Everything You Need To Know To Visit The Millau Viaduct
The Millau Viaduct is the most spectacular section of the French A-75 motorway. It is located next to the city that gives it its name and is an impressive piece of engineering. Do you want to know more about him? We will discover everything about its history and characteristics, as well as what you have to take into account when visiting it.
History and characteristics of the Millau Viaduct
The Millau Viaduct was inaugurated at the end of 2004. It took 36 months of work to build it. Its conception was carried out by the French engineer Michel Virlogeux, while the design was carried out by the famous architect Norman Foster. Both knew how to integrate it into the landscape of the area.
The result was a fabulous infrastructure. It is made up of eight sections of steel deck that rest on seven concrete pillars. The six inner sections measure 342 meters, while the two ends are 204 meters.
The viaduct is 2,460 meters long and weighs about 350,000 tons. In addition, it doubled in height what until then was the highest bridge in the world: the Europabrücke, in Austria. However, today neither of them holds that title, as they have been overtaken by bridges built in recent years.
Visit the Millau Viaduct
The viaduct can obviously be covered by car. However, in order to admire this construction and learn everything about it, it is best to stop at the service area where the interpretation center is located .
In this place all kinds of explanations are offered. You will also be able to see photographs and audiovisual material on the design, use and construction of this imposing work of modern engineering.
The center can be accessed for free. The schedule depends on the season. It opens from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from April 1 to May 31 and from September 4 to November 5. From 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. it can be visited between June 1 and September 3. And from November 6 to December 31, its hours are from 10:00 to 17:00.
In case you want to do a guided tour, the duration is half an hour. In it the so-called Path of the Explorers is traveled. It is a dirt track in which models of the work are located, which allows to know more about how the construction process was.
Guided tours are priced at € 4.50 for adults and € 2.50 for children 6 to 17 years of age. In this case, there are established schedules. The first visit is at 9:30 AM and the last is at 5:00 PM (one hour later between June and August).
Other ways to know the construction
There are several points from which you can get a good perspective of the Millau Viaduct and photograph it. For example, in the municipality of Peyre, one of the most beautiful villages in France, or in the city of Millau.
It is also possible to go under it by taking a canoe ride. You can also see it up close from some trails and even paraglide over it. What is clear is that the Millau Viaduct can be seen in many ways, so it is a question of choosing the one that most appeals to us.
Location and how to get to the viaduct
The structure, as we have already anticipated, is a section of La Méridienne. This is the A-75 motorway, which connects Clermont-Ferrand (Auvergne) with Béziers and Narbonne (Languedoc-Rousillon). Therefore, it allows you to reach Paris from the Mediterranean or vice versa.
It rests to the north on the Lévezou valley and to the south it does so on the Causse del Larzac plain. It crosses the valley of the River Lot, about 100 meters from Peyre and next to Millau, considered a City of Art and History.
Regarding how to get there, you just have to go along the A-75 motorway and take exit 45. It can also be reached by the D911, following “aire du Vidauc”. Of course, you have to pay a small toll.
