Advice needed in getting to Millau Viaducts from Paris :)
 

Hello - my husband and I are planning to visit London and Paris in March and I would love to incorporate a visit the Millau Viaduct. My husband is an engineer – and for him a day visit this modern engineering marvel would be an amazing experience.

My question is in reference to the best way of traveling to see the bridge. I would ideally like to make a day trip from Paris (mainly to avoid dragging around our luggage for an overnight stay).

I have found information on the French Rail Pass that allows for unlimited daily travel. On someone’s web page – I did see they mention taking an additional train to/from Rodez which is only a short bus ride from Millau. However – the last bus leaving Millau for the journey back to Paris is 12:30 which is too early. I was hoping to make a full day and leaving in the late afternoon or evening. Overall, it mostly appears the closest drop off points are either Toulouse or Montpellier.

If anyone has made this “daily” trip – I would greatly appreciate any advice or recommendations on specific busses, tours, trains, etc that you used!!

Thanks so much in advance :)

I can't see how you could appropriately visit the Viaduct without a car. You'd want to drive around and under it, as well as over it, as I did a couple of weeks ago.

It's about a 5 hour drive from Paris and the best way IMO would be to rent a car for an overnight trip; I think that's the only way to do justice to "this modern engineering marvel"...

I don't think this qualifies as a day trip, no matter how you look at it.

It is way too far south for a day trip. We crossed it on car several years ago. It was interesting - but it takes only a few minutes to cross it and I would not say it justifies a whole trip just for that. If you were staying in the area maybe ...

jen-- totally understand your hubby. That said, if your time in Paris is limited (i.e. <5 days), skip it and plan a dedicated trip to the South of France, without a doubt one of the most spectacular and unique regions in the world.

chicagolori-- I think you are tripping about the Millau Bridge :-D First off, the bridge just opened up in Dec 2004 (<<"We crossed it on car several years ago"?????<<). The bridge is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world more than 2,000 meters long and it certainly does not take <<"...only a few minutes to cross it"?????<<.

If any doubt on how amazing this megastructure is, just take a look at this picture: http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar...est_bridge.htm

I would think that the Falkirk Wheel (it has moving parts) would be more interesting as a trip from London to Scotland than the Millau bridge as a trip from Paris.

To each its own.

I am not tripping about anything - whatever that means.

We were in Southern France in May of 2005 and returned to Paris over the Millau Bridge. Since it is now 2007 - at least where I live - I think "several" years ago fits. Or is that not up to your editorial standards?

My husband also likes engineering feats and we went somewhat out of our way to travel back over the bridge. It is very beautiful but it does not take that long to travel over it. We then dipped down into the town/village of Millau for additional views.

I just would not take a whole long day trip to go see it. We happened to fit it into a return drive after a many days in Southern France.

I'm an engineer and spent a week beside it to get the best view. The interprettation centre (basicaaly underneath (drive from centre of town) is relatively poor but hubbie will love it. Observation point best is to the North East of the bridge but also good phot point on the road into Millau going North from junction 47. All this has to be done by car.

Take the train to say Clermont or Rodez and drive down. A bus just will not do it and you can stop in Millau which is pretty good anyway

chicagolori-- to refer to two years as "several years ago" is a stretch. I think you have no idea what you are talking about. Edit that. :-D

someone had a bad day ...

good luck jen ...

Geez... Viajero... you can dish it out but you sure couldn't take it.

t

I crossed the Millau Viaduct a couple of years ago before heading down to the town of Millau, and then under the viaduct direction Albi. The best view of the structure is from the various vantage points along the Millau-Albi road. There's not much of a view FROM the viaduct, and you may not halt thereon. If you travel at 60kph, you obviously cover one kilometre every minute, and, if it is two kilometres in length, you will cross it in two minutes. Therefore, on the matter of the time taken to cross, Chicagolori is correct, and Viajero2 is mistaken.

Got you.....!!! :-D

I have an image in my mind of my friend leaning out of the window (like a large dog his cheeks buffeted by the wind) with a camera ponied ahead as we sped along.

Not a pretty sight