hodgy0_2

Driving down to the south of France for xmass with the familly

thinking of taking a slight detour and crossing the viaduc millau





anyone done it?

The Dogs B******s

Looks amazing

Dedrater

Never done it, would like to. Are you allowed to stop on the bridge? to take pics and wotnot

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

I'd just love to bungee off that one!!!!

Gordo

it's great, but it'd be a big detour (just near Nice isn't it?)

Janspeed

iTrader: (1)

It would be so cool to lob a 2000 pounder at one of those towers.......

AsifScoob

Have been over it a few times and it is pretty amazing, but from a distance.

Once you are on it you just have to concentrate and keep going straight and you certainly cannot stop.

The second picture looks like it was taken from the stop off area. That is the only place you can go to take piccies like that. I am sure you can go down into the town of Millau and take some piccies from there too, but you will just get neck ache!

The Top Gear team went over this some time ago in their old '70's supercars I think?

First time I went was at night time, it was a bit misty and with no lighting, suddenly very spooky as the only warning you get was the red beacons at the top of each tower...reminded me of 'Aliens' to be honest, when they first fly through the atmosphere of the planet...?

Anyway, amazing looking bridge and well worth seeing with your own eyes, as it really is 'in the sky'. Once you are on it and driving over it however, it is no more exciting than driving over the Severn tbh.

Try having a race, as I did one time. Just mind the toll booth at the other end. I got stopped by the Gendarmes there! Ooops!

Asif

samcowrx

I drove down to Beziers last June and went over that bridge in this-



1954 Jagur XK120, we are fortunate enough to have an S1 E-type also.

hodgy0_2

cool car!!, i think my dad had one

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Love the XK, beautful car and in the right colour too. The famous NUB120 is a white one too!

Any pics of the E-type? Please

jimmyv

I second what AsifScoob says, we regurlarly go down that route and id recommend it if you have the time, it's a piece of egineering and design well worth seeing....

hodgy0_2

cool thanks asif/jimmy

will prob make the detour then -- am actually will be going to Aix-en-Provence

so it doesnt look to far out of our way

PS heres my 1964 Morris Cooper S (970) Outright Monte Rally winner 1964,5,6,7

David_Dickson

I live about 2 hours drive from the bridge.
As said above, the second pic is from the official viewpoint which is on the north side of the bridge, there is a proper exit from the motorway from either direction, parking and a fair hike up a hill to the top. Worth it though.

If you go down into the town (nice town btw, loads of good places to eat around the main square), then take the D992 direction St Affrique, this road takes you under the bridge, where the proper visitors centre is, which is well worth a look too.

Some pics from the last time I was there a few months back....








Its truley breathtaking and well worth the visit, but its not that interesting to drive over imo. Views are quite restricted, definately no stopping allowed, although the autoroute speed limit is reduced quite a lot to slow traffic over it. Going northbound over it offers the best view, as the southbound views of the towers from the carriageway is restricted due to the bridges curve. It costs about 5€ toll to cross.

tanyatriangles

iTrader: (2)

No, it's not that far out of your way, go down the A71, which becomes the A75 south of Clermont Ferrand, and is free from then on except for the bridge.

After the bridge, follow signs for Montpellier, then A9 Paris, Avignon. (The motorway is new south of here too, the old road, the N9, which was 3 lane, literally fell into the valley at the Pas du Caylar around 15 years ago)

There is a stopping area signed just before the bridge, IIRC, to take photos, or you can wind down into Millau, follow signs for "Exposition Viaduc" and go to the exibition and photograph it on the way and there.

Look out for vultures when around 30 miles north of Millau and to the south, they are quite common around those gorges.

If you have time, stop off in Millau, visit the Gorges du Tarn, the cheesery at Roquefort, and do the old N9 descent back into Millau after crossing the viaduct, it's stunning for views

I can also recommend the service area at Severac le Chateau, with great views of the town with it's castle perched on top of the hill, from the service area windows.

Jamie

And it was designed by a british chap

jimmyv

That it was, although very few books mention that, am i right in thinking that Sarkozy didnt mention this during the official opening speech?

David_Dickson

It was co-designed by a Frenchman and a British chap - Norman Foster.
In the visitors centre they run a film all about its construction (alternates in french and english) where he is mentioned a lot.

hodgy0_2

Designed by Norman Foster

Who made his name designing the HSBC building in Hong Kong and the Sainsbury Centre at the University East Anglia amongst others

And thanks a bundle for all your help

Unfortunatly wont be goung across it in the Subaru or the Mini

tanyatriangles

iTrader: (2)

Forgot to say that between Clermont and Millau is some AMAZING autoroute, altitudes are marked off every so often, I believe the highest point is the Col de la Fageole at 1114m. Some of the climbs and desents are amazing, Subaru or not. I've done it several times with a caravan on tow. Car gets a little hot, (not the Scoob).

Also, if you have time, leave the A75 at j30, continue south on the old N9, winding down and under the Viaduc de Garabit built by Eiffel of Eiffel Tower fame, well worth seeing.
Rejoin motorway at j31, a detour of less than 5 miles

Google Image Result for http://www.testadaz.com/blog/images/admintdz/2007-10/viaduc_de_garabit_268.jpg

hodgy0_2

many thx's Tanya

**** -- i,ll never get there at this rate

TSL Motorsport

My parents took the detour this summer. They said it was amazing, well worth seeing!
On one side there's a place to stop so you can take pictures and visit the shop there, once your on the bridge you can't see a thing because the sides are that high! There's also a small section where the railings are only a metre high! It scared my dad to death!
Once your over the other side be careful, my parents were in their triple axle motorhome towing a 20ft speed boat and going down the steep drop almost set fire to the brakes! Luckily there was a layby half way down so the managed to stop there.
It's not a visit they're bother about doing again(especially in their vehicle circumstances) but they were glad they did it.
The photos are fab!
I quite fancy going next year but it's over a 200 mile extra detour to St Tropez!

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

It might sound pithy, but sometimes the journey is more fun than arriving

Maybe if you left yourself some extra time for the journey to / from you could stay over somewhere and see a few sights?

I went bungee jumping in Normandy some years back and the journey ended up being at least as eventful as jumping off the bridge!

tanyatriangles

iTrader: (2)

Absolutely agree: I've done some good stuff and seen some amazing things just by going a slightly different way.
How about northern Provence via the Black Forest?

Now if you get yourself a caravan.................

hodgy0_2

"It might sound pithy, but sometimes the journey is more fun than arriving"

possibly -- but I will have 5 kids in the back of the car