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Normandy, France
Mont Saint Michel Sunrise.jpg
Mont Sainte Michel is a tidal island. The island is just a few hundred meters from land, making it accessible at low tide for many pilgrims to reach the abbey but defensible as incoming tides stranded, drove off or drowned would-be assailants. The island remained unconquerable during the Hundred Years' War, as a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. The abbey was used regularly as a prison during the Ancien Regime.
