Avranches is a town that is popular with tourists primarily as a base for visiting the nearby Mont Saint-Michel abbey. From the local botanical garden you can admire the magnificent view of the island, and in the treasury of the church of St. Gerwazy, manuscripts from the famous monastery are kept.
The town has a history dating back to Roman times, and from the 6th century it was the seat of bishops. The local cathedral, which dates back to the early Middle Ages, was destroyed during the French Revolution. In its place was erected in the nineteenth century neo-Gothic cathedral Notre Dame des Champs. The baroque tower of St. Gerwazy. This 17th-century church boasts a rich treasury in which works of sacred art and writing relics from the Mont Saint-Michel abbey are kept.
The main attraction of Avranches is the botanical garden on the site of the former Franciscan abbey. In addition to a huge collection of plants from around the world, it offers a spectacular view of the Bay and the island of Mont Saint-Michel. This place was an inspiration for Guy de Maupassant, who was a fan of Avranches and its views.
