The Millau Bridge is a wonderful French engineering achievement which promises to bring tangible benefits to many British motorists travelling to the south of France.

 

It completes a key stretch of motorway between Paris and, eventually, Barcelona and provides a viable alternative to the notorious A7 section between Lyon and Orange, where traffic between Spain and the south of France traditionally converges. Hitherto every summer jams have built up in this section of motorway at peak weekends but dramatic improvements are expected this year.

 

Before the Millau Bridge was completed last month, there was no incentive to avoid the A7 despite the volume of traffic. Motorists using the alternative route in summer ran out of motorway in both directions and had to wind their way up and down the steep valley to Millau, often bringing the town to a complete standstill.

 

To use the bridge route, take the A71 from the Paris orbital périphérique towards Clermont Ferrand. The newly completed A75 begins here and proceeds almost due south, to the west of Montpellier. The road has plenty of service stations and dedicated rest areas. Apart from the bridge itself, it is presently toll free as far as Béziers, where it connects with the existing A9 road that runs to the Spanish frontier. The bridge, which offers fantastic views in fine weather, has a toll charge. The fee is variable, and a toll possibly of about 10 Euros but not yet confirmed, will be levied during the peak months of July and August. 

 

Your journey by car to our villas near Carcassonne and Perpignan will be a straight run by motorway from Calais and around Paris, and shorter by approximately 2 hours.

From our January 2005 newsletter