Mont-Saint-Michel rises from a vast bay like a vision, its abbey spire crowning a cluster of medieval streets. Arrive early or stay overnight to see it without the day crowds, and time your visit to the dramatic tides.
The surrounding regions reward exploration: the solemn D-Day beaches and tapestry town of Bayeux in Normandy, the wild capes and crêperies of Brittany.
It is a different France from the sunny south — green, salty and steeped in history.