of Santiago de Compostela in France, Mont-Saint-Michel is still an important centre for spirituality. Visitors from all over the world come together here as the panorama, only accessible from the terrace of the west of the abbey, never leaves anyone indifferent.

Press contacts: CMN: Camille Boneu – 0144612186 / 0673121963 [email protected] Leslie Fornero – 0144612142 [email protected] Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey: Xavier Bailly, administrator - 0233898004 [email protected] Isabelle Le Dorner, communications officer – 0233898024 / 0647189705 [email protected] Since the complete re-establishment of its maritime character in times of high tides, the abbey, which occupies the entire top of the rock, indeed offers the best vantage points to admire the very natural landscape.

Restoring the abbey cloister

The Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN) is continuing its vast campaign of restoration and enhancement of the abbey and the ramparts of Mont-Saint-Michel. 2016 was marked by the conformity of the lightning rods of the abbey, with the restoration of the statue of the archangel Saint Michael, reinstalled on 26 May 2016. Since January 2017, the CMN has been undertaking the restoration of the cloister of the abbey in order to remedy the problems of waterproofing and the alterations due to the high number of visitors to this place. The work includes restoration of the waterproofing of the garden and the galleries, restoration of the cover of the latter, and the cleaning and treatment of the of the colonnades. This project lasted 11 months at a cost of 2.04 million euros. Preliminary archaeological excavations made it possible to specify the mediaeval level of the floors of the galleries.

A masterpiece of Norman of the 13th century, the cloister of Mont-Saint- Michel Abbey is built 80 metres high, at the top of a building known as the "Merveille”. It was built with a concern for lightness with a panelled structure, a double row of small columns and fine arches. The presence of a garden is attested in a written work of 1324. Over the centuries – in the Mauritian era, in the 19th century and then in the 20th century – the cloister has been modified and restored.

The restoration was carried out in two sections (two galleries per section) in order to keep the cloister open during the visiting times. Through an exhibition in the courtyard preceding the cloister, the CMN intends to explain the aspects and challenges of this historic site to visitors. A child-friendly reading line has been devised: all along the display panels, they are invited to follow the Salicornia sheep, which guides them through the mysteries of an exceptional restoration site.

The CMN also wants to reclassify the gardens of the Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, notably the emblematic garden of the cloister of the "Merveille", as well as all the gardens of the north which conclude the tour circuit, by adopting a contemporary creation. This project of establishing a garden of creation will be proposed as a consultation, the work of which will be implemented in 2018.

A project supported by patronage

The restoration of the cloister benefits from the patronage of the French Heritage Society – with the support of the Florence Gould Foundation –, Crédit Agricole Normandie and the Fondation du Crédit Agricole – Pays de France.

The Tricots Saint James company is also associated with this major national heritage project with an exceptional and unique product-sharing operation. From 15 April to 15 October 2017, the "Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey" striped jerseys are on sale in the Saint James distribution network in France and abroad (Korea, USA and ), and in 3 bookshop- boutiques of the network (at Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, the Alignments of Carnac and the Towers of La Rochelle). For every striped sold at the price of €45, Saint James pledges to donate €2.50 to the Centre des monuments nationaux for the cloister 2

restoration project. This exceptional and unusual product-sharing operation is part of the territorial patronage policy of the CMN, which wishes to associate its projects with companies attached to the cultural heritage of their region and concerned about its attractiveness.

The restoration of the cloister also benefits from the generosity of the public, who can contribute to the building by making an online donation on www.mapierrealedifice.fr. The call for donations has already raised more than €17,000, reflecting the attachment of many people to this architectural gem.

A rich cultural season

Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey offers activities and events throughout the year to reveal other facets of this monument of inexhaustible wealth. A major cultural player, it is also committed to strengthening its ties with regional and national cultural institutions in order to further develop its partnerships and programming.

In 2017, major events will enhance the calendar, with exceptional concerts and a large music festival, while to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Centre Pompidou, works by Germaine Richier will be displayed in the heart of the monument this summer. The distinctly multifaceted cultural season allows the largest number of visitors to discover Mont-Saint- Michel Abbey in another way, with themed visits, lecture cycles, "high tide" evenings and an evening poetic itinerary during the summer season.

The complete programme can be found on page 15.

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Contents

Contents ...... 4 Restoring the cloister ...... 5 The “Merveille” cloister ...... 5 The works programme for the restoration of the cloister ...... 6 Restoration of the garden ...... 7 Resumption of waterproofing the floor...... 8 Archaeological excavations ...... 8 The panelled frame ...... 9 Restoration of the colonnades of the cloister galleries ...... 9 Patronage ...... 11 The patrons ...... 11 Add your stone to the building ...... 13 Rewards ...... 13 A rich cultural season ...... 15 “40 ans du Centre Pompidou” exhibition ...... 15 Music Festival of Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay – Via Aeterna ...... 16 Discover Mont-Saint-Michel abbey in a different way ...... 16 Concerts within the framework of “Monuments en musique” ...... 18 An abbey for young and old! ...... 20 Books ...... 22 Around Mont-Saint-Michel ...... 26 Visuals available to the press ...... 27 Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey ...... 29 Practical information ...... 30 Overview of the CMN ...... 31

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Restoring the cloister

The “Merveille” cloister

The cloister, a place of prayer and reading, conducive to isolation, inspires meditation. It creates a connection between the terrestrial and celestial areas. Its garden, at the frontier of the intangible world, is an evocation of the original paradise, the garden of Eden. It is also an important place of monastic life, communicating between the refectory, the dormitory and the , where the monks pray seven times a day.

The cloister of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, most likely completed around 1228, has the distinction of being suspended between the sky and the sea, at the top of the "Merveille" building, a Gothic masterpiece of the 13th century. It rests on two superimposed vaulted rooms, the cellar and the Knights' Room, at a height of about one metre from the ground of the abbey church built on the highest point of the rock at 80 metres high.

To achieve this masterpiece of Norman Gothic art, its 13th century designers faced the challenge of a lightweight construction in order not to overburden the rooms below. They chose the option of a structure in the form of a stone , but infinitely lighter. The cloister arches are all about fineness and weightlessness: a double row of columns (137 in total) set slightly askew reduces the sections and, despite its low height, gives an elongated effect. This arrangement also gives an effect of depth which is found on the side walls with the set of columns backing onto it. The arcades are very stable and triangulated through an ingenious network of diagonal arches which counteract the thrust of the framework.

Various construction materials were used: granite of the Chausey Islands for the walls and floors; thick green slate shale for the roofing; fine limestone of Caen for the carved arcatures; marble limestone of Purbeck () for the original columns; purple puddingstone rock of Lucerne, a rock used during the restoration of the 19th century; oak wood for the framework and the panelled vault.

