Things to see/do near Millau?
Discussion
The town itself is quite nice I remember , stayed there years ago just on a lucky dip stay over . They were only building the bridge at the time and I asked what all the towers were for ! Hey , if you don't know you don't know and looking up at them a bridge seemed a little ambitious to me
We finally made it to Millau in November, chilly, but sunny so we had a good look at the bridge; it will be a lot busier in the summer. As Magoo says there's a visitors centre under the bridge on the southern side of the gorge, and there's a viewing gallery off the A75 on the other side. The bridge is spectacular and looks like an architect's first sketch laid on the landscape. Not many structures end up like that.
We thought that the town was a bit down at heel, although the centre had been tidied up, but at 7.30 PM in November, trying to find a restaurant open in an unfamiliar town isn't the best time to get a feel for a place.
Do drive from Millau up the gorge on the old road, its almost on your way home. We went north past Compeyre and then on the D907, turning onto the D995 at Les Vignes towards Le Masegros. This road gives superb views of the gorge from above and you can see just how darned big it is.....+ eagles overhead....+ bends.......from there it's an easy jog west to the A75.
Our previous drive through the gorge was in 1970 in an Anglia "1500GT" and we had a pleasant little dice with a modded Simca 1000, the only modified car we saw during three weeks in France, so we were retracing our steps really.
Steve
We thought that the town was a bit down at heel, although the centre had been tidied up, but at 7.30 PM in November, trying to find a restaurant open in an unfamiliar town isn't the best time to get a feel for a place.
Do drive from Millau up the gorge on the old road, its almost on your way home. We went north past Compeyre and then on the D907, turning onto the D995 at Les Vignes towards Le Masegros. This road gives superb views of the gorge from above and you can see just how darned big it is.....+ eagles overhead....+ bends.......from there it's an easy jog west to the A75.
Our previous drive through the gorge was in 1970 in an Anglia "1500GT" and we had a pleasant little dice with a modded Simca 1000, the only modified car we saw during three weeks in France, so we were retracing our steps really.
Steve
Fatt McMissile said:
We finally made it to Millau in November, chilly, but sunny so we had a good look at the bridge; it will be a lot busier in the summer. As Magoo says there's a visitors centre under the bridge on the southern side of the gorge, and there's a viewing gallery off the A75 on the other side. The bridge is spectacular and looks like an architect's first sketch laid on the landscape. Not many structures end up like that.
We thought that the town was a bit down at heel, although the centre had been tidied up, but at 7.30 PM in November, trying to find a restaurant open in an unfamiliar town isn't the best time to get a feel for a place.
Do drive from Millau up the gorge on the old road, its almost on your way home. We went north past Compeyre and then on the D907, turning onto the D995 at Les Vignes towards Le Masegros. This road gives superb views of the gorge from above and you can see just how darned big it is.....+ eagles overhead....+ bends.......from there it's an easy jog west to the A75.
Our previous drive through the gorge was in 1970 in an Anglia "1500GT" and we had a pleasant little dice with a modded Simca 1000, the only modified car we saw during three weeks in France, so we were retracing our steps really.
Steve
I wonder if the bridge has had a negative effect on the town ? People stopping to view the bridge then cracking on towards Spain instead of staying at millau town the night .We thought that the town was a bit down at heel, although the centre had been tidied up, but at 7.30 PM in November, trying to find a restaurant open in an unfamiliar town isn't the best time to get a feel for a place.
Do drive from Millau up the gorge on the old road, its almost on your way home. We went north past Compeyre and then on the D907, turning onto the D995 at Les Vignes towards Le Masegros. This road gives superb views of the gorge from above and you can see just how darned big it is.....+ eagles overhead....+ bends.......from there it's an easy jog west to the A75.
Our previous drive through the gorge was in 1970 in an Anglia "1500GT" and we had a pleasant little dice with a modded Simca 1000, the only modified car we saw during three weeks in France, so we were retracing our steps really.
Steve
I remember that the town was worried this might happen, but initially their fears were unfounded and they saw a very large increase in tourism after the bridge was finished. So did the Roquefort cheese caves not far away, but whether the increase was maintained after time I don't know. I imagine that once folk have done the visitor centre once, they probably behave as you have suggested. There's quite a few hotels in the town, the one we stayed in was rather grotty, but none of the usual chains - Accor etc.
Steve
Steve
Caves and the gorge definitely sound good, and would be on the way. Gassing Station | France | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff