France | Millau Viaduct | Gorge Valley| Le Viaduc de Millau | World’s Tallest Bridge
- 4 years ago
Opened in 2004, Norman Foster's magnificent motorway bridge over the Tarn valley at Millau has established itself as one of the must-see modern monuments in France. It is the world's highest multi-span bridge (the deck is 900 ft above the valley floor at its deepest) and the longest suspended bridge in the world, and an engineering wonder of the world, worth the visit.
The viaduct carries the A75 Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers motorway across the Tarn valley. The motorway is free, but there is a toll charge for crossing the viaduct.
The toll booths are located a couple of kilometres north of the viaduct; just before the northern end of the viaduct, there is a large motorway rest area, offering spectacular views of the viaduct, as well as a visitor centre with information on the bridge and its building. For the best photo opportunities, arrive at the bridge shortly after sunrise in the autumn, when the bridge frequently floats above the overnight mists that have formed in the valley below.
Information on the Millau Bridge, including audio-visual displays, can also be had in the tourist information section of the "Aire de l'Aveyron" service area, some 40 kilometers north of the viaduct, at Séverac le Château.
Those interested in bridges, and heading for the Millau Viaduct south down the A75 motorway from Clermont Ferrand, will want to stop off on the way to view another magnificent viaduct, Gustave Eiffel's Viaduc de Garabit. This great 19th century viaduct is best seen from the motorway rest area, the Aire de Service Viaduc Garabit Eiffel, where there is a small interpretive centre. See photo on the Auvergne page of this website.
The World record
Millau viaduct holds the world record for the tallest bridge, culminating at 343 metres (higher than the Eiffel tower), 2460 metres long and touching the bottom of the Tarn valley in only 9 places.
Millau viaduct toll prices updated for 2020
Cars: Summer (15th June - 15th September) : 11.00 € – Rest of the year: 8.90 €
Car+caravan: Summer (July and August) : 16.50 € – Rest of the year: 13.30 €
HGV toll : 38.00 € all year
Motorbikes: 5.40 € all year
#France #MillauViaduct #UnlimitedTravelersCorp #InterminableCorp #WorldsTallestBridge
The viaduct carries the A75 Clermont-Ferrand to Béziers motorway across the Tarn valley. The motorway is free, but there is a toll charge for crossing the viaduct.
The toll booths are located a couple of kilometres north of the viaduct; just before the northern end of the viaduct, there is a large motorway rest area, offering spectacular views of the viaduct, as well as a visitor centre with information on the bridge and its building. For the best photo opportunities, arrive at the bridge shortly after sunrise in the autumn, when the bridge frequently floats above the overnight mists that have formed in the valley below.
Information on the Millau Bridge, including audio-visual displays, can also be had in the tourist information section of the "Aire de l'Aveyron" service area, some 40 kilometers north of the viaduct, at Séverac le Château.
Those interested in bridges, and heading for the Millau Viaduct south down the A75 motorway from Clermont Ferrand, will want to stop off on the way to view another magnificent viaduct, Gustave Eiffel's Viaduc de Garabit. This great 19th century viaduct is best seen from the motorway rest area, the Aire de Service Viaduc Garabit Eiffel, where there is a small interpretive centre. See photo on the Auvergne page of this website.
The World record
Millau viaduct holds the world record for the tallest bridge, culminating at 343 metres (higher than the Eiffel tower), 2460 metres long and touching the bottom of the Tarn valley in only 9 places.
Millau viaduct toll prices updated for 2020
Cars: Summer (15th June - 15th September) : 11.00 € – Rest of the year: 8.90 €
Car+caravan: Summer (July and August) : 16.50 € – Rest of the year: 13.30 €
HGV toll : 38.00 € all year
Motorbikes: 5.40 € all year
#France #MillauViaduct #UnlimitedTravelersCorp #InterminableCorp #WorldsTallestBridge