Key dates of the cloister works 1228: Completion of the construction 1623 to 1646: Maurist period: waterproofing, slate roofing, restoration of a garden, repair of the floors of the galleries in pine boards. 1818 to 1863: The abbey was converted into a prison and an intermediate floor was created in the cloister. The site of the garden, which had disappeared, served as a courtyard for the prisoners. 1877 to 1881: First restoration of the cloister by the architect Corroyer: restoration of the attic and a panelled vault in semicircular arches, restoration of the arcades and sculptures of the spandrels, restoration of the gutters and , and granite stone floors. 1898: Resumption of the roofing by the architect Gout who replaced the coloured tiles outlining the rafters implemented by Corroyer by flat red and brown glazed tiles. 1963 to 1965: Second restoration of the cloister by the architect Froidevaux: replacement of the roofing with green slate shale more conform to the original provisions, resumption of waterproofing and restoration of a garden attested to in written works of 1324.

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Key figures of the cloister Average dimensions of the cloister: 27.5 m X 21 m Width of the galleries: 3.10 m Garden surface area: 260 m² Number of columns: 137 linear measurement to treat: 141 ml Roofing surface area: 440 m² Vault surface area: 360 m² Cubic capacity of humus: 65 m3

The works programme for the restoration of the cloister

In his preliminary study of 2015, the chief architect of Historic Monuments, François Jeanneau, recommended carrying out restoration work on the garden, restoring the waterproofing of the garden and the galleries, and cleaning and consolidating the sculptures. Indeed, infiltration of rainwater from the cloister has damaged the coating on the vaults of the Knights' Room located under the cloister. The sculpted elements of the cloister, subjected to the weather and the high tourist frequentation, have been weakened The plant species of the garden are depleted and the panelled frame shows wood bleached by microorganisms.

The restoration work in progress includes: - restoration of the garden; - restoring the waterproofing of the garden and the galleries; - reconstructing the original floor level in the galleries (about 30 cm under the current level); - cleaning and consolidating the sculptures; - improving the ventilation in the attic and cleaning the roof; - treating the panelled framework and replacing any battens.

Archaeological excavations have been carried out to determine the floor level of the galleries and the rainwater discharge system.

The work began in January 2017 and is scheduled to last for eleven months. The estimated budget for the operation is €2.04 million. The prime contractor for the project is François Jeanneau, chief architect of Historic Monuments. The contracting authority, the Centre des monuments nationaux and its teams from the Directorate of Conservation of Monuments and Collections, oversee the work.

The cloister remains open to the public during the works by organising the site in two sections (two galleries per section). In addition, throughout the duration of the project, a mediation system (multi- language exhibition), including a section adapted to young audiences, is presented beforehand in order to allow the public to follow the progress of the work.

The inauguration will take place in November 2017 after 11 months of work.

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Restoration of the garden

The 260 m² of the cloister area seem to have always been occupied by a garden installed on earth brought in and placed on a watertight surface of lead, protecting the vaults of the Knights’ Room. Thus, a grassy parterre was attested to at the beginning of the14th century, and in the 17th century the Maurists cultivated a garden of boxwood and flowers there. During the prison period (late 13th - 19th century), the mineralised area of the © Colombe Clier – CMN cloister served as a walkway for prisoners, and rainwater was collected to fill the tanks for consumption by the occupants of the site. During the works of the cloister in 1877-1881, the chief architect of Historic Monuments, Edouard Corroyer, perpetuated the principle of watertight slabs that he made in granite, with breaks in the slope evacuating towards the gargoyles. In 1965, Yves- Marie Froidevaux, the chief architect of Historic Monuments, removed the heavy granite slabs and used a watertight slab designed by Degaine (patent no. 853 800) and a drainage complex, which hosted a herb garden.

Given the many uncertainties about the state of the mediaeval cloister garden, it is impossible to carry out its historical restitution.

The CMN wants to reclassify the gardens of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey, in particular the emblematic garden of the "Merveille” cloister, as well as all the gardens of the north, which conclude the tour circuit, by adopting a contemporary creation.

The gardens of the north are composed of four entities and represent an area of approximately 2,500 m² comprising:

- The northern garden itself, at the exit to the cellar, extends along the building of the "Merveille" and marks the end of the tour of the abbey buildings. It is a vast terrace on which the visitor has a view looking down from the landing of the staircase to the cellar exit. - The alleys connecting to the low terraces, which meander on the rock in the form of steps and steep ramps, punctuated by a few trees, shrubs and low walls. - The terrace with cannons: it is arranged on the site of a 14th century lookout which was filled and converted into a battery in the middle of the 18th century. This terrace is a privileged observation and defence point on the west side of the abbey offering a superb panorama over the bay and benefiting from a good dose of sunshine. - Lastly, the northern front, a long strip of land bordering the fortifications of the northern section of the abbey, facing the northern woods. We are at the foot of the façade of the "Merveille” building where we discover its tremendous elevation, its incredibly impressive verticality, forming a pattern with the buttresses and windows supported by powerful sloping banks, covered with moss and lichen.

The project to set up a garden of creation will be subjected to consultation, the work of which will be implemented in 2018.

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Resumption of waterproofing the floor

With its closed courtyard and high-up position, the cloister of Mont-Saint-Michel abbey is a real receptacle for rainwater. Its location above the Knights’ Room means it is essential to ensure waterproofing and effective discharge of water.

The waterproof slab – installed in 1965 by the chief architect of Historic Monuments, Yves- Marie Froidevaux – will be preserved but its drainage network and its drainage system will be removed. Bituminous sealing on the preserved slab, combined with a drainage membrane with laminations assembled by heat-welding, will ensure the waterproofing. A new peripheral network for capturing the water will enable discharge towards the North gargoyles, which will be lead-coated. The installation of several inspection chambers will enable regular maintenance of the pipes.

Archaeological excavations

During the Maurist period (17th century), the floor of the galleries was made of pine wood. At the end of the 19th century, Édouard Corroyer, chief architect of Historic Monuments, replaced the floor with granite slabs and raised the level of it.

Restoration work on the cloister thus required archaeological monitoring of the site. A team of archaeologists from INRAP carried out excavations as early as January 2017, as the cloister slabs were removed, in order to draw up an exhaustive account of the water flow system under the cloister, but also of the old layout of the floor.

During their excavations, the archaeologists uncovered the original floor, dating from the 13th century. This floor was a real discovery. It is much lower than expected: about 35 to 40 cm below the level of the floor we know about, instead of the expected 20 cm.

Consisting of slabs of shale, this floor is in opus incertum: it is composed of rubble stones of irregular shapes and sizes. The archaeologists and the inspectorate of Historic Monuments believe that this floor may have originally been intended to be covered with another floor. As a result, the restoration idea chosen was to cover this 13th century floor with the granite slabs used by architect Corroyer at the end of the 19th century. This choice enables protecting the mediaeval floor but also to return to a floor level as low as possible, about 25 to 30 cm below the level that was in place. These new arrangements will give a new dimension to the galleries of the cloister and will bring the colonnade up to scale, while having the advantage of keeping visitors away from the columns and sculptures of the spandrels, saving them from possible damage caused by the high number of visitors to the site.

Did you know? The dwarf wall that supports the columns and serves as a bench for visitors to the cloister wishing to sit down is actually a hollow wall inside, between each column. This archaeological discovery confirms the desire of the 13th century designers to make a lightweight construction so as not to overburden the rooms below.

