Mont Saint Michel is a small rocky tidal island in Normandy, roughly one kilometer from the north coast of France at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranche. The island is famous for its unusual Benedictine Abbey and steepled church (built between the 11th and 16th centuries) which occupy most of the one-kilometer-diameter clump of rocks jutting out of the waters of the English Channel.
According to legend, the archangel Michael appeared to St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches, in 708 and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet.
In the monastery today Benedictine's monks still live and work, although the Mont Saint Michel has become a big tourist attraction with about 3.5 million visiting people per year.

A 15 minute Real-Video of Mont St. Michel can be found on this website.