Millau viaduct

[Bazsm]

We’re off to the Bordeaux region for 10 days and I’ve got a fancy to go see the Millau viaduct, it’s a few hours from there so is it worth the effort, is there more to do than just drive over it?

[Hugh jorifice]

Worth a visit.
Lovely views and a small museum.

[ArmaghMan]

Yes. There is a visitor centre.
Well worth a visit.

[sherman]

Theres a bit of a museum on the North side at the motorway services. Its interesting and the view is brilliant.
The town of Millau is nice too.

Pont du Fard is worth the visit too.

[Badda]

It’s a nice view but I don’t think it’s worth a trip from Bordeaux. I was whelmed by it when I went. The Gorge du tarn itself is a lovely route though if you’re that way.

[Antony Moxey]

Definitely worth a visit. Approaching from the north there's a service station/parking area just before you get to the bridge where you have superb views of the bridge and for miles of the surrounding countryside in all directions. I would imagine if you have the chance to see/cross it and don't you'll kick yourself for missing the opportunity as I don't suppose it's a trip or crossing you're going to be making every other week or so.

I'm sure I read somewhere that that the tallest tower there is about the same height as the Eiffel Tower - it's got to be worth it for that alone!

[RONV]

It is worth it we went in a 58 year old car.

[NDA]

Badda said:

It’s a nice view but I don’t think it’s worth a trip from Bordeaux.

This.

It's a long way - it's a bridge. (Slight jest).

There is so much to see and do in the Bordeaux area, I'm not sure I'd want a 4 hour + trip to see the bridge.

[harrycovert]

Go on the road to St Affrique and get the view from underneath Take the old road south of Milau and see the flock of vultures

[Semmelweiss]

It's a long drive from Bordeaux, considering you can't stop on the bridge. It's also an expensive toll-road. The approaches to admire the engineering and architecture are astonishing, considering that it only took 3 years to construct.

[blue_haddock]

I found driving over it a bit of an anti-climax but the views of it as you go down into the town of Millau are pretty good so i would suggest going over it one way and then coming back down into Millau to have a wander through the town and to get some decent views of the bridge.

[Lotusgone]

It's a remarkable structure with some superb views.

However Mrs L's memory is of the loos at the visitor centre which were appalling. Very, very basic and grubby.

[Boxster5]

It’s a few years since we were there but it’s definitely one to cross off your list of must-sees.
Very impressive and the services were really decent - much nicer than the UK apology for service areas. Food was decent, not rip-off prices and served with a smile.
As others have said, driving over it is a bit of an anti-climax though.
Didn’t go into Millau to see the viaduct from the ground as we were on our way to just South of Avignon.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Go over it & under it. Under it is more impressive. Over it is pretty much like driving on any other road.

[Ussrcossack]

I was fortunate enough to see it been built, take a truck through Millau before the bridge on an August Bank holiday was a bind

Now when I'm going down that way I still go through the town its very quiet now, compage to pre viaduct days and yes its very expensive 10e co 12e for a car

[RONV]

It is a great drive around the villages.

[rev-erend]

I believe the route Napoleon is in the area too...

[generationx]

I never thought I’d have a reason to visit it as it’s a bit off the beaten track, however I had the chance a few weeks ago on the way back from Northern Spain.

The approach on the A75 from the south up through the valleys is stunning, and the bridge itself is spectacular. As mentioned the small service area and museum is interesting with some amazing statistics, and we thought the toilets were ok! The cafe does a mean coffee and sandwich and there’s plenty of viewing areas, this picture was taken from there.



I’m sure a few others here had their first view of it on an episode of Top Gear in 2005:

https://youtu.be/HvaSqSCJaK0?si=2pDwOTll9eJ8WbQN

[RONV]

From our hotel window.

[Antony Moxey]

Is that the toilet window?