Manoir de la Roche Torin - Courtils, Normandy

Chain:

RDS

Facilities:

• Air-conditioning - Cooling only or Reverse cycle
• Disabled facilities with assistance
• Meeting facilities
• On-site manager
• Restaurant

Single room

Double / Twin room

Triple room

Check-in Time:

15.00

Check-out Time:

12.00

Children & Extra Guest Policy:

Free extra bed for 1 child under 12 y.o. sharing room with parents. Meals to be paid locally.
2 children under 12 y.o. sharing room parents = triple room. Meals to be paid locally.

Local Attractions:

Library of Avranches - Museum of the Manuscripts of Mont-St-Michel
An exceptional treasure of 203 manuscripts, some of which date from the 9C, pays tribute to the spiritual, intellectual and artistic medieval world. This centre devoted to the conservation of the manuscripts of Mont-St-Michel is home to several rooms that show the geographical, historical and cultural background related to the documents, the history of the Mount, the manufacture of medieval manuscripts, and the tools and materials used. The last but one room houses the originals of these masterpieces: chronicals and texts from Antiquity and the Middle Ages, treaties on Roman and Canonical law, botany, music, astronomy, medicine and the lives of saints. The visit ends with a history of printing.

Mont Saint Michel
- Dike ont-St-Michel
2km long, it links Mont-St-Michel to the mainland. This dike (you can go on foot if you wish to see Mont-St-Michel revealed little by little) is to be partially replaced by a footbridge. These plans are part of a major project to dredge Mont-St-Michel out of the sand. The priority of this complex project is to restore Mont-St-Michel's maritime character. The works are due to last for several years but visitors will still be able to access the site.

- Ramparts
A round path dominating the bay. From the route round these ramparts built between the 13 and 15C you'll find some attractive views over the Bay in particular from the north tower from which you can see Tombelaine's rock.

- Grande-Rue
A narrow street invaded by the crowds and the stalls. This narrow street, the beginning of the assault on the Mount, is flanked by 15 and 16C houses with evocative names from the medieval Ages. Some are legendary addresses (Mother Poulard who sent the omelette all round the world) and many souvenir stalls dot this street, which is invaded by a dense polyglot crowd of which, for some people, seem to evoke the meetings of pilgrims from yesteryear.

Mount St Michael's Abbey
A visit to the marvel of the west. This well fortified construction with its blocks of granite coming from Brittany and the Chausey islands is a tour de force. It was begun in the 11C with the building of a Church on the top of the rock. The Gothic abbey was built in the 13C at the same time as the battlements of "The Marvel". The current clock tower dates from 1897. Your visit is carried out in stages and allows you to discover the fortifications of the Abbey, the Church in which the chevet is a masterpiece of grace and lightness, The Marvel, which is the name of given a to Gothic buildings on the north side. This includes the cloister, which seems to be suspended between sea and sky and with its delicately chiselled sculptures it is a little miracle of harmony and the refectory crowned by a wood-panelled vault with diffuse light which never ceases to amaze. The Salle des Hotes (Hosts Room) where the abbots received important visitors is among the most elegant; divided in two by a tapestry, one part (with two large chimneys) served as a kitchen, the other served as a dining room. The vast knights' room, an "old scriptorium" of the monks does not lack attractions. Similarly you'll discover in the cellar, the old Romanesque abbey,(still charming) where a part of the monks dormitory still remains and the big wheel which was driven by prisoners and was used to bring up goods and provisions.

- Refectory
A chamber flooded with light but seemingly without windows. The effect is mysterious; the chamber is full of light although it appears to have only two windows in the end wall. A closer look reveals that the architect introduced a row of slim niches very high up in each recess to admit light without weakening the side walls which support the wooden roof. Note the vaulted ceiling panelled in wood and the excellent acoustics.

- Cloisters
A masterpiece of Gothic art and among the most sophisticated of the Merveille of Mont-St-Michel. The cloisters seem to be suspended between the sea and the sky. The gallery arcades display richly sculptured foliage, ornamented with the occasional animal or human figure; there are also a few religious symbols. The carving is further set off by delightfully slender single columns arranged in quincux to enhance the impression of lightness.

- Church of Mont-St-Michel
A graceful construction, both Romanesque and Gothic. The exterior of the church, particularly the east end, is a masterpiece with its buttresses, rampant arches, bell turrets and balustrades. The interior reveals a marked contrast between the severe, sombre Romanesque nave and the elegant, luminous Gothic chancel.

- The Merveille
Almonry, Guests' Hall, Refectory, Cellar, Knights' Hall and Cloisters - a Gothic masterpiece of striking harmony. The name, which means the Marvel, refers to all the buildings built on the north face of the mount between 1211 and 1228, to house monks, pilgrims and distinguished guests. From the outside, the buildings resemble a fortress. The interior is a fine example of the evolution of the Gothic style, from a simplicity which is almost Romanesque in the lower halls, to the refinement of the cloisters, via the elegance of the Guests' Hall, the grandeur of the Knights' Hall and the mysterious luminosity of the Refectory.

- Mont-Saint-Michel Bay
Sand, sea and polders surrounding the Mont-St-Michel, bathed in light. About 100km of coastline border the bay of the Mont-St-Michel. The islands, cliffs, beaches and dunes form a series of ecosystems which are home to many species of flora and fauna. This part of the coast rewards visitors with stunning views of the Mont-St-Michel and walks along pleasant paths between polders and grassy fields. The first thing to do, however, is enquire about tides. Their amplitude in the bay is considerable, and the difference in sea level between high and low tide can be over 14m, which is the record in France. As the sea bed is flat, the sea retreats a long way, leaving 15km of sand exposed, and the incoming tide is very fast. While speeds of up to 25 to 30kph have been recorded, the average speed is about 3.75kph - the speed of a person walking.
Quicksand is another important phenomenon in the bay. For decades the Mount has been silting up, and the sea deposits around 1 000 000m3 of sediment in the bay every year. Mankind is partly to be blamed because from the mid-19C to 1969, a certain number of constructions were built that accelerated the formation of polders (channels for navigation of the River Couesnon, a dike and a dam). Do not think of crossing the bay without a guide.

- La Lucerne Abbey - St-Pierre-Langers
Situated in a verdant t vale, this 12C abbey, restored in spectacular fashion, houses precious medieval remains.
Once almost in ruins, La Lucerne Abbey was practically reconstructed in spectacular fashion. Admire the 12C West front, the Romanesque doorway and the nave recalling the Cistercian style. Inside, the chancel is amazingly bright and lofty. Note the Gothic bell tower resting on the transept which houses an 18C organ. On your way out, visit the former refectory and its 12C "lavatorium" (ablutions fountain), the halls of justice now devoted to exhibitions and the dovecot pierced with 1 500 holes. The remains of an aqueduct (1803) can be seen in the park.

- Bell foundry - Villedieu-les-Poiles
Created by the knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Cornille-Havard foundry is unique.
The workshop, which has retained its former charm, continues to manufacture bells for churches, ships, public buildings throughout the world and innumerable works of art in bronze such as commemorative plaques, statues and medals. In the company of foundry-men, you will be shown round the kilns, the moulds (built out of an ovenproof material made up of clay, goat hair and horse dung!) and the pits out of which the bells emerge after casting.

Getting There:

Train sations: Pontorson 7 Km. / Rennes 80 Km.
By car: A 84 Exit 33 or 34 Mont Saint Michel 7 Km.