As part of our upcoming European trip we are hoping to visit the Millau Bridge. We will be travelling from Carcassonne on our way to the Gorge du Tarn and weather permitting will visit the bridge en route. If the weather is not too good (as we have heard it can be) we will visit from our base in St Enimie.
What we would like to do is go to the visitor centre, which I believe is on the road under the bridge near Millau (D992), and then take local roads north a bit so that we can travel over the bridge heading south, as I have heard that gives the best views.
Does anyone know where is the best place to get onto the A75 north of Millau and then which exit we should use to come off the A75 so that we can continue our journey to St Enimie on D roads.
Many thanks Christine
Posts: 72 | Location: North East England | Registered: 26 April 2007
Firstly, the French authorities are renumbering roads at present. Take care !
Leave Millau on the D911 signposted Clermont Ferrand. You will get a good view from under the bridge.Then take A75 J45 signposted Montpellier. Before the bridge itself is an observation point.
Leave the A75 at J47, then follow D809 (the old road) signposted Millau to return into the town.
For Gorge de Tarn and St Enemie, I'd follow the St Enemie signs from the centre of Millau.
The weather is changeable, but normally clear in summer.
Am I right in thinking that the best views are to be had when travelling south? I read it somewhere, but can't remember where
I've had a look at some of your photos - they make me wish the next 4 weeks would pass so that we can be there. I especially like the ones of Pont du Gard - we hope to see that too during our trip.
Posts: 72 | Location: North East England | Registered: 26 April 2007
ChrisW, towards the end of May 2006, we drove from Sarlat to St-Remy over three days - real slow We saw some very beautiful areas in the south of France.
On day 2, we saw Millau bridge from below and on day 3 we saw Pont du Gard. What a sight, both of them; what a difference!!! Then, the Millau bridge was two years old; the Pont du Gard two thousand years old. Hard to believe!
Enjoy!
Posts: 477 | Location: san francisco but so excited being in Venezia for the holidays!! | Registered: 22 April 2005
Yes I had seen the posts about the bad weather and must admit I had been getting a bit concerned - we will not be walking that much but are touring by motorbike so the weather makes a big difference to us (as it does to everyone's holiday). I've been checking forecasts and it looked as though it's improving so it's good to have first hand confirmation
That's another lovely photo - where is it of - Millau somewhere?
Posts: 72 | Location: North East England | Registered: 26 April 2007
Just to clarify the views of the bridge, you are virtually on it by the time you see it when driving from the south, whereas driving from the north you can see the bridge for some time as you approach it. I posted a number of photos of the bridge on "Slow Photos" on this site soon after it opened - you'll find them in the "Rest of Southern France" photos and it is easy to see which direction they are viewed from as the bridge curves to the left (and is actually uphill) when driving south, and hence curves to the right when driving north.
Graham - your photos are great, I hope we get to see the bridge in such good conditions! I must have read that you get better views of the bridge when approaching it from the north. Would we need to go further north than Exit 45 or will that be far enough north to get those views?
I'm getting quite excited by the prospect of seeing the Millau bridge and then a few days later Pont du Gard - there is something about bridges that I really like
Posts: 72 | Location: North East England | Registered: 26 April 2007
If you go onto the motorway at the exit on the north side of the bridge (I assume it is 45), then you will immediately come to the toll plaza and from there it is still about 6 km to the bridge so you don't need to go any further north than that. Assuming you are approaching exit 45 from Millau then it is worth crossing the motorway (an underpass from memory) and going south along the little country road towards the bridge. You then can stop and take photos before going back to exit 45 and driving over the bridge.
It is a fascinating structure and my wife who is not normally that interested in structures couldn't get enough of it. She kept finding little roads to drive up to get different views.
- we will not be walking that much but are touring by motorbike so the weather makes a big difference to us (as it does to everyone's holiday). I've been checking forecasts and it looked as though it's improving so it's good to have first hand confirmation 
