Îlot Saint-Michel (Côtes-d'Armor)
Îlot Saint-Michel ( Saint Michaels Island ) is an uninhabited tidal island in the English Channel , near Sables-d'Or-les-Pins in the commune of Erquy in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in France . It takes its name from the chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael , which is a place of pilgrimage for the locals on September 29th.
On the island is the small chapel of Saint-Michel de la Roche au Nay . The chapel from the late 19th century replaced earlier structures that had stood on the island since the Middle Ages. It was completely renovated in the 21st century. The original church was founded by Cistercians from the Abbey of Saint-Aubin des Bois in Plédéliac . The island was first mentioned in 1249. Over time, the chapel became the property of the municipality. In 1640 the rectors of the monastery campaigned that the income from the chapel should be returned to the monastery. In 1770 the island became municipal property. The last known resident was a hermit who lived there in the 19th century.
- Îlot Saint-Michel
According to a local legend, the island was connected to the mainland in ancient times. The devil was traveling near them and the archangel wanted to stop him. He walked towards the sea and when he got to the furthest point of what is now the island he looked back and stamped his foot. The land split and the sea poured over the devil and his goblins. Since then the devil has not come to earth. A chapel was built on the island to commemorate the miracle. At that time, the island's rock turned red. An alternate version is that the rocks turned red when Saint Michael stomped on the ground.
The beach and the island are also places of tidal fishing .
The Dolmen de la Ville Hamon is nearby.
See also
Web links
- Chapelle Saint-Michel - Entry in the Inventaire général des monuments et des richesses artistiques de la France (French)
- Description of the island (French)
Coordinates: 48 ° 39 ′ N , 2 ° 26 ′ W