The decision to build a proper abbey, church and chapel was taken by the Duke of Normandy in 1060. The initial abbey grew out of that oratory and developed an architectural identity when Benedictine monks arrived in 966 and added a pre Romanesque church. Over the centuries and following fires, collapses, reconstructions, changes in use or restorations, the Abbey has been transformed. The historical, political and economic situation throughout the Middle Ages had considerable influence on the works undertaken and the methods used. This ancient monument offers a diversity of architectural styles, as its construction began in the 10th century, continuing up to the 19th century restorations. Initially known as Mont Tombe, the oldest archaeological records maintain its identity as a religious site beginning in 710 when an oratory to Saint Michael was established there. The island has been fortified so well over the years that it remained the only place in Normandy that was never under English rule. Mont-Saint-Michel is a fortified island and castle located off the coast of Normandy, France and is famous for its historical structures including an abbey that houses a church and monastery and the stone fortifications of the island itself.
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