Couesnon Dam & Footbridge
Barrage du Couesnon
A river-mouth dam built to restore the island character of Mont Saint-Michel; its viewing platform faces the island and sits close to the start of the footbridge to the island.
The Couesnon Dam was completed in 2009. It stores water at high tide and releases it at low tide, using the current to wash away silt so that the waters around the island once again become sea. In 2014 a light footbridge replaced the old causeway. The wooden stepped platform on the dam is a good spot to photograph the full view of Mont Saint-Michel and its sunsets, and the sediment-flushing scene as water is released is spectacular. It is free to visit and lies on the shuttle bus route, so you can get off here and walk about 30 minutes to the island.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Mont-Saint-Michel & Abbey
- Mont-Saint-Michel Bay Crossing
- Scriptorial d'Avranches
- Abbaye de la Lucerne
- Granville Upper Town
- Christian Dior Museum
- Mont-Dol
- Château de Combourg