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The panelled frame

In the , the galleries of the cloister were covered with lead, like many buildings of the abbey. In 1633, the Maurist monks replaced the lead with thick slate tiles, probably adapting the framework, by concealing the interior with a plaster-covered lath, in a depressed arch.

During the restoration of the cloister in 1877-81, the chief architect of Historic Monuments, Edouard Corroyer, reconstructed the frame of the galleries, placing oak slatted panels underneath in a triangular arch. Above all, having recovered the remains of glazed tiles in the backfill of the north staircase leading down to the chapel of Saint-Aubert, Corroyer modified his project and imposed roofing of glazed flat tiles in dark blue, red and yellow, outlining a pattern of rafters.

In 1899, Gout, chief architect of Historical Monuments, who was not satisfied by his predecessor's design, replaced the three-coloured tiles with flat red and brown varnished tiles, forming a thicker rafter pattern.

In the end it was the chief architect of Historical Monuments Yves-Marie Froidevaux who imposed slate during the 1962-1963 work, thus returning it to its Maurist appearance. Using the texts, the 1690 plan-relief model and the remains found in the backfill of the cloister area, Froidevaux opted for stone roofing, typical of the region, thick green slate shale from the Glacerie quarry near Cherbourg, layering the slates was done by a technique known in French as "à liaison brouillée et à pureau décroissant", i.e. the pieces were placed with a slight overlap to avoid leaving an unattractive line, sealed with mortar or attached to wooden dowels.

Today, while the framework, panelled vaults and thick slate roofs are generally in a good state of repair, the seaside location of Mont-Saint-Michel has caused biological contamination on wooden parts, corrosion of metal fittings and fasteners, as well as wear and tear of some slates. The purpose of the works is to clean the wood and renew the roof, its mortar seals and its wooden dowels.

Restoration of the colonnades of the cloister galleries

The arcades of the cloister are made of Caen stone, fine limestone of a luminous white suitable for sculpture. They still bear remnants of polychromy (in the south), proof that the cloister was painted: mouldings and rosettes of the spandrels were enhanced by red and green.

The spandrels combine plant luxuriance and Christian symbolism with a finely carved decoration of leaves, branches with foliage and vine branches. We can see a monk harvesting (in the east, facing the refectory), the mystical lamb and a dragon (in the north); a Christ in glory and a crucifixion (in the west, facing the site where the chapter house should have been built); a Virgin surrounded by angels (in the south).

The work of the 19th century was concerned with replacing the most damaged stones, repairing some of the missing motifs and repointing with hydraulic lime mortar. The cloister mainly suffers from the seaside environment, wet and laden with salt, which generates specific deterioration and leads to microbiological contamination. 9

The work today is focused on cleaning these stones, without replacing them. After a biocide treatment1, dust will be removed from the sculptures using a brush and vacuum. A desalination poultice will then be used to clean the ancient fine columns. The sculptures will then undergo micro-scrubbing2 or phototonic elimination of impurities3 (LASER) depending on the locations, before they are consolidated and resurfaced. Finally, a bio-mineralisation treatment4 will regenerate the calcine that protects the sculptures.

© Etienne Revault – CMN

1 The purpose of the biocide treatment is to eliminate biological coatings (moss, lichen, algae and fungi) by spraying quaternary ammonium salts, which do not leave any soluble salt residue and do not damage the stone. 2 Micro-scrubbing enables cleaning the dirt off the stone without damaging its surface, by projecting micro- particles (alumina powder or other) using a pressure adapted to the nature of the stone and its fragility. 3 Phototonic elimination of impurities consists of cleaning dirt from the stone using laser radiation on fragile areas which will not withstand abrasion by micro-scrubbing. 4 Bio-mineralisation is the process by which living microorganisms are used to produce calcium carbonate on the surface of the stone. This biocalcin thus formed covers the surface microporosities of the stone and reinforces its epidermis to ensure enhanced durability. 10

Patronage

The patrons

French Heritage Society FHS is a non-profit American organisation created in 1982 that includes 11 chapters (delegations) in the and France and whose mission is to ensure that the treasures of our French architectural and cultural heritage survive to inspire future generations.

Guided by the conviction that the most enduring expression of a culture is to convey its greatest achievements, FHS is dedicated to: • Preserving the rich French architectural and cultural heritage throughout France and in the US by raising funds for restoration, preservation and cultural grants (more than 500 to date). • Transmitting and safeguarding the skills, knowledge and love of national heritage through transatlantic educational programmes for students, architects, artisans, art connoisseurs and collectors. • Fostering Franco-American friendship and cross-cultural exchange through tours, lectures and other events likely to raise the necessary funds for the accomplishment of its mission.

Its partners in France are: La Demeure Historique/La Fondation pour les Monuments Historiques, Les Vieilles Maisons Françaises, Le Comité des Parcs et Jardins de France and La Fondation du Patrimoine.

The Florence Gould Foundation The Florence Gould Foundation is an American foundation devoted to Franco-American exchange and friendship. Born of French parents in San Francisco in 1895, Florence Gould lived in the United States and France. Upon her death in 1993, Florence Gould left most of her fortune to the foundation that bears her name. Her Foundation has been working with the French Heritage Society for more than 30 years.

Le Crédit Agricole de Normandie A socially responsible company attached to the local region, Crédit Agricole Normandie has been pursuing a philanthropic approach for many years thanks to its Crédit Agricole Initiatives. Every year, the bank supports more than 400 projects in its region in areas as diverse as social services, health, national heritage, tourism, culture, sports and training. Anything related to general interest and having an impact on regional development.

Because Crédit Agricole Normandie is a different kind of bank, a cooperative bank, it makes a commitment in its region to: - support cultural players - promote national heritage in all its forms - be useful to the economy and society - conduct an active and dynamic patronage - contribute to the reputation of its region

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Le Crédit Agricole Normandie by its values of responsibility, proximity and solidarity is at the heart of local development with Crédit Agricole Initiatives.

Fondation du Crédit Agricole Pays de France Created in1979, the Fondation du Crédit Agricole - Pays de France, organisation recognised as serving the public good, contributes to the maintenance and development of an economic, cultural and social activity throughout France by the preservation of a living heritage. Its action is characterised by its diversity and a broad conception of national heritage: preservation, restoration and reuse of national heritage buildings, creation, development and enrichment of museums, enhancement of natural sites, gardens, archaeological areas, safeguarding and promotion of artistic and cultural heritage, preservation of the evidence of the rural, industrial and maritime economy and ancient techniques and skills, local and social events. In 37 years, 1,300 projects carried out by associations or by public authorities or bodies have benefited from these grants, for a total amount of €38 million. The Foundation is thus extending the work of the 39 Regional Banks in favour of regional vitality.

