Avranches is
a cathedral city with a good shopping centre and a
Saturday market.
Bishop Aubert of Avranches founded
Mont St.Michel in the 8th C., and in 1172 King Henry II
made his public penance for the murder of Thomas à Beckett
at the door of Avranches Cathedral. On 31st July 1944
Avranches was the site of the decisive break-through by
General Patton, which led to victory in the Battle of
Normandy and the liberation of all of France within a few
more weeks.
A large obelisk and a US
tank may be found in the Place Patton. A specialised
world-war II museum may be visited as well as the fine
local museum, which contains many ancient manuscripts and
an important reliquary of the murdered saint. The city
also has splendid botanical gardens and offers several
excellent views of the surrounding countryside and across
the bay to Mont St.Michel.
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