Photo: St Michael's Mount from Marazion beach by Chris Gorringe, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
History. A tidal island crowned by a castle and church. In the Middle Ages it was a priory of the Benedictine abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, until England dissolved its "alien priories" in 1414. It later became a fortress. Colonel John St Aubyn bought it in 1659, and his family still lives in the castle. In 1954 the 3rd Lord St Levan gave most of the island to the National Trust, and the family kept a 999-year lease to live there.
Legend. Fishermen are said to have seen St Michael standing on the rock (traditionally in AD 495). Cornish folklore also says the giant Cormoran lived here until Jack the Giant Killer defeated him.
Visiting
- The causeway is walkable only for a few hours around low tide. Use the Causeway Calculator. At high tide small boats run in season.
- Autumn 2026 (13 Sep–30 Oct): castle open Sun–Fri 9:45–17:00 (last entry 15:45), closed Saturdays; garden closed (opening times).
- The castle needs a ticket (prices). National Trust members get in free but must book.
Next: Mont-Saint-Michel
Train Penzance → Plymouth, then the Brittany Ferries crossing Plymouth → Roscoff ⚠ (seasonal), and drive or bus ~2.5 h east; or fly to Paris and take the train to Rennes + bus.
Sources
- St Michael's Mount: official site
- National Trust: St Michael's Mount
- St Michael's Mount: Looking after the Mount (history)
- Marazion Town Council: St Michael's Mount (495 legend, 1659 purchase)
Last verified: October 15, 2026. Prices, hours and rules change: confirm with the official source before you go.