Mont-Saint-Michel

Our landlord, Pierre Delma and his friend Janine David very kindly took us to the highlights of the historic places in Normandie.   Approximately 100 kms north west of Caen is the Mont-Saint-Michel. Probably best described as the monastery on a rock.  Best to check it out on Google.
The endurance competition was held nearby to the east.

 This view looking back onto the causeway is being built to restore the natural tidal currents that had been blocked for many years by the solid fill causeway on the right, on which Pierre & Jane are standing in the photograph above.  The new structure will allow water to flow underneath as in a bridge and modify the build up of sand that has occurred.

On the seaward side is a small island where pilgrims walked across the sand.  Tourists can do the same, seen here to the left, with approved guides at low tide.

Following are a few photographs to try and illustrate the complexity of the building.  Aside from the structure were the huge number of visitors who were required to follow a continuous route,
Here a foot bath?

Some of the vertical walls above the sea.

An enclosed courtyard.

The dining hall with diners posing.

A large chimney that had once housed the cooking stove or cauldrons.

The main spire as can be seen in the views from a distance.

A vegetable garden had been established within the complex.

How was this built so long ago on a rocky outcrop separated from the mainland, where heavy rock materials had to be sourced, and then elevated up onto the site.
Look above the two darker figures halfway along the causeway bridge - lower centre.  Then look above the figures above the rubble to where a vertical white line appears between what looks like shrubbery to a dark rectangular window.  The line is a steep tramway seen in the photograph below looking out the window space.

Materials, including large stone building blocks were winched high up into the building.  Probably in later years all sorted of heavy items used by the occupants.

 A view of the underside of the trolly showing the rollers with the ends that made contact with the runners protected for wear with iron bushes.

Finally the winching mechanism set up in the building behind the window and unloading platform.