A glimpse of the future at the Millau Viaduct
The river and gorges of the Tarn are well known enough and undoubtedly it’s worth losing yourself for a while here in what is the deepest canyon in France, while you recover from the excesses of Villefranche. But this really is a place where the vastness of nature meets the enormity of human creation and if the Pont du Gard transports you back to the time of the Romans, I’m not quite sure where Norman Foster’s Millau Viaduct will take you.
Higher than the Eiffel Tower, 270 metres above the ground, it is the highest road bridge deck and the longest suspension bridge in the world, straddling the Tarn valley and has been described as one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time.
Don’t rush the experience, it’s one of those places that you just have to reflect on for a while. North of the bridge is a service station area created out of old farm buildings with a great viewing platform which is best enjoyed at dawn or dusk.
© T.Lambelin