Priory of Mont-Saint-Michel: developing the welcoming services for pilgrims and visitors
7 November 2023
The Priory of Mont-Saint-Michel is a unique Norman medieval complex that has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1937.
Every year since 2014, thanks to the support of donors and patrons, the Sanctuary has been working to bring back to life these buildings that have been home to so many pilgrims since the Middle Ages.
The priority is to safeguard and restore this heritage as part of a chain of transmission of the thousand-year-old history of Mont-Saint-Michel to share it with as many people as possible. In this way, the restored Priory is gradually regaining its full role as a place for welcoming visitors.
At the end of 2022, the 5th and final heritage project began, to provide a suitable welcome for the ever-increasing numbers of hikers and pilgrims on their way to the Mont.
Read our interview with don Pierre, rector of Mont-Saint-Michel, on this subject.
Don Pierre, the Mont Saint-Michel Sanctuary has just launched a fund-raising campaign for the priory at Ardevon. Can you tell us what this is all about?
Don Pierre: The Priory of Ardevon is a magnificent 13th-century site, just a stone’s throw from the Mont. Historically, it has been linked to the Abbey of Mont Saint Michel, since it was used to welcome distinguished guests from the Benedictine community, and also to manage the land belonging to the Mont. More than 10 years ago, on the initiative of the Diocese of Coutances and with the support of other partners, the Fondation du Mont Saint-Michel acquired the priory of Ardevon to create an ambitious project to welcome pilgrims on their way to Mont Saint-Michel.
What are the links between the Priory of Ardevon and the Sanctuary?
Don Pierre: The Mont Saint Michel welcomes 3 million tourists every year, including many pilgrims who come with the intention of praying to Saint Michael. Some come alone or in small groups, on foot, by bike, by car, by coach… Our challenge on the Mont is the lack of space. Saint Peter’s Church, which is the shrine of Saint Michael, is very small, and the abbey, which is run spiritually by the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem, can only accommodate pilgrims during services. Outside liturgical celebrations, the abbey church reverts to being a museum. As far as accommodation is concerned, we face the same difficulties: the Sanctuary has only a few rooms, which we reserve for pilgrims who come on foot. So we need a suitable space, close to the Mount, to welcome pilgrims in proper conditions, and in greater numbers. We are therefore working with the Priory of Ardevon to provide a better welcome for the pilgrims, who are becoming more numerous every year.
What kind of welcome offers the Priory of Ardevon?
Don Pierre: The Priory has extraordinary pastoral and missionary potential! Today, it’s especially suited to youth groups, with dormitories that can accommodate up to 50 people, and infrastructure that can accommodate groups sleeping in tents of up to 500 people. Every year, we welcome scouts, chaplaincies and youth groups. After that, the halls, the village church and an oratory can also be made available to groups and parishes wishing to stop off for a few hours near the Mont. A couple of young missionaries have just joined the project to welcome all these groups. And the work currently in progress will enable us to expand our range of services.
Can you tell us more about this project?
Don Pierre: For several months now, the foundation has been restoring the last part of the buildings that was unusable: the abbot’s lodgings. The aim of this work is to be able to accommodate smaller groups, such as families or groups of retreatants, in rooms for 2 to 6 people. When the two phases of work are completed, it will be possible to accommodate a further 50 people inside the building. It’s a wonderful project, with the same objective that has guided the foundation for over 10 years: to enable as many pilgrims as possible to come and meet Saint Michael, and therefore Christ.
My dream is to be able to enable parishes, prayer groups and friends who want to make a retreat to stay for one or more nights at a moderate cost, while benefiting from the pastoral and spiritual support of the Sanctuary and Abbey of Mont Saint-Michel.
How can we help you?
Don Pierre: We have just launched a fundraising campaign with Credofunding to support the Priory in its development. These are not easy times, and the financial challenge is immense. But the effort makes sense. The Mont Saint-Michel is a place that speaks to all Christians, particularly those in France. We need the Priory of Ardevon in order to return the Mont to pilgrims and make Saint Michael known to as many people as possible. You can support us by visiting the dedicated Credofunding page. All donations, however small, will provide real material support, but also moral support for us and for the many volunteers who work every day to ensure that this wonderful project can continue to develop and spread the message of Saint Michael, which I summarise here in one sentence: God is good, and we are not alone! Thank you!
