According to legend, how did the Archangel Michael convince Bishop Aubert to act?

He touched the bishop's skull, leaving a hole

Mont-Saint-Michel Quiz: Tides, Abbey and Island Village of France

This Mont-Saint-Michel quiz explores the abbey island on the coast of Normandy, France, with questions on the Archangel Michael and Bishop Aubert, the powerful tides described by Victor Hugo, the Hundred Years' War, its years as a prison, the 2014 bridge, Mère Poulard's omelettes, how many people live there, the Couesnon River and the Gothic Merveille. Ten questions.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 90 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 90s

Legends
Mont-Saint-Michel is named after which figure, said to have appeared to a local bishop?
Bishops
According to legend, how did the Archangel Michael convince Bishop Aubert to act?
Tides
Victor Hugo said the tides around Mont-Saint-Michel come in at what speed?
Wars
During the Hundred Years' War, what did the English fail to do at Mont-Saint-Michel?
Prisons
After the French Revolution, Mont-Saint-Michel was used as what?
Bridges
In 2014, what replaced the causeway that had linked Mont-Saint-Michel to the mainland?
Food
La Mère Poulard restaurant on Mont-Saint-Michel is famous for what?
Residents
Roughly how many people actually live on Mont-Saint-Michel?
Borders
Which river at the mouth of the bay traditionally marks the border between Normandy and Brittany?
Architecture
La Merveille, the Gothic part of the abbey with a cloister and refectory, has a name meaning what?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Mont-Saint-Michel is named after which figure, said to have appeared to a local bishop?
Answer: The Archangel Michael
Legend says the archangel told Bishop Aubert of Avranches to build a church on the rock. The first sanctuary was built in 708.
Q2: According to legend, how did the Archangel Michael convince Bishop Aubert to act?
Answer: He touched the bishop's skull, leaving a hole
Aubert ignored the first two visions. A skull with a hole, said to be his, is kept in a basilica in Avranches.
Q3: Victor Hugo said the tides around Mont-Saint-Michel come in at what speed?
Answer: The speed of a galloping horse
The bay has some of the largest tides in Europe, with a range of up to about 14 meters. Walkers crossing the sands must use a guide.
Q4: During the Hundred Years' War, what did the English fail to do at Mont-Saint-Michel?
Answer: Capture it
The defenders held out for about 30 years. Two English cannons left behind can still be seen near the entrance.
Q5: After the French Revolution, Mont-Saint-Michel was used as what?
Answer: A prison
The monks were expelled, and prisoners were held there until 1863. Writers such as Victor Hugo campaigned to close the prison.
Q6: In 2014, what replaced the causeway that had linked Mont-Saint-Michel to the mainland?
Answer: A raised footbridge
The old causeway had trapped silt, turning the island into a peninsula. The new bridge lets the tides flow around the island again.
Q7: La Mère Poulard restaurant on Mont-Saint-Michel is famous for what?
Answer: Huge fluffy omelettes
Eggs are beaten in copper bowls in a rhythm and cooked over a wood fire. The restaurant opened in 1888.
Q8: Roughly how many people actually live on Mont-Saint-Michel?
Answer: About 30
Monks and nuns of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem live in the abbey. Millions of visitors arrive every year.
Q9: Which river at the mouth of the bay traditionally marks the border between Normandy and Brittany?
Answer: The Couesnon
A saying claims the river's madness put the Mont in Normandy. Its course once shifted across the bay.
Q10: La Merveille, the Gothic part of the abbey with a cloister and refectory, has a name meaning what?
Answer: The Marvel
It was built in the 13th century on the north side of the rock. Its cloister seems to hang in the sky.

Mont-Saint-Michel Quiz – France's Island in the Tides

Mont-Saint-Michel is a rocky tidal island off the coast of Normandy, France, crowned by a medieval abbey. Rising from a vast bay of sand and sea, it is one of the most spectacular sights in Europe. Together with its bay, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and receives millions of visitors each year.

Legend says the Archangel Michael appeared to Bishop Aubert of Avranches in 708 and told him to build a church on the rock. Over the centuries, Benedictine monks built a great abbey there, with Romanesque and Gothic halls stacked on the granite. The Gothic section, called La Merveille, has a cloister that seems to float above the sea.

Mont-Saint-Michel was also a fortress. During the Hundred Years' War, its defenders resisted English attacks for about 30 years. After the French Revolution, the abbey became a prison until 1863. Restoration later returned it to its medieval splendor.

The bay has some of the largest tides in Europe. Victor Hugo said they rush in at the speed of a galloping horse. In 2014, a raised bridge replaced the old causeway, allowing the sea to surround the island again. Walkers can cross the sands at low tide, but only with a guide.

The village has a single main street, the Grande Rue, with shops and restaurants such as La Mère Poulard. Only about 30 people live there.

Visitors park on the mainland and take shuttle buses or walk across the bridge. Staying overnight lets travelers see the island lit up after the crowds leave, and the sunset over the bay is unforgettable.

This quiz covers the legends, history, tides and traditions of Mont-Saint-Michel.

What This Quiz Teaches

This quiz is perfect for history fans, travelers and photographers.

The Archangel Michael and Bishop Aubert
Why the tides are so famous
Mont-Saint-Michel in the Hundred Years' War
Its years as a prison
The 2014 bridge and La Mère Poulard
The Couesnon River and La Merveille

Quick Facts About Mont-Saint-Michel

A gilded statue of the archangel tops the abbey's spire.
The island rises about 92 meters above the bay.
Quicksand makes the bay dangerous without a guide.
Salt-meadow lamb from the bay is a local specialty.
Pilgrims have traveled to the Mont for more than 1,000 years.
The Mont has its own small parish church.