Hotels in Mont Saint-Michel Bay, France

Mont Saint-Michel Bay, on the Normandy coast of France, is famous for its towering medieval abbey and one of Europe's most dramatic tidal ranges, with tides that can recede up to 15 kilometers (9 miles) at low tide. The climate is mild year-round (averaging 50°F/10°C in winter and 65°F/18°C in summer), making spring and autumn the best times to walk across the sandy bay floor to the island when the tide is out-summer brings clearer skies for climbing the 900-year-old abbey's ramparts, but also more tourists. For a quieter visit, come in winter when the howling winds whip around the island and you can see the tide race in at the speed of a galloping horse, just pack waterproof boots and a warm coat.