What tidal island commune in Normandy is home to a medieval abbey?

The tidal island commune in Normandy that is home to a medieval abbey is Mont Saint-Michel.

Mont Saint-Michel lies off France’s northwestern coast, near the mouth of the Couesnon River. Its position in a broad tidal bay made it accessible to pilgrims at low tide but difficult to approach when the incoming sea covered the surrounding sands. That natural setting also gave the island strong defensive value.

The site developed around a monastery dedicated to the archangel Michael. Norman rulers supported the abbey, whose buildings grew into a dramatic medieval complex rising above the island. During the Hundred Years’ War, Mont Saint-Michel resisted English attacks, including a major assault in 1433. It was later used as a prison before being restored as a historic monument.

The island and bay became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It is sometimes confused with Saint-Malo, a nearby walled port city, or with Île de Ré, another French island; neither is the tidal abbey commune described here.