St Michael’s Mount
St Michael’s Mount
“The Jewel in Cornwall’s Crown”
A visit to Marazion is incomplete without exploring the amazing island castle of St Michael’s Mount to discover legend, myth and over a thousand years of incredible history.
The Mount is considered to be the ‘Jewel in Cornwall’s crown’. This beautiful, magical and historical landmark is now in the care of the National Trust with the St. Aubyn family still resident.
The Mount can be reached at low tide by the famous cobbled causeway, and at high tide by local ferry boatmen.
It is necessary to book in advance on line to visit the castle and gardens via the St Michaels Mount Website
A fascinating history
Thousands of years ago, the island was a busy port, trading tin with Europe and it’s widely believed that the island was known to the ancient Greeks as Ictis. In 495, St Michael is said to have been seen by fishermen on top of the island and by the sixth century the island was a major religious shrine.
An abbey was built on top of the island and granted to the Benedictine monks from Mont St Michel in France. Through the Middle Ages, the island was a major destination for pilgrims. Subsequently, it has seen several battles for its ownership. In 1588, the first beacon was lit on St Michael’s Mount to warn of the arrival of the Spanish Armada – seven years later, the Spanish returned and burned most of Penzance, Newlyn, Mousehole and Paul. Marazion and the Mount escaped unscathed from the invasion.
In 1659, St Michael’s Mount was purchased by Colonel John St Aubyn (he had been the last military governor of the island’s garrison), and it became the private home of the St Aubyn family who still live there today. In 1954, the Mount was gifted to the National Trust by the St Aubyn family, and is now managed by both the National Trust and the St Aubyn family, who work together in a unique partnership that supports the Mount’s vibrant island community, continuing a remarkable legacy of life and activity which has existed since prehistoric times, and open it to the public, welcoming you to discover their extraordinary island home.
St Michael’s Mount today
Follow the footsteps of the pilgrims across the causeway or take a ferry boat to the island where you can discover a castle full of myths and legends, fabulous sub-tropical gardens and a real working island community.
Between Easter and November all visits to the Castle, harbour, and gardens must be pre-booked via the St Michaels Mount website. Also purchase of ferry boat tickets must be done on-line in advance.
The castle is often floodlit on Summer evenings, make sure you try and see it. The lights, especially reflected in a calm sea, make it appear as if it is floating in the air.
