Okay, I admit it. The main reason I went to Avranches was because you can see Mont-Saint-Michel from there.
But I ended up really liking the beautiful little town and discovering that there are quite a few things to see in Avranches besides hunting for that Mont-Saint-Michel photo op. Like walking on ancient ramparts and discovering a secret garden, for example!
What’s more, the little town in the department of Manche in Normandy is home to a museum housing medieval manuscripts from the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, and can thus make a great side quest when visiting the latter.
Table of Contents (click to view)
- Is Avranches worth visiting?
- Where to stay in Avranches
- Where can you see Mont-Saint-Michel in Avranches?
- 10 things to do in Avranches
- 1. Jardin des Plantes d’Avranches (Botanic Garden of Avranches) – with views of Mont-Saint-Michel
- 2. Jardin suspendu de Bergevin (Hanging garden of Bergevin) / Jardin Bergevin (Bergevin Garden) – with views of Mont-Saint-Michel
- 3. Square Thomas Becket (Thomas Becket Square) – with views of Mont-Saint-Michel
- 4. Donjon d’Avranches (Avranches Donjon)
- 5. Scriptorial d’Avranches (Avranches Scriptorium)
- 6. Chemin de ronde du rempart sud (South Rampart Path)
- 7. Basilique Saint-Hervais d’Avranches (Saint Hervais Basilica of Avranches)
- 8. Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs (Church of Our Lady of the Fields)
- 9. Église Saint-Saturnin (Saint Saturnin Church)
- 10. Place Patton (Patton Square)
- Day trips from Avranches
Is Avranches worth visiting?
- Views of Mont-Saint-Michel – The famous abbey can be glimpsed from several spots in Avranches.
- Scriptorial Museum – Avranches’ key attraction houses medieval manuscripts from the famous Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
- Atmospheric medieval town – I firmly believe that Avranches, while small, is worth a visit in its own right thanks to its lovely medieval town.
- Good base from which to visit Mont-Saint-Michel – Avranches can be a pleasant base for exploring Mont-Saint-Michel as it is only a 25-minute drive away. Accommodation in Avranches is generally cheaper than in Mont-Saint-Michel, and the town attracts fewer tourist crowds.
Where to stay in Avranches
- Hotel with gourmet restaurant – Logis Hôtel Restaurant de La Croix d’Or-Avranches is located in a charming traditional house and has an in-house restaurant that has received rave reviews.
- Hotel housed in a fairy-tale mansion – La Ramade Teritoria is housed in a gorgeous property consisting of two villas and manicured gardens. It is located less than a 10-minute walk from the Avranches train station.
- Budget hotel at affordable prices – Hôtel Patton is one of the most affordable hotels in the city centre of Avranches, with comfy rooms and a big personality.
Where can you see Mont-Saint-Michel in Avranches?
I managed to find three spots in Avranches where you can enjoy unobstructed views of Mont-Saint-Michel. I’ve covered these viewpoints in the guide below, including how to find them.
- Jardin des Plantes d’Avranches (Botanic Garden of Avranches)
- Jardin suspendu de Bergevin (Hanging garden of Bergevin) / Jardin Bergevin (Bergevin Garden)
- Square Thomas Becket (Thomas Becket Square)
10 things to do in Avranches
Many visitors to Avranches come for the views of Mont-Saint-Michel, so I’ve ordered this list with that in mind, indicating which spots offer views of the abbey.
1. Jardin des Plantes d’Avranches (Botanic Garden of Avranches) – with views of Mont-Saint-Michel
This three-hectare park is perched on a promontory that offers views over the bay of Mont-Saint-Michel in the distance. With the entrance directly behind you, walk to the far end of the park. When you reach the other end of the park, you’ll find a belvedere with good views to your right.
Views aside, the garden, whose history goes back to 1618, is beautiful, with distinct areas showcasing different botanical themes. It was formerly home to a Capuchin religious community and its garden, and became a site where botanists cultivated plant species in the 18th century.
2. Jardin suspendu de Bergevin (Hanging garden of Bergevin) / Jardin Bergevin (Bergevin Garden) – with views of Mont-Saint-Michel
The Jardin suspendu de Bergevin (Hanging garden of Bergevin), also known as the Jardin Bergevin (Bergevin Garden), is one of the most magical places to visit in Avranches, but can be tricky to find.