Les Tricots Saint James The Saint James company has been established in Normandy, near Mont- Saint-Michel, since 1889. Its reputation was built on a cult garment "the real sailor jersey knitted in pure virgin wool", originally intended for fishermen, then adopted by the greatest seafarers, amateur yachtsmen and tourists. Its “seaside” collections in pure wool and pure cotton, now attract a large customer base, not only on the French coast but also in major French cities, as well as in Europe, the United States, and even in Asia. In recognition of their unique expertise in knitting for more than 120 years, Les Tricots Saint James were awarded the "Living Heritage Company" label in 2014. This label distinguishes French companies with artisanal and industrial expertise of excellence.

A sailor jersey to benefit the preservation of the "Merveille" Les Tricots Saint James are associated with this major national heritage project with an exceptional and unique product-sharing operation. With their 100% French expertise in knitting for more than 120 years, the company has created a sailor jersey – a limited edition – sold from 15 April to 15 October 2017 in its network of shops in France and abroad (Korea, United States and Japan) and on its www.boutique-saint-james.fr website. Unisex, ecru and navy, available in four sizes (S, M, L and XL), there is an elegant, sober and discreet weave on the left sleeve of the silhouette of Mont-Saint-Michel. For each sailor jersey sold, at a price of €45, Saint James pledges to donate €2.50 (5.6%) to the Centre des monuments nationaux for the cloister restoration project. The CMN also offers the sailor jersey in three shops of its network: those of Mont-Saint-Michel abbey, the Alignments of Carnac and the Towers of La Rochelle. © Alice Bertrand - DGC Communication

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Add your stone to the building

As part of its new digital strategy, the Centre des monuments nationaux has established its own on-line donation platform: “My stone on the building”. Devised to support the projects and monuments of the CMN, it is available on the following link: www.mapierrealedifice.fr.

Several other projects are proposed to allow Internet users to donate as they wish. Internet users can also support the restoration of the finials of the château d’Azay-le-Rideau, two sculpted groups "Sphinx and Love" at the château de Champs-sur- (-et-Marne), audio-tactile work at the Villa Cavrois (North), intended for blind and partially sighted people or make a donation for their favourite monument among the 100 monuments managed by the CMN.

© Alain Lonchampt – CMN

Rewards

Under the law on patronage, donations from individuals give rise to a tax reduction of 66% of the amount of the donation.

Every donation counts! Whatever the amount of the donation, the donor's name (or the person of their choice) will be highlighted on the donor page of the www.mapierrealedifice.fr website.

For any donation over €50: a pass valid for a visit to a monument from the 100 monuments managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux will be offered to the donor.

For any donation over €100: 2 passes valid for a visit to a monument from the 100 monuments managed by the Centre des monuments nationaux will be offered to the donor.

For any donation over €300: the donor will also be invited, along with the person of their choice, to attend the inauguration of the restored cloister in the presence of the restoration specialists and the Administrator of the Abbey**.

For any donation over €600: a private tour will also be proposed to the donor and to the person of their choice**.

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For any donation over €1000: the donor will become a member of the Patrons’ Club of the Centre des monuments nationaux and will be invited to exceptional events throughout the country, for one year, with the person of their choice (invitations to Monuments en mouvement, Monument en musique, exhibition inaugurations, etc.)**.

*The French law on patronage, associations and foundations, known as the "Aillagon law", was passed on 1 August 2003. Measures taken in favour of individuals offer a simple and attractive income tax reduction scheme. Thus, under Article 200 of the General Tax Code, individuals may benefit from a reduction in income tax – due the following year – of 66% of the value of the donation up to a limit of 20% of taxable income (with the possibility of deferring the surplus over five years). This tax exemption applies to taxpayers domiciled in France.

**These rewards do not include the accommodation or transport of the beneficiaries.

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A rich cultural season

Mont-Saint-Michel abbey offers activities and events throughout the year to reveal other facets of this monument with its inexhaustible wealth. As a major cultural player, it is also striving to strengthen its links with regional and national cultural institutions in order to further develop its partnerships and its programming.

“40 ans du Centre Pompidou” exhibition

Germaine Richier, L’Ouragane 1 July – 12 November 2017

For its 40th anniversary, the Centre Pompidou is partnering with the Centre des monuments nationaux to present the work of Germaine Richier (1902-1959), one of the major figures of modern sculpture, in an exceptional national heritage site, Mont-Saint-Michel abbey. Bringing together a collection of emblematic pieces by Germaine Richier, the exhibition, organised under the curatorship of Ariane Coulondre, curator at the Centre Pompidou, pays tribute to the power of her figures, both massive and fragile, marked by mystery and metamorphosis. It offers a unique dialogue between the works and the site, sculpture and architecture in relation to the power of nature and the elements.

Germaine Richier, known as L’Ouragan (Hurricane), named after one of her sculptures, received a classical training at the Beaux-Arts in Montpellier and then at the school of Antoine Bourdelle, in the tradition of depicting volume and life sculpture. Quickly recognized, she developed a style which was remarkable for its expressiveness and its exacerbated treatment of matter. From the Second World War, her work was made up of petrified hybrid figures, human or animal, the body being always integrated into the reign of nature. Dying early at the age of 57, Germaine Richier is one of the few post-war artists to have enjoyed a retrospective at the Musée National d’Art Moderne during her lifetime. The exhibition presented in Mont-Saint-Michel abbey brings together a series of major works retracing the evolution and intensity of Germaine Richier's work in the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Presented in the heart of the Merveille, in the Salle des Hôtes (13th century), a set of five bronzes from the collections of the Centre Pompidou is placed in a spectacular Gothic setting. L’Orage (1947-1948) and L’Ouragane (1948-1949) embody the forces of nature, with their rough forms as if gnawed by erosion. With Le Diabolo (1950), then L’Eau (1953-1954), the artist becomes interested in emptiness with a hollow form. Designed by Germaine Richier for her exhibition at the Musée National d’Art Moderne (1956), the monumental Montagne marks the culmination of her research. Incorporating the branches of bronze-cast trees she presents the encounter of two fantastic creatures playing on the passage between mineral, vegetable and animal.

The exhibition also continues outdoors on the West Terrace, with the last major work of Germaine Richier, L’Echiquier grand (1959). The five bronze pieces of this 15

synthesis of her work are facing the spectacular natural setting, the rock and the sea, and the extraordinary stone architecture of the abbey. The characters of the chess game – the King, the Queen, the , the Knight and the Rook – combine human and plant, emphasizing the link between real and imaginary. "All my sculptures, even the most imaginary, always start from something real, from an organic truth. Imagination needs a point of departure. It can then lead you straight into poetry. I invent more easily by looking at nature, its presence makes me independent.” - Germaine Richier

Temporary exhibition accessible at no additional charge.

Music Festival of Mont-Saint-Michel and its bay – Via Aeterna

From Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 September 2017

The Centre des monuments nationaux, the Conseil Départemental de la Manche, Bayard and the Centre de Réalisations et d’études Artistiques (Créa) of Nantes are joining forces to create a new classical music festival that will take place in Mont-Saint-Michel bay from 21 to 24 September 2017. Musical ensembles from around the world are expected for this event, which will take place in the bay during the first three days of the Festival, ending on Sunday, 24 September with a “musical and spiritual grand finale” at the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey with a whole day devoted to music.

