Millau France – The Ultimate Guide

As we embarked on the first leg of our journey through southern France and into Italy with our good friends Jen and Rob, the day had finally arrived for us to head toward Nice for our flight to Thailand and then onward to Australia.

Leaving Sarlat at about 2 PM, we set out for Millau and its famous bridge. The Millau Viaduct, which spans the Tarn Gorge, is an engineering marvel, recognized as one of the greatest engineering feats of all time. It is the highest bridge in the world, with one of its masts reaching 343 meters, and has the 12th highest deck in the world at 270 meters from the deck to the ground. The viaduct is part of the A75 Autoroute, connecting Paris to Montpellier.

The drive from Sarlat to Millau took us through the department of the Lot and into Aveyron. The countryside was picturesque, green, and dotted with babbling brooks and full rivers, especially at this time of the year.

Millau sits at the confluence of the Tarn and Dourbie rivers and has a history dating back to the 1st century AD. The town features a charming old center with winding lanes and historic buildings. However, despite its historical significance, Millau has a sense of having hit hard times, with a number of shops closed—an all-too-familiar sight in rural France, especially in sparsely populated areas like Aveyron.

We dined at a Moroccan restaurant, enjoying couscous with loads of vegetables, mutton, and merguez sausage. While nice, it wasn’t exceptional.

Though many rave about the Millau Viaduct, and it is indeed interesting, I wouldn’t place it among my top things to see in France. In my opinion, there are far more beautiful, historic, and intriguing sights to explore in this remarkable country.

For Information on Travelling In France, Read Our France Travel Guides.