Avranches Saint-Gervais and the Scriptorial

Avranches stands on a hill facing Mont-Saint-Michel across the bay. Its bishop Aubert founded the sanctuary on the Mount in 708, and his skull, with the hole that tradition attributes to the archangel’s finger, is kept in the treasury of the basilica of Saint-Gervais.

The manuscripts of the abbey of the Mount, saved at the Revolution, are kept in the town’s Scriptorial museum: some two hundred medieval books, many of them copied and illuminated by the monks of the Mount. In 1172 Henry II of England did penance at the cathedral of Avranches for the murder of Thomas Becket. The cathedral collapsed during the Revolution, and a stone marks the place.

Further reading: Mont-Saint-Michel: A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Archangel’s Mount.

• The skull of Saint AubertIn the treasury of Saint-Gervais.
• The ScriptorialThe manuscripts of Mont-Saint-Michel, and how the monks wrote and painted them.
• The botanical gardenIts terrace looks out over the bay to the Mount.

• September 10, in the diocese of Coutances and AvranchesFeast of Saint Aubert
• September 29Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel

• Saint AubertBishop of Avranches, founder of Mont-Saint-Michel
• Saint Michael the ArchangelPrince of the heavenly host, protector of the Church

• Via ArchangeliThe Archangel’s Way, six daysDay IV, Coutances to Avranches · Day V, Avranches to Mont-Saint-Michel, across the bay

About half an hour by road from Mont-Saint-Michel.

• Mont-Saint-MichelThe Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, about 8 miles as the crow flies
• CoutancesThe Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Coutances, about 25 miles as the crow flies
• Montfort-sur-MeuThe Birthplace of Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort, about 47 miles as the crow flies
• BayeuxThe Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Bayeux, about 50 miles as the crow flies