The artistic direction of the festival is ensured by René Martin, creator and organiser of La Folle Journée of Nantes and Pays de la Loire region and the Roque-d'Anthéron International Piano Festival, among others.

Discover Mont-Saint-Michel abbey in a different way

Cycle of lectures - All about the abbey 9 June, 13 October, 10 November, 8 December 2017 at 8.30 pm

Once a month, an expert reveals to you all the secrets of a history, architecture and landscape shaped by Man. Opportunities to discover lesser known aspects or to deepen your knowledge on a cultural landmark considered Outstanding Universal Value. These lectures are held in one of the closed rooms on the classic tour: the Belle-Chaise (heated) room.

- 9 June: The chevet of the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey church: masterpiece of Gothic – by Yves Gallet - 13 October: Between myth and reality, the forest of Scissy and the symbolism of Mont- Saint-Michel Bay – by Jean-Yves Cocaign - 10 November: The first results of the archaeological works on the rue du Mont-Saint- Michel and the cloister of the abbey – by Elen Esnault - 8 December: The reconstruction of the abbey belfry at the beginning of the 17th century - discovering unpublished archives – by Bernard Pointel

Lectures lasting 1 hour 30 min no booking required / Price: €4 16

Free for visitors under 26 years, citizens of one of the 28 European Union Member States and official non-European residents of France. No booking required.

The “High Tide” evenings Experience the high tides at the top! Friday 26 May, Saturday 27 May

To enjoy the calm of the abbey outside the usual opening hours and admire the rising tide of the greatest high tide of Europe. The terrace of the abbey offers an extraordinary view of the unique sight of the rising tide and the famous wave of the Mont-Saint- Michel tidal bore (visible 1 hour 45 min to 2 hours before the open sea). The various rooms of the tour circuit will be proposed to wander freely and the abbey will remain open until 10.30 pm (last entry 9.30 pm).

Prices: Full price: €10 Concession: €8 Rates for tourism professionals and groups from 20 people: €8 Free for children under 18 years with their family, for visitors under 26 years and for holders of the PASS Education.

"The Bastille of the Seas" 3 June, 1 July, 5 August, 2 September, 7 October, 4 November, 2 December at 11 am

During this in-depth visit, a guide talks about the prison period of Mont-Saint-Michel and the conversion of the abbey into prison. On the programme: exploring the dungeons and their organisation.

Length of visit: 2 hours - Booking required, visits with set dates, limited to 18 people Full price: €13 – Concessions: €9

© CMN

"A Sunday in the skies of the archangel”

As Mont-Saint-Michel unveils its new face and its restored insular character, the Centre des monuments nationaux once again gives access to a majestic and astonishing belvedere of the abbey: the terraces of the . The public can stroll amongst the arches and enjoy an exceptional view of the village and the bay. Access to the lace staircase is possible.

Length of visit: 2 hours - Booking required, visits with set dates, limited to 18 people Lace staircase ©CMN Full price: €13 – Concessions: €9

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DATES OPENING TIMES 21, 28 May 4, 11, 18, 25 June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 July 6, 13, 20, 27 August 11 am 3, 10, 17, 24 September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 October 5, 12, 19, 26 November 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 December evening itinerary "The secret resident of the abbey" A Spectre Lab / Mathilde Meignan creation 10 July - 26 August 2017 Every evening except Sunday From 7.30 pm to midnight, last entry 11 pm

Have you seen it? Have you even heard any sign of its presence? The secret resident of Mont-Saint-Michel abbey is there and it is at nightfall that you will be most able to observe it. A new myth deriving its origin from the history of the place, the tale is timeless and universal. Through a poetic journey oscillating between imagination and contemplation you will (re)discover the abbey. The site transforms to play with your senses and your bearings. A

The peregrine falcon ©CMN walk during which you will weave your way in the footsteps of the peregrine falcon, the emblematic animal of the bay and a regular resident of the abbey .

Prices: Self-guided tour from 7.30 pm to midnight, last entry 11 pm every evening except Sunday, no booking required. Full price: €10 Concession (18-25 years excluding EU): €8 Combined day visit/evening itinerary ticket: Full price €15 /Concession €12 (valid 2 days) Rates for tourism professionals and groups from 20 people: €8 Free for children under 18 years with their family, for visitors under 26 years and for holders of the PASS Education.

Concerts within the framework of “Monuments en musique”

The doors will open on concert evenings at 7.30 pm, unless there is a technical imperative. Programme subject to change without notice.

Xavier de Maistre – Harp Recital Saturday, 10 June 2017 at 8.30 pm

Xavier de Maistre received his harp training with Vassilia Briano at the Toulon Conservatory before perfecting with Catherine Michel and Jacqueline Borot in . In 1998, he won first prize and two prizes for interpretation at the most prestigious harp competition: the U.S.A International Harp Competition (Bloomington) and in the

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same year he became the first French musician to be admitted to the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. “Pure music (…). Xavier de Maistre is a virtuoso of the highest level, with profound musicality and possessing an incredible range of nuances.” Gramophone.

Programme: Matteo Albeniz: Sonata in D major Jesus Guridi: Viejo Zortzico Isaac Albeniz: Asturias Khatchatourian: Oriental Dance and Pure Harp Toccata classics Tchaikovsky: Fantasy on a theme of the opera Eugène Onegin Faure: Impromptu Debussy: Two Arabesques / Claire de Lune Smetana: Moldau

Orchestra of the Opera of Rouen Normandy Kenneth Weiss, musical direction Jane Peters, violin Saturday 24 June 2017 at 8.30 pm

Already brought together for a recording of Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Jane Peters, solo violin of the Orchestra of the Opera of Rouen Normandy, and harpsichordist Kenneth Weiss are reunited for Johann Sebastian Bach A virtuoso of the violin for which he wrote several Italian-style concertos, Bach was also the theorist of genius who conceived the very learned Art of Fugue at the end of his life. As part of the “Territoires baroques”, this year paying tribute to this monument of keyboard music, the New York harpsichordist will deliver his interpretation of selected excerpts. A similarity of styles run through the different pieces of music of this concert, Bach never renouncing with the sophistication of form like the melodies enhanced by the fugue.

Programme: Johann Sebastian Bach: - Violin Concerto No. 1 - Brandenburg Concertos No. 3 and No. 6 - The Art of Fugue (excerpts)

Didier Hennuyer – Organ Recital Saturday 9 September 2017 at 8.30 pm

After brilliant music studies, Didier Hennuyer is now invited by numerous festivals and performs in France, Europe and also in the United States. He is particularly talented for deciphering, the Art of the first interpretation, and is also a professor and organist of the Grandes-Orgues of Notre-Dame de Paris and Saint-François de Sales church in Boulogne- sur-Mer. The programme he performs at Mont-Saint-Michel abbey is marked by the eclecticism that characterises him and which makes him an all-round musician.