Walk down Rue de Géôle until it becomes Rue Chevreul. When you’re at the transition point between the two streets, with Rue de Géôle behind you and Rue Chevreul in front of you, look to your left and you’ll find the entrance to the garden hidden between two buildings at the end of a long passageway. Walk to the end of the passageway, climb the stairs and you’ll find yourself in the garden.
This tiny, hidden garden tucked into the town’s medieval ramparts offers lovely views of Mont-Saint-Michel. Climb up to the highest ramparts via the stairs to catch a glimpse of the abbey.
3. Square Thomas Becket (Thomas Becket Square) – with views of Mont-Saint-Michel
You’d never guess that this grassy public square has a long history, since it looks very modern after an overhaul in 2018. It sits on the site of the former cathedral of Avranches, which assumed its functions in 1121 and was destroyed in the 19th century.
The square is named after Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. His death shocked the Christian world. King Henry II of England was accused of having commissioned the assassination, and under pressure, he performed penance at Avranches, which was controlled by England at the time.
But the real reason most people visit this square is to gaze over the bay at Mont-Saint-Michel. From the entrance, walk to the far end of the square. You’ll see a footpath in front of you that you can follow for a better view.
4. Donjon d’Avranches (Avranches Donjon)
Avranches’ medieval donjon is one of the city’s most visible landmarks. It isn’t actually a donjon; rather, it consists of surviving sections of the medieval castle and keep, built at the end of the 10th century. The original 36-m-high donjon had three floors and was considered a pioneer of Anglo-Norman donjon architecture at the time. Some archaeologists even believe it inspired the Tower of London.
The highest part of the so-called donjon is accessible from the Jardin suspendu de Bergevin (Hanging garden of Bergevin), with views of Mont-Saint-Michel.
The remains of the remparts are free to visit, with the easiest access point being from Place d’Estouteville, near 15 Rue de Geôle. Look for the small staircase leading up towards the ramparts and you’ll find yourself in the Jardin suspendu de Bergevin (Hanging garden of Bergevin). You can then take the stairs up to highest surviving section of the wall.
5. Scriptorial d’Avranches (Avranches Scriptorium)
This museum exhibits the medieval manuscripts of the Abbaye de Mont-Saint-Michel (Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey), including works from the ninth to 15th centuries. These include books painstakingly copied by monks, as well as intricately decorated manuscripts created centuries ago.
6. Chemin de ronde du rempart sud (South Rampart Path)
This historic walkway takes you along the southern section of the medieval defensive walls of Avranches, enabling you to admire the stonework and enjoy views over the town. You can climb on top of the stone walls by taking the stairs at 5 Rue d’Office.
7. Basilique Saint-Hervais d’Avranches (Saint Hervais Basilica of Avranches)
The current church building was constructed in the 19th century on the site of an older church that was destroyed at the end of the 17th century. It contains an interesting relic believed to be the skull of Saint Aubert, the bishop of Avranches who founded Mont-Saint-Michel in 708 AD.
8. Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs (Church of Our Lady of the Fields)
This Neo-Gothic church, whose construction began in 1863, is housed in an elaborate building adorned with gargoyles and is located in front of the entrance to the Jardin des Plantes d’Avranches (Botanical Garden of Avranches). When Avranches was bombed in World War II, the church was damaged by a fire and, as a result, remained closed until 1962.
The architect was aiming to create a truly impressive building in contrast to the older, more modest church it was replacing, and I would say he succeeded.
9. Église Saint-Saturnin (Saint Saturnin Church)
This Neo-Gothic church sits a stone’s throw from Église Notre-Dame-des-Champs (Church of Our Lady of the Fields) in a quiet residential area. It was built in the 19th century to replace a smaller church that could no longer accommodate the growing parish population.
10. Place Patton (Patton Square)
This roundabout also serves as a World War II memorial, featuring an obelisk and a real American tank. It commemorates the liberation of Avranches by American forces in 1944.
Day trips from Avranches
- The most common day trip from Avranches is, obviously, to Mont-Saint-Michel, located a 25-minute drive away.
- The seaside resort town of Granville is an hour away by train or 40 minutes away by car.
- Several destinations in Brittany, including Saint-Malo, Dinan, Cancale and Fougères, are less than an hour away by car.
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