Description:

Preparations have already started at La Caserne on the route de la Côte for the two year project to create much needed car parking facilities for the three million or so annual visitors to Mont-Saint-Michel. The Mont is the second most visited destination for tourists in France.

The first phase of the works will provide a tarmac surfaced car park by June 2011. The second phase will provide additional grass covered parking by mid 2012. It is expected that traffic disruption will be negligible as no materials will have to be carried to the site during the summer tourist season.

The parking facilities form part of the 200 million euro Cousenon Barrage project launched in September 2009 which will make Mont-Saint-Michel an island again. The sands in the estuary surrounding the mount will eventually be washed away and the area will be allowed to flood. The sands have been building up in the estuary for centuries. It will be 15 years before the mount is finally surrounded by water and once again three miles offshore. Visitors to this UNESCO World Heritage site will then have to walk or be bussed across to the island by a new bridge which is to be constructed.

For further information, visit the project website.