Programme: Perotin the Great: Alleluia Tone VII Johann Sebastian Bach: Toccata & fugue in D minor BWV 565 J. Ximenez: Batalla de sexto tono Joseph Ermend-Bonnal: Cloches dans le ciel Olivier Messiaen: Alleluias sereins d’une âme qui désire le ciel (excerpt from "L’Ascension") 19

Jean Langlais: Voluntary St Jacques Louis Vierne: Naïades & Gargouilles et Chimères Maurice Duruflé: Toccata

Omar Bashir – Oud Recital Saturday 07 October 2017 at 8.30 pm

Omar Bashir is an artist who occupies a special place in the musical landscape of the Middle East. This powerful and refined musician is the only true heir of the legendary master of the Arabian Oud, Munir Bachir, who is also his father. Omar Bashir succeeds in a real challenge: to combine with ease a fidelity to the legacy of his father with a very personal search in the heart of various musical influences. From his improvisations on some of the most significant Arabic maqams, Omar Bashir seeks to highlight their relationship with other cultures. He thus invites the listener to give free rein to their imagination on a journey that will take them on the paths of caravans or travellers in a world that goes from to Andalusia, passing through and . - Chérif Khaznadar

Prices: Chair (): full price €25 / concession (12-25 years) €18.50 [except organ recital and Oud recital] Bench ( and bottom of nave): full price €18.50 / concession €14 Reservations on 02 33 89 80 04 or [email protected].

An abbey for young and old!

Monument Jeu d’Enfant Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 October 2017

Created and organised by the Centre des monuments nationaux and its teams, the “Monument Jeu d’enfant” has been an undisputed success for more than ten years with families who come in increasingly high numbers every year to participate in the various events on offer. 50 national monuments are mobilised for these two exceptional days intended for children aged from 5 to 12 years to have fun and to discover national heritage in a different way.

Free entry and events for children aged under 18 with their family Concession: €8 for an accompanying adult

Tales and Stories Wednesday 27, Thursday 28 and Friday 29 December 2017 – 3 and 4 January 2018

The magic of Christmas will enter the Mont-Saint-Michel abbey with narrated tours by the Troll company for the first edition of "Tales and Stories".

Narrated tour limited to 25 people. Full price: €10 Concession: €8 Booking required on 02 33 89 80 00 or [email protected]

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Family visits

This visit allows families to tour the abbey in an educational and playful way. The history of the abbey to discover, riddles to solve, forbidden doors to push open... Everything has been organised so that adults and children can discover or rediscover this extraordinary place while having fun together! Family visits in 2017 are on the theme of "Light".

DATES OPENING TIMES 26 and 27 May 11 am -2.30 pm 10, 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31 July 11 am 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 25 August 11 am 23, 25, 27, 30, 31 October 11 am -2.30 pm 1, 2 and 3 November 11 am -2.30 pm 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 December 11 am

Full price (adult): €13 Concession (18 to 25 years) and valid PASS Education: €9 Prices for young people under 18; Free (upon presentation of a proof) Tour limited to 30 people for a duration of 1 hour 30 min, for families with children aged 7 to 12 years. Booking required on 02 33 89 80 00 or abbaye-mont-saint-michel@monuments- nationaux.fr.

Patronage The Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey Cultural Season 2017 benefits from the patronage of: Bretagne, Société Générale, Degaine, cabinet Philippe Machefer, Tricots Saint James, Sodétour, La Mère Poulard, Les Amis du Mont-Saint-Michel and La Merveille France.

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Books

The Éditions du Patrimoine is the editorial department of the Centre des monuments nationaux and the delegated editor of the national heritage department of the Ministry of Culture and Communication. As a public service mission, they have the vocation, on the one hand, to account for the latest achievements in research in fields as varied as national heritage property and furniture, architecture, the history of art and archaeology and, on the other hand, to disseminate knowledge of national heritage to a broad audience. With some twenty very differentiated collections – guides, art books, theoretical texts, scientific publications – the Éditions du Patrimoine is intended for both amateurs and professionals, students and researchers as well as children and audiences with special needs.

With about thirty new releases per year self-published or co-published with the private sector, the catalogue now offers nearly 600 references, regularly reprinted and updated. www.editions.monuments-nationaux.fr

To celebrate the insularity found in 2015, Éditions du Patrimoine proposed several new publications.

The “Building Monographs” Collection Le Mont-Saint-Michel Under the direction of Henry Decaëns

Price: 45 euros Hardback 24 x 29 cm – 296 pages – 282 illustrations ISBN 978-2-7577-0441-7 Available in bookshops

At a time when the insular character of Mont-Saint-Michel has been restored and the landscape of the bay deeply restored, this unique monograph - the first since the book published by Editions Heritage in 1998 - tells the story of this monastic masterpiece from its founding to the present day. Bringing together contributions from experts explaining the latest renovation projects of one of the most visited sites in France, this precious book is based on high quality, partly unpublished, iconography.

The authors Historian specialising in Normandy, Henry Decaëns has been a lecturer with the Centre des monuments nationaux at Mont-Saint-Michel abbey since 1965 and administrator of the abbey church Saint-Ouen of Rouen since 1991. He is supported by Pierre Bouet (specialist of Norman and Anglo-Norman historians of the Latin language); Jean-Paul Brighelli (teacher and essayist); François Caligny-Delahaye (archaeologist in charge of operations at Mont-Saint-Michel); Vincent Juhel (historian-researcher with Les Chemins du Mont- Saint-Michel association); Jean-Claude Lefeuvre (professor at the French National Museum of Natural History); Marie-Agnès Lucas-Avenel (Co-Director of the University Office for Norman Studies); Florence Margo (in charge of documentary studies at the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs of Île-de-France) and François Neveux (professor

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emeritus of the University of Caen, President of the Fédération des Sociétés historiques et archéologiques de Normandie).

“Comic Strip” Collection Meurtre sur le Mont-Saint-Michel Marie Jaffredo (drawings) and Djian (scenario)

Price: 13.90 euros 24 x 32 cm – hardback – 48 pages ISBN 9782344006030

Co-published with Glénat Available in bookshops

Autumn 1936, a mist envelops the Mont-Saint-Michel which slumbers peacefully despite some concerns related to the fact that a mysterious visitor seems to have been prowling on the site for several days. A young girl, Lucy, unwittingly witnesses a murder and flees with the assassin on her trail. At dawn, all the inhabitants begin to search the bay and the Mount in search of Lucy, but all they find is the lifeless body of the local priest! The gendarmes of Pontorson are unable to assist so the investigation will have to be solved internally. The panic is even greater since in recent days, a mysterious stranger haunts the site. In a stifling atmosphere, everyone becomes wary of everyone else. This sinister affair will lead the reader from the village of Mont-Saint-Michel to the bowels of the abbey in a narrative mixing police intrigue and historical facts. Right up to the claustrophobic conclusion worthy of an Agatha Christie novel.

The authors Originally from Brittany, Marie Jaffredo spent her childhood in Normandy. Architect and urban planner by training, she began working on comic strips by participating in various collectives. While a great lover of comic strips, Djian worked in the music industry as a composer as well as in various food trades before meeting Régis Loisel in 1987.

