Chapter 1
A dream built on sand and stone
Chapter 2
Engineering a masterpiece in the sky
Chapter 3
The fortress that never fell
Chapter 4
The wildest tides in Europe
YOUR GOAL
Master of The secrets of Mont Saint-Michel
Ch 2 · Engineering a masterpiece in the sky
sonia Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
Vaulted crypts on the cliffside, hold this cathedral, high in the sky!
sonia A massive wooden wheel powered by prisoners was used to haul heavy building materials up the steep cliffs of the mount.
sonia The 13th-century addition known as La Merveille represents a pinnacle of Gothic architecture, blending elegance with structural boldness.
BETA
sonia Place the granite blocks to discover how medieval builders engineered a masterpiece in the sky.
Fun Fact
The giant wheel: The wooden treadmill wheel on the cliffside required five prisoners walking inside it to lift a single load of supplies.
Glossary
abbey (noun)
A monastery or convent under the supervision of an abbot or abbess. Benedictine monks began building the Mont-Saint-Michel sanctuary atop its steep granite tidal rock in 966.
A monastery or convent under the supervision of an abbot or abbess. Benedictine monks began building the Mont-Saint-Michel sanctuary atop its steep granite tidal rock in 966.
Quiz
What human-powered mechanism was used in 1820 to pull supplies up the steep cliffs of Mont Saint-Michel?
Quiz
How did medieval builders solve the lack of flat space on the steep granite rock of Mont Saint-Michel?
Quiz
Which French king funded the construction of 'La Merveille' at Mont Saint-Michel after a fire in 1203?
Quiz
What is the name of the majestic 13th-century Gothic building complex on Mont Saint-Michel?
Quiz
Why is the cloister of 'La Merveille' at Mont Saint-Michel considered architecturally unique?
Quiz
In what year was the iconic neo-Gothic spire and archangel statue added to the Mont Saint-Michel abbey?
Quiz
What creature is the gilded statue of Saint Michael slaying at the top of the Mont Saint-Michel abbey spire?