Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-09-26
MONT ST. MICHEL
TOR Ages 1t Has Beel the Site OF 80
Religious Building.

,or Ages 1t Has BeeA the Site Of SOM
Religious Building.
Edward II. Elwell, Jr., writing OF
ne experiences of party of Amerl.
:an bicyclers at Mon. 81. Michel, off
the coast OF France, St Nicholas
lays:
The Mon. st. Michel is nearly two
niles from the mouth OF the river.
t is but fifteen minutes walk around
he rocky beach at its base. Its
height is over $50 feet. 1t sides are
nearly as steep as the side OF a
house.
For ages it has been the site OF
,ome religious building. The RO-
Mans found 4 heather temple there,
iud replaced it by an altar to their
,wn Jupiter. The coming OF Chris
,ianity saw the beginning OF the
present wonderful structures, the
growth of centuries. The top of the
rock is just large enough for the
beautiful Gothic Cathedral that COW
trs it. In size. detail, and carving
1t equals many of the most famous
cathcdrals OF Europe. Above part
u IllC IdCA ~ a
that is $50 feet above the sand.
Around the base Of the cathedral,
and Of course built upon the steep,
rocky slopes, is mass of huge stone
buildings that have served through
the centuries as monastery, prison.
and feudal stronghold. They conceal
all but the upper half of the cathe-
1ral, which they entirely surround.
The lowest foundation is $50 feet
above the sand
The whole constitutes one mighty
.tructuIe, vast maze of great stone
halls, with lows Of carved pillars, OF
endless passages. broad flights of steps
md SPIRAL stairways, Of horrible dun
geons and gloomy vaults. The stone
Df which it is built was all brought
from the mainland, nearly two miles,
and, of course, hauled over the sand.
Block by block, the stone was brought
across the sands, ho!sted up the steep
cliffs 10y means of windlaSSeS, and
hen shaped and carved with infinite
patience and rare skill The build.
.ng went on at different times be-
tween the 9Th and 14th centuries;
and since then separate parts have
Teen many times destroyed and re.
stored. The architectural beauty and
wonderful carving of these buildings
would alone make them famous. But
Lecause Of their unique location, and
also because they were built by the
monks who possessed here little
kingdom of their own,-so rich and
powerful were they when they &C.
complished the stupendous task,
this crowning glory OF Mont st. Michel
will long remain one of the marvelS
Of the world, and be to France al
most what the Pyramids are tc
Egypt.
There Is a tiny village on the Cnly
accessible side or the Mount There
IS room for just one short, narrow
street, behind the high walls that
Use from the edge of the sand. On
al other sides the steeppess OF the
I'M itself is its defense. In the vii
age there are about two hundred
people. descendants Of the original
inhabitants of the mainland, who
ed into places OF safety before Il. D..
attacks Of the Norsemen, over Ole
thousand years ago. They are Il |
fishermen, except the proprietors Of
The three hotels 1t is but recer.ly
that this quaint little village, SO
lueerly 10 ,ated, has been made ac-
:eSsible to visitors unless under the
guidance of those who had learned
by experience how to cross the sand
ind escape its dangers. For in numer-
ous and ever-changing places the
surface is as yielding as that OF the
ocean itself, and strong indeed would
)e the swimmer who could support
hmself in Quicksand.
But nine years ago the FIenL !.
government built magnificent dixie
)r stone causeway from the shore to
The Mount, ard over its smooth sur
face we fastened, that September
afternoon. on our swift wheels, eager
20 reach the wonderful rock and its
still more wonderful buildings, that
lad loOmed before our vision during
, hole hOur Of rani1 riding