The Millau Viaduct (Aveyron) is a section of the A75 motorway: 2,460 m (8,071 ft) long, 343 m (1,125 ft) high at its maximum, opened to traffic on December 16, 2004. You can experience it in two ways: by driving across it (toll of €11.30 outside summer and €13.80 in summer for a car, 2026 prices), or from the Millau Viaduct rest area, where the Viaduc Expo is free and open all year. This page gives the official figures, the toll, the guided tours, the best viewpoints and sunset times month by month. Upstream, the Tarn Gorges, between limestone plateaus and canoeing, can be reached by car to extend a nature-focused stay.
The viaduct is a frequent stop on the road south: find more ideas in our guide to visiting France, and for the onward journey to the Mediterranean, our Montpellier page.
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Millau Viaduct: key facts
- Viaduc Expo (rest area): free, open 7 days a week except January 1 and December 25; 9 am – 5:50 pm from September 1 to November 1, 2026, 9 am – 4:50 pm from November 2 to December 31, 2026 — checked on 23 October 2026 on leviaducdemillau.com
- Car toll (class 1): €11.30 from September 16 to June 14; €13.80 from June 15 to September 15 (prices as of February 1, 2026); motorcycle €6.80 — checked on 23 October 2026 on leviaducdemillau.com
- « Sentier des Explorateurs » guided tour: 50 min, all year, adult €6, child/student €4, family €14, free under 6; booking recommended — checked on 23 October 2026 on leviaducdemillau.com
- Time needed: crossing by car under 2 minutes; Viaduc Expo about 30 min; Sentier des Explorateurs about 45–50 min.
- On foot or by bike: not allowed, as the viaduct is a motorway.
The viaduct’s official figures
The structure was designed by engineer Michel Virlogeux, styled by architect Norman Foster and built by the Eiffage group, which operates it under a concession — construction stages. Here are the figures published by the Compagnie Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau.
| Item | Official figure | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Deck length | 2,460 m (8,071 ft) | 2 end spans of 204 m (669 ft) and 6 spans of 342 m (1,122 ft) |
| Maximum height | 343 m (1,125 ft) | 13 m (43 ft) taller than the Eiffel Tower, according to the operator |
| Tallest pier (P2) | 245 m (804 ft) | World record for pier height, according to the operator |
| Deck width | 32 m (105 ft) | |
| Weight of the steel deck | 36,000 t | |
| Piers / pylons | 7 piers; 87 m (285 ft) pylons | |
| Stay cables | 154 (11 pairs per pylon) | Tension of 900 to 1,200 t |
| Gradient / radius of curvature | 3.025% / 20 km (12 mi) | |
| Cost | €400 million | Viaduct and toll plaza |
| Construction | 3 years (December 14, 2001 – December 14, 2004) | Project preparation: 14 years, first discussions in 1987 |
| Concession | 78 years (3 of construction, 75 of operation) | Structure guaranteed for 120 years |
Built in three years
The piers rise from the ground in March 2002 and grow by 4 m (13 ft) every 3 days; they are completed on December 9, 2003. The deck is pushed out over the void from both banks by 64 jacks, in 18 launches; the two halves meet on May 28, 2004 at 2:12 pm, 270 m (886 ft) above the Tarn. The road surface is laid from September 21 to 24, 2004. The viaduct is inaugurated on December 14, 2004 and opens to traffic on December 16.
Driving across the viaduct: toll and safety
The toll plaza is north of the structure. Prices are updated every February 1 under the concession contract with the State, with a « summer » rate from June 15 to September 15 for light vehicles — toll prices.
| Class | Vehicle | Outside summer (Sept 16 – June 14) | Summer (June 15 – Sept 15) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Light vehicle (height ≤ 2 m / 6.6 ft, GVW ≤ 3.5 t) | €11.30 | €13.80 |
| 2 | Intermediate vehicle (2 to 3 m / 6.6 to 9.8 ft) | €17.00 | €20.70 |
| 3 | 2-axle truck and coach | €37.60 | €37.60 |
| 4 | Truck and coach with 3 or more axles | €47.70 | €47.70 |
| 5 | Motorcycle, sidecar, trike | €6.80 | €6.80 |
- Payment: all payment methods and electronic toll tags are accepted, except holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances). The VIA10+1 card has not been accepted since December 31, 2025.
- Non-stop electronic toll lanes: reserved for tag holders; slow to about 30 km/h (19 mph); maximum height 2 m (6.6 ft) including any roof load.
- Vertigo: the 3 m (10 ft) emergency lane and a 2.15 m (7 ft) cornice prevent any downward view; 3 m (10 ft) windbreak screens protect against gusts.
