Driving to the French Pyrenees in June. First week in a nice cottage with pool near St Giron. Then spending the second week leisurely driving back and camping here and there. Had planned to travel up the west side of the country taking in previous favourite spots in Dordogne and Loire valleys. Recently saw the monster engineering programme on SKY about the Millau viaduct north of Perpignon.
Anyone been and is it worth changing our plans to take it in?
Millau Viaduct - worth a detour?
Moderators: Aladinsaneuk, MartDude, D-Rider, Moderators
Hell yeah! You don't need to spend all day there, but definitely go there. The Tarn Gorge that leads into the the valley that the bridge spans is a good ride, and the D911 that carries on from the ride over the bridge and heads North will give hours of top twistie fun.
Mango will tell you more, or FalcoMille, they both live fairly close.
It's big.
Very big.
View from the mouth of the Tarn Gorge.
Don't park here, it's illegal.
Mango will tell you more, or FalcoMille, they both live fairly close.
It's big.
Very big.
View from the mouth of the Tarn Gorge.
Don't park here, it's illegal.
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Aladinsaneuk wrote:andy is having a VERY heavy period
Fek that. I went dizzy just looking at the pics!-
mangocrazy
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The Viaduc de Millau has to be worth a day of anybody's time. I honestly believe it is one of the Seven modern wonders of the world. From a distance it looks like it's made of lace and ribbon. Up close you realise it's a massive structure and was an equally massive undertaking. It's that rarest of things - a truly beautiful work of engineering. I never tire of looking at it and look forward to seeing it every time I travel down through France.
As Nooj says, there are some fantastic local roads to play on (the D911 is brilliant), but even if you arrive from the North on the A75 motorway, there is a fantastic section of 100mph uphill sweepers not far from the Viaduc. Travelling South on the A75 is my favourite way of seeing the Viaduc, as it gives a panoramic 'taster' view of the structure. Go through the toll booths (like you have any choice) and just before you get to cross the bridge you can pull off to the left to the viewing area. Then once you've satiated yourselves with the view, ride across it. And if you're really keen, come off at the next motorway exit, head back into Miillau (down another excellent road) and take in the views from the underside of the Viaduc.
You could easily spend a day viewing it from a number of locations and I imagine you'd regard it as time well spent. It really is that good.
As Nooj says, there are some fantastic local roads to play on (the D911 is brilliant), but even if you arrive from the North on the A75 motorway, there is a fantastic section of 100mph uphill sweepers not far from the Viaduc. Travelling South on the A75 is my favourite way of seeing the Viaduc, as it gives a panoramic 'taster' view of the structure. Go through the toll booths (like you have any choice) and just before you get to cross the bridge you can pull off to the left to the viewing area. Then once you've satiated yourselves with the view, ride across it. And if you're really keen, come off at the next motorway exit, head back into Miillau (down another excellent road) and take in the views from the underside of the Viaduc.
You could easily spend a day viewing it from a number of locations and I imagine you'd regard it as time well spent. It really is that good.
