Tombelaine

Coordinates: 48°39′36″N 01°30′46″W / 48.66000°N 1.51278°W / 48.66000; -1.51278
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Tombelaine and Mont Saint Michel (to the right)

Tombelaine (French pronunciation:

Cotentin, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) to the northeast, and from Mont Saint-Michel.[1]

The island lies just to the south of the course of the Sélune river, which has to be forded to access the island from Cotentin. The island is 250 m (820 ft) by 150 m (490 ft), and 45 m (148 ft) high. It is composed of granite. It is in the commune of Genêts.

Name

Tombelaine and Mont Saint Michel seen from the saltmarsh

According to

King Hoël
, said to have been buried on the rock.

The name could also come from tumulus belenis, the "

Belenos", a Celtic god, or from Celtic words meaning "the little mountain", in contrast with Mont St-Michel.[2]

History

In the 11th century, two monks from Mont Saint-Michel were hermits on Tombelaine. In 1137 Bernard du Bec founded a priory on the island, and it became a place of pilgrimage.

On 11 February 1423, in the

Huguenot
armies, occupied the island.

In 1666 the marquis de la Chastrière ordered the destruction of the island's fortifications, in case they were again used by the English.

At the end of the 19th century a legend about the 'Marquis de Tombelaine' was created as part of the burgeoning tourist industry around Mont Saint-Michel.

The island was purchased by the state in 1933, and was declared a historic monument by a decree of 1936.[3] It became a bird reserve in 1985.[4]

References

  1. ^ Map of Mont St Michel Bay, showing crossing routes Archived 2010-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Genets website (in French)
  3. ^ Notice PA00110408, Base Mérimée
  4. ISBN 2-84141-157-5
    ..

48°39′36″N 01°30′46″W / 48.66000°N 1.51278°W / 48.66000; -1.51278

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