France's famous monument, Mont-Saint-Michel is cut off from the world

Mont-Saint-Michel surrounded by the sea during high tide - Copyright DAMIEN MEYER/AFP or licensors

By Katy Dartford with AFP

Published on 19/10/2020 - 16:21•Updated 21/10/2020 - 12:15

In just a few hours the mount, topped by its world-renowned Benedictine abbey was surrounded by water which rose as fast as it receded.

In the space of a few hours, France's famous tourist monument, Mont-Saint-Michel temporarily became an island amid high tides.

The rare phenomenon happens when the water surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site rises as fast as it recedes.

Located off the Normandy coast, the mount, topped by its world-renowned Benedictine abbey traditionally welcomes up to two million visitors a year.

But on this occasion, tourists could only view it from a partially submerged road.

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