"Heritage Villages" of the Bay of Mt St Michel

The 23 "Heritage Villages"

The area of the Baie has 188 communes around Mont St Michel, the renown international monument sometimes eclipses the surrounding towns and villages. A "Village Patrimoine" label was therefore created in 2003 to revitalize and to highlight the rural and local heritage. The villages benefiting from this label, owned by the Pays de la Baie Mont St Michel, display their identity and their particularities. Three themes have emerged: the minerals, the plants and the animals. Guides, reference the 23 labeled villages, they will receive you, according to their availability, and let you know the local life, its customs and traditions: for example, did you know that in the Middle Ages buckwheat was grown in the South, manuscripts recorded at Avranches in 1460 testifies, that there are many sarrazin millstones in the houses of the South of the department used as planters nowadays.

Granite is also a strong element that is often found: granite cutting demonstrations take place at the museum of St Michel de Montjoie and we find his presence in Mortain and Mont St Michel.

On the animal side, the rustic sheep of the now forgotten Avranchin will be rehabilitated with the support of the breeders of this breed.

From Bréville to St Cyr de Bailleul and St James in Villedieu-les-poêles, signposted circuits will enliven your future walks and visits. With the label "Heritage Village" you will discover the identity passport of the Pays de la Bay of Mont St Michel.