- Wind: from an average wind of 90 km/h (56 mph), trucks and caravans slow down; at 110 km/h (68 mph) they are banned; above 140 km/h (87 mph) the viaduct closes. The operator says it has never been closed for this reason.
- Breakdown: park in the emergency lane, exit on the right, go behind the guardrail and use an emergency call box (about every 500 m / 550 yd).
Access: in the north, A75 entrance no. 45 toward Montpellier; in the south, entrance no. 46 toward Clermont-Ferrand. From central Millau, the toll is paid before the structure heading toward Montpellier and after the structure heading toward Clermont-Ferrand — access map.
Visiting: the rest area, Viaduc Expo and guided tours
The Millau Viaduct rest area is accessible in both directions of the A75, and also off the motorway from Millau via the D911 and the boulevard du viaduc (about 15 minutes from the town center, according to the operator), with free parking. Set in a former limestone-plateau farm, it houses the Viaduc Expo (model, screens, immersive show), an official shop, a food area, a playground, a dog agility course and a viewing platform. It also offers motorhome service stations from March to October.
| Period 2026 | Viaduc Expo hours |
|---|---|
| Jan 2 – Mar 28 | 9 am – 4:50 pm |
| Mar 29 – Jul 3 | 9 am – 5:50 pm |
| Jul 4 – Aug 31 | 9 am – 6:45 pm |
| Sep 1 – Nov 1 | 9 am – 5:50 pm |
| Nov 2 – Dec 31 | 9 am – 4:50 pm |
| Tour | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sentier des Explorateurs | 50 min | Time slots at 10 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm depending on the season; private viewing platform under the deck; free audio guide for ages 4–8 and 8–12 |
| On the former construction tracks | 2 h 30 | Limited to 18 people, as close as possible to the structure |
| « Around the Millau Viaduct » excursion | 3 h 30 | By bus from central Millau |
| Discovery hike | Half day | With a visit to pier P2 |
| « Under the viaduct at night » experience hike | 5 h | Picnic under the viaduct and visit to pier P2 |
The best viewpoints
The operator has selected its most beautiful viewpoints:
- Millau Viaduct rest area: viewing platform reachable on foot from the parking lot, ideal for a souvenir photo.
- Cap de Costes-Brunas: from Creissels, a narrow road reserved for light vehicles; paragliding take-off site.
- Luzençon viewpoint: at 650 m (2,133 ft) above sea level, over the Tarn valley and the Grands Causses.
- Village of Peyre: a cave-dwelling village ranked among the Plus Beaux Villages de France (« Most Beautiful Villages of France »), 7 km (4 mi) west of Millau.
- Pont Lerouge: a few minutes from the town center, view toward the viaduct at sunset.
- Millau belfry terrace: open from mid-June to mid-September.
- RD809 panoramic viewpoint: from exit 47 (La Cavalerie), on the way down to Millau.
Best time for photos: sunset month by month
The operator recommends Pont Lerouge at sunset. We calculated the sunset time in Millau on the 15th of each month and compared it with the Viaduc Expo closing time: enough to plan a visit to the rest area in the afternoon, then a photo from Millau.
| Month (15th) | Sunset | Viaduc Expo closing | Sunset relative to closing |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5:34 pm | 4:50 pm | 44 min after |
| February | 6:16 pm | 4:50 pm | 1 h 26 min after |
| March | 6:53 pm | 4:50 pm | 2 h 03 min after |
| April | 8:31 pm | 5:50 pm | 2 h 41 min after |
| May | 9:07 pm | 5:50 pm | 3 h 17 min after |
| June | 9:32 pm | 5:50 pm | 3 h 42 min after |
| July | 9:28 pm | 6:45 pm | 2 h 43 min after |
| August | 8:52 pm | 6:45 pm | 2 h 07 min after |
| September | 7:59 pm | 5:50 pm | 2 h 09 min after |
| October | 7:04 pm | 5:50 pm | 1 h 14 min after |
| November | 5:21 pm | 4:50 pm | 31 min after |
| December | 5:10 pm | 4:50 pm | 20 min after |
How to read it: in summer there are more than two hours of daylight left after the Expo closes, enough to reach a viewpoint. In December and January the sun sets shortly after closing: visit the rest area in the morning and keep the late afternoon for photos.
Common mistakes
- Trying to cross on foot or by bike: not allowed, it is a motorway.
- Paying the toll with holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances): refused.
- Driving into an electronic toll lane without a tag: these lanes are strictly reserved for equipped vehicles.
- Driving up to Costes-Brunas in a motorhome: narrow road, reserved for light vehicles.
- Arriving at the Expo on January 1 or December 25: closed.
What to see nearby
Along the A75 and around it, combine the viaduct with Montpellier