MONT-TOMBE La dernière légende du Mont-Saint-Michel Izu (scenario) et Asan (drawings)

Price: 10.75 euros 14.5 x 21 cm – 192 pages ISBN 9782344008980

Also available in Japanese Co-published with Glénat Available in bookshops

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17 March 2015, 6.35 am, Mont-Saint-Michel. During landscaping works in the bay of the Mount, a worker accidentally falls into a shrine containing frescoes that refer to the cult of Mithras. This discovery is about to shake-up the . We are on the eve of the tide of the century, tourists are about to overrun the island and we cannot take the risk of letting them access this . Dumont, young police lieutenant, takes the matter in hand. In a few hours, several mysterious signs seem to refer to the text of the Apocalypse, confirmed by the expert, Ryo Tachibana, a well-known archaeologist in Japan; for him, only the "truth" counts, no matter what it implies.

The authors After several years spent on video games and Japanese animation, Izu became literary director at Humanoïdes Associés in 2006 where he launched the Shogun collection, dedicated to manga creations. At the same time, he pursued a career as a screenwriter with more than twenty comic strips and manga. Asan, cartoonist and screenwriter, has already published several manga with Humanoïdes Associés and Glénat.

L’ORDRE D’AVALON Izu (scenario) and Morgil (drawings)

Price: €10.75 13 x 18 cm – 184 pages ISBN 978-2-3440-0898-0

On the Mont-Saint-Michel, the body of famous archaeologist Ryo Tachibana is found, a Celtic medallion in his pocket. Between Arthurian myths, the story of the Apocalypse and the legends and history of Mont-Saint- Michel, this album takes us on the trail of a strange secret society: the Order of Avalon.

“Activity Books” Collection Ma balade au Mont-Saint-Michel Géraldine Cosneau

Price: 8.95 euros 21 x 28 cm – 32 pages + 2 sticker pages ISBN 9782840068365 From 4 years of age

Also available in English and Japanese Co-published with Mila Éditions Available in bookshops

A walk on Mont-Saint-Michel with activities is what this original album offers. For more than 1,300 years, the abbey, built at the peril of the sea, dominates the bay that separates Brittany and Normandy. This activity book invites young visitors to discover the monument, the streets, its history and the decorations of this place while leaving the child to complete the pictures on each 24

page. They can do this by drawing, or by sticking the stickers and cut-outs that they will find in the book.

The author Géraldine Cosneau is an illustrator for children's books and children's fashion, she likes to draw characters, animals and imaginary flowers, playing with colours and creating prints. She lives and works in Nantes, where she studied at the School of Fine Arts.

“Crimes and monuments” Collection Les Diables du Mont-Saint-Michel Claude Merle

Price: 16 euros 14 x 21 cm – 280 pages ISBN 9782369422594

Co-published with Nouveau Monde Available in bookshops

We are in 1430. Besieged by the English, the Mont-Saint-Michel resists thanks to great captains like Du Guesclin. The new garrison commander, Louis d'Estouteville, has to confront a series of terrible murders: a monk hanging from a buttress, an illuminator quartered in the cloister, an officer with dislocated members thrown on the shore... He conducts the investigation with the help of the new superior of the , a learned chemist and physicist, and the innkeeper of the city, an accomplice of the smugglers.

Between historical realism and fantastic atmosphere, a novel in line with the Name of the Rose, having an exceptional site as a setting.

The author Mediaevalist, former history teacher, Claude Merle is the author of around 120 books: historical novels, youth and adventure novels, etc. He wrote the nine volumes of the Mercantour series and several titles in the series "Heroes of History" with Bayard. He has contributed to the writing of numerous Autrement books. With Nouveau Monde Editions, he published Les Guerriers de fer and L’Aigle des brumes.

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Around Mont-Saint-Michel

Last but not least, several guides dedicated to Mont-Saint-Michel are regularly updated and available in a wide choice of languages, to meet the expectations of different audiences.

“Itineraries” Collection Le Mont-Saint-Michel Henry Decaëns

Price: 7 euros 11 x 22.5 cm – paperback with flaps – 64 pages ISBN 9782858221912 Available in bookshops Also available in English, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.

The author Historian specialising in Normandy, Henry Decaëns has been a lecturer with the Centre des monuments nationaux at Mont-Saint-Michel abbey since 1965.

The “Itineraries” Collection Essential guides in pocket format, the "Itineraries" accompany the discovery of a place in an enjoyable and thorough way. Enriched with the latest research and abundantly illustrated, they offer the general history of a monument followed by a detailed visit, with plans, a chronology and a bibliography.

“Regards…” Collection Le Mont-Saint-Michel Gérard Dalmaz

Price: 12 euros 24 x 26 cm – paperback with flaps – 68 pages – 90 illustrations ISBN 9782757700129

Available in bookshops Also available in English, German and Japanese.

The author Gérard Dalmaz, Journalist and historian, is a member of the AJP (Association des journalistes du patrimoine).

The “Regards…” Collection For enthusiasts, the collection of "Regards ...” albums offers a variety of perspectives on a site or monument. To show a part of national heritage and reveal it with a rich use of iconography, is the objective of this collection.

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Visuals available to the press

1/ Material routing by helicopter 2/ Restoration works of the cloister of Mont-Saint-Michel © Vincent M. – Centre des monuments nationaux abbey © Vincent M. - Centre des monuments nationaux

3/ Reconstructing the original floor level in the galleries 4/ Material routing by helicopter © Vincent M. – Centre des monuments nationaux © Vincent M. – Centre des monuments nationaux

5/ Material routing by helicopter 6/ Material routing by helicopter © Vincent M. – Centre des monuments nationaux © Vincent M. – Centre des monuments nationaux

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7/ The cloister of Mont-Saint-Michel abbey before the 8/ Spandrel of the North Gallerie of the cloister restoration works © Colombe Clier – Centre des © Etienne Revault – Centre des monuments nationaux monuments nationaux

9/ View of the cloister before the restoration works 10/ Archangel Michael © Philippe Berthé – Centre des monuments nationaux © Philippe Berthé – Centre des monuments nationaux

11/ Mont-Saint-Michel abbey 12/ View of the Mont-Saint-Michel © Olivier Rivière – Centre des monuments nationaux © Colombe Clier – Centre des monuments nationaux

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Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey

Dominating the fortified village and its charming alleys, the abbey testifies to the mastery and skills of the Middle Ages It brings together more than 20 rooms, including a pre- Roman chapel, religious buildings, a Gothic ensemble called "la Merveille" and a flamboyant Gothic choir.

Over the centuries and following fires, collapses, reconstructions, architectural choices and changes in use, Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey © Isabelle LD the Abbey has been transformed. Today it has been opened to the public by the Centre des monuments nationaux, whose cultural and tourist role is displayed through the implementation of a programme of activities for all audiences: guided tours, concerts, family visits, thematic visits, school projects and so on.

The long history of the Mont-Saint-Michel began in 708, when the Bishop of Avranches had a first sanctuary built on the Mount in honour of the archangel Michael, to establish a small community of canons there.

