The spectacular French abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel celebrates its 1000th anniversary

Beloved French Abbey Mont-Saint-Michel Has reached adulthood. have passed 1,000 years since its first stone was laid.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site and Normandy’s main tourist magnet will celebrate its millennium with exhibitions, dance performances and concerts until November. Now comes the President.

President of France Emmanuel Macron, was there on Monday and delivered a speech calling on the French to “try hard” on global and existential challenges like climate change. He draws a comparison with Abe, who has stood strong over time and embodies the “French spirit” of “resistance” and “resistance”.

As a former president François Mitterrand He did so in 1983, when France’s leaders flocked to this symbolic site to deliver political messages. In 2007, former Pres Nicolas Sarkozy He launched his presidential campaign there.

Macron’s presidential advisers said of the visit that “the eternity of walls and mountains” seemed to carry “notions of resistance and resilience” of the D-Day landings commemorated this week in the same region.

Macron also visited a new exhibition that traces the history of the Romanesque abbey through 30 objects and fragments. The statue of Saint Michael was restored. Legend has it that the Archangel Michael appeared in 708, instructing the bishop of nearby Avranches to build him a church on the rocky outcrop.

The two-year-old exhibition opened last month. A rock island that is considered an architectural gem involves a complex construction process. Narrow runway at high tide.

were built Four hides A chapel atop a granite spire. The original structure, built in 966, became too small for pilgrims, prompting builders to build the 11th-century abbey, which remains to this day.

France has spent 32 million euros ($34 million) over 15 years to restore the building., and the job is nearing completion. Authorities have tried in recent years to protect the environment around the monument from the impact of mass tourism.

One of the most popular French destinations outside of Paris is the island of Mont-Saint-Michel. 2.8 million visitors last year, including 1.3 million for Abe. It is not closed to visitors for the President’s visit, but local officials are taking steps to make it as smooth as possible.

(With information from AP)

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