Gezicht op de slaapzaal van de abdij te Mont Saint-Michel before 1897

Ernest Goethals created this image of the dormitory of Mont Saint-Michel abbey as part of a book, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. Looking at it from a social and cultural perspective, the photograph, and the book it is contained in, act as documents in the cultural history of heritage and tourism. The image creates meaning through its visual codes, architectural references, and historical associations. Mont Saint-Michel, in France, is a famous site of religious pilgrimage and a powerful visual symbol of French national identity. Books such as this one helped construct that identity and promote tourism to important national monuments. By focusing on the architecture of the abbey, the image emphasizes its history and importance. Resources such as historical archives and institutional records would reveal more about the construction of the idea of French national heritage in this period.