With France extending its COVID-19 lockdown for at least another three weeks, some of the country's most popular tourist hotspots are feeling the pinch as holidaymakers stay away.

One of the worst-hit attractions is the tidal island of Mont Saint Michel off the Normandy coast.

The mount, topped by its world-renowned Benedictine abbey has been a home to monastic orders since the eighth century. The historic site, which has had several incarnations, including serving as a prison under the "Ancien Regime" of Louis XI, has enjoyed UNESCO world heritage status for almost 40 years.

One of the most popular draws for tourists in northern France, the mount traditionally welcomes upwards of two million visitors a year. However, with the coronavirus now having claimed more than 20,000 lives, and the country closed to all but essential services, the summer season is unlikely to materialize for its many shops, cafes and restaurants.

Monks who still pray in the gothic abbey at the summit, maintaining the island's position as a place of pilgrimage and prayer, describe "a profound sense of misfortune" as worship is suspended and religious services put on hold. 

Tourism is the lifeblood of the mount and local businesses report a deep concern over their future, despite the roll-out of a government support scheme to assist furloughed workers and struggling small firms.