PalQ

Every press report i've read on this marvel says it's in the Rhone Valley and many say that the bridge facilitates travel to the Riviera. ??? Isn't it over the Tarn River, far removed from the Rhone Valley, and nowhere en route to the Riviera, unless Montpellier is in the Riviera, a term i associate with the Nice-Marseille area? Anyway yes it's a great bridge; isn't Sir Foster the one who built the Millenium Bridge in London - the bridge that had to be closed the day it opened because of safety fears, or am i mixing up the architect?

StCirq

PalQ:

I've been a bit startled at the apparent lack of geography skills by most of the journalists who've written about this, too. Yes, it's in the Tarn Valley, and Montpellier is in Languedoc-Roussillon. As for speeding people's trips to the Riviera, well, I suppose it does that, as it will enable people to drive straight across the mountains in the north down to join with the Autoroute du Sud.

kappa

> ..isn't Sir Foster the one who built the Millenium Bridge in London ...or am i mixing up the architect?

PalQ, you are right. Yesterday, I saw on French TV news show, Foster being interviewed as the architect of the both bridge and of a museum building by a church(cathederal?) somewhere in France.

radiofanatic

I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't think it was beautiful at all from the pix. I think it's too jarring for the scenery. I'll put my flame proof suit on now.

PalQ

Radiofanatic: Stick to radio!

Intrepid1

Well, another way to look at it might be that the "scenery" doesn't measure up to the new bridge!

rkkwan

Norman Foster is one of the top architects in the world right now. I'd say he rose to fame with the Hong Kong Bank HQ in HK in the 80's. Since then, he's done the renovation/addition of the German Reichstag & the British Museum Great Court; the Chek Lap Kok Aiport Terminal in Hong Kong; etc.

He also built the Millenium Bridge over the Thames, which probably got the most bad press when it opened, and had to be closed to be renovated as it swung way too much. [Hopefully, his new bridge is better from the start.]

PalQ

Sir Foster claims that the Millenium Bridge fiasco was unjustified, that the bridge sways just like he had planned and that it was safe. Yet it freaked out people walking on it when opened so was closed to check it out and make it less frightening. I donna no but that'z what he sez.

tedgale

1. Please -- Sir Norman or Norman Foster or Sir Norman Foster but NEVER Sir Foster.

2. Yes I am dying to cross this bridge, been awaiting its opening for ages.

All the more keen as crossing Millau in the old days took about an hour of crawling through the centre of the city.

Though there is much barren blankness on the upper portions of that A-road, the ascent from Lodeve toward Millau -- at least until you come to the Plaine des mille vaches -- is also breathtaking

Kate

Tedgale, purlease, if you're going to correct people, at least get it right:

It's LORD Foster. Knighthoods are SO passe LOL.

radiofanatic

Just as an FYI, I also was a french major and lived in France for awhile. I stick to my opinion that it is ugly. But I will admit that I bet the view is amazing when looking from it.

Underhill

Those of us living in or near the San Francisco Bay Area are wondering why we can't have such a striking bridge for such a relatively moderate cost!

Kate

radiofanatic said "Just as an FYI, I also was a french major and lived in France for awhile. I stick to my opinion that it is ugly."

What's that got to do with your architectural opinion?

I think it's stunning, and I'm a designer. Does that make my opinion more or less valid?

TuckH

I agree with Kate and I'm an architect who is unable to speak French, nor have I ever lived in France...

Keith

"Those of us living in or near the San Francisco Bay Area are wondering why we can't have such a striking bridge for such a relatively moderate cost!"

Striking is an interesting word. I think that style of bridge is flat out ugly. I have been across another one like that near Tampa.

Keith

radiofanatic

I was just responding to the post who said stick to radio. Not implying I have more knowledge than others, that's for darn sure!

mpprh

Hi

I have a clippings service for my "the languedoc page" website.

The only reference to the bridge opening up the Paris - Riviera route is on US websites.

If you want to go Paris - Riviera : use the long established route via Lyon and the A6.

If you want to go to Paris - Costa Brava use the new road.

If you don't know where anything is : look at a map !

Peter