Millau Viaduct

After driving all day, we finally arrived at the tolls for the Millau Viaduct, but as it was late in the afternoon we knew we needed to find a camping ground.    So we took the road before the tolls, in order to reach the town of Millau.

Millau is a pretty little town, and now very quiet without all the traffic pounding through, and with lots of camping grounds.    It is a popular area for tourists, who wish to enjoy walking, climbing and water sports, and to enjoy the beautiful scenery consisting of rugged hills and deep valleys.   The whole Aveyron area is also rich in history. 

So we chose Camping Des 2 Rivieries.     

 A truly beautiful spot.    And the sun was shining too.

 So we quickly got out our table and chairs, and a bottle of wine, intending to spend a lovely evening relaxing outside.   But alas the clouds came over, and down came the rain.   And it rained all night.    Brian and Susanne had rain pattering on their roof for their last night in the tent.

 The river Tarn, flowing past the campsite.    Idyllic.  

 'In Flanders fields the poppies grow'.    I cannot remember the rest of the poem, but we certainly saw plenty of red poppies growing in Belgium, as well as Germany and in France.     Whole fields of them, but of course it was not possible to stop on a motorway or road to take pictures.    But I had plenty of chances to do so when we stopped beside the Millau Viaduct.  

 The Millau Viaduct, conceived by engineer, Michel Viriogeux, and designed by Lord Norman Foster, took three years to build.    It was opened in 2004.


It spans the Tarn Valley and as well as being a magnificent piece of engineering it is aesthetically in keeping with the environment.    It is elegant, airy and sleek.   

Before the viaduct opened, traffic had to wind down the side of the hill, through Millau, and then wind back up the hill on the other side of the valley.   Bumper to bumper in the summertime.

It is a great place to stop, for a cup of coffee at the Visitor's Centre, before walking up to the viewing point.    Of course it was raining when we were there, but that did not detract from the magnificence of the bridge.