In 966, the Benedictines settled on the Mount at the request of Richard I, Duke of Normandy, and were responsible for the growth of the new . Soon, the abbey became a major place of pilgrimage in the Christian West, but also one of the centres of mediaeval culture where a large number of manuscripts were produced and stored.

© P. Berthé, CMN A political and intellectual crossroads where Carolingian traditions and Greco-Arab influence crossed, the abbey also benefited from exchanges between Great Britain and France.

Following the Revolution, the property of the Church was declared "national property" and in 1793 the abbey was converted into a prison. This conversion actually saved it because it prevented it from being demolished.

In 1863 an imperial decree put an end to it. In 1874, the site was classified as a historical monument and since 1979, Mont-Saint- Michel as a whole (abbey, village, bay) is inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Mont-Saint-Michel has been opened to visitors and restored by © P. Berthé, CMN the Centre des monuments nationaux. In 2016, the CMN received 1,174,079 visitors there.

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Practical information

Centre des monuments nationaux Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel Tel.: 02 33 89 80 00 [email protected] www.abbaye-mont-saint-michel.fr

Opening times:

Open all year Open every day except 1 January, 1 May and 25 December

From 2 May to 31 August: 9a m to 7 pm From 1 September to 30 April: 9:30 am to 6 pm Last entry 1 hour before closing of the monument

Admission:

Full price: €10 Concession (18-25 years excluding EU): €8 Rates for tourism professionals and groups from 20 people: €8 Price school groups (fixed cost for 30 students): €30 Free: Individuals under the age of 18 (on presentation of proof, with their family and outside of school groups), under 26 years old, nationals of one of the 28 countries of the European Union and regular non-European residents in France, disabled with an accompanying person, beneficiary of the social minima (attestation of less than 6 months), holders of the PASS Education from the French Ministry of Education.

2017 visit offer for individuals

Self-guided tour – a free visitor guide is available in twelve languages. This guide provides essential information about the history of the monument.

Guided tour – guided tour without supplement, no booking required, with regular departures. Guided tours are held throughout the year for individual audiences in French and English, as well as in German, Spanish and Italian in July and August. Length of visit: 1¼ hours.

Tour with audioguide – audioguides available in 8 languages. The length of visit with audioguide is 1¼ hours. Rental price: €3 / person

The lecture tour - in-depth guided tour with access to closed rooms (including Notre- Dame-Sous-Terre). Lecture tours organised weekends and during the school holidays allowing a more thorough discovery of the abbey with a lecturer guide from the Centre des monuments nationaux. Tour limited to 30 people. Length of visit: 2 hours. No booking required - Prices: full price: €13 / concession: €9

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Overview of the CMN The archaeological sites of Glanum and Carnac, the abbeys of Montmajour and Mont-Saint-Michel, the châteaux of If and Azay-le-Rideau, the National Domain of Saint-Cloud, the Arc de Triomphe and the Villas Savoye and Cavrois are just some of the 100 national monuments in France, properties of the State, now under the care of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux (CMN). As the leading public, cultural and tourist operator with nearly 8.6 million visitors a year, the Centre des monuments nationaux preserves and opens exceptional monuments to the public as well as their parks and gardens. They illustrate, in their diversity, the richness of French national heritage. Supported by a fair pricing policy, the CMN endeavours to facilitate access to our national heritage to every type of audience. 80 % of its operation is based on its own resources from visitor frequentation, gift and book shops, rental of space and sponsorship. Based on an equalisation system, the Centre des monuments nationaux is a key national heritage solidarity player. The beneficiary monuments enable producing cultural and scientific activities throughout the whole network. After opening Fort de Brégançon to the public in 2014 and Villa Cavrois restored in 2015, the CMN now manages Villa Kérylos, owned by the Institut de France, and is preparing, in Paris, the opening of the Colonne de Juillet (July Column) to the public for 2018 and the Hôtel de la Marine for 2019.

Find the CMN on

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Monuments under CMN's responsibility to be opened to the public

Nouvelle Aquitaine Centre- Occitania Grotte des Combarelles cave and tower of Bourges Château and ramparts of the city Abri de Laugerie-Haute rock shelter of Carcassonne Abri de Cap-Blanc rock shelter Palais Jacques Cœur in Bourges Towers and ramparts of Aigues-Mortes Grotte de Font-de-Gaume cave Tower of Chartres Fort Saint-André of Villeneuve-lez- Archaeological site of Montcaret Cathedral Archaeological site and museum of Ensérune rock shelter Château de Châteaudun Fortress of Salses La Micoque rock shelter Château de Bouges Archaeological site of Montmaurin Abri du Poisson rock shelter House of George Sand in Nohant Château d'Assier Grotte de Teyjat cave Château d'Azay-le-Rideau Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux Moustier rock shelter Cloister of la Psalette in Tours Château de Montal Tour Pey-Berland in Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre Beaulieu-en-Rouergue Abbey Grande-Sauve Abbey Château de Talcy Château de Gramont Grotte de Pair-non-Pair cave Château de Cadillac Hauts-de-France Château de Puyguilhem Château de La Motte Tilly Colonne de la Grande Armée in Wimille Tour de la Lanterne, Tour Saint-Nicolas Palais du Tau in Villa Cavrois and Tour de la Chaîne in La Rochelle Towers of Château de Coucy Château d'Oiron Château de Pierrefonds Charroux Abbey Paris Towers of Cathedral Gallo-Roman site of Sanxay Arc de triomphe Chapelle expiatoire Normandy Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Colonne de Juillet – Place de la Bastille Château de Carrouges Château de Chareil-Cintrat Conciergerie Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey of Le Puy-en-Velay Cathedral Domaine national du Palais-Royal Abbey of Bec-Hellouin Château d'Aulteribe Hôtel de Béthune-Sully Château de Villeneuve-Lembron Hôtel de la Marine Pays-de-la-Loire Château de Voltaire in Ferney Musée des Plans-Reliefs Château d'Angers Royal Monastery of Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse Panthéon House of Georges Clemenceau Treasury of the Cathedral of Sainte-Chapelle in Saint-Vincent-sur-Jard Towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral Burgundy-Franche-Comté -Alpes-Côte d'Azur Château de Bussy-Rabutin Ile-de-France Stronghold of Mont-Dauphin Cluny Abbey Château de Champs-sur-Marne Trophée d'Auguste in La Turbie Besançon Cathedral Château de Jossigny Archaeological site of Glanum and its astronomical clock Château de Maisons Hôtel de Sade Villa Savoye in Poissy Château d'If Brittany Domaine national de Rambouillet Montmajour Abbey Ernest Renan's House in Tréguier Domaine national de Saint-Cloud Monastery of Saorge Cairn of Barnenez Maison des Jardies in Sèvres Cloisters of Fréjus Cathedral Megalithic sites of Carnac Basilica of Saint Denis Thoronet Abbey Megalithic site of Locmariaquer Château de Vincennes Fort de Brégançon Villa Kérylos

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