The Mont-Saint-Michel was one of the largest pilgrimage centres of medieval Europe. Numerous pilgrims travelled on the Montois roads, also known as the “roads to paradise”, that cross France in the direction of the Mont. Upon reaching the edge of the bay, the ‘miquelots’ (pilgrims to the Mont) had to wait for the low tide before reaching the rock through the sands of the bay. The perilous crossing takes on its full meaning for the pilgrims who compare it to the crossing of the Red Sea. Once at the Mont, the miquelots would rest in the few inns in the village before going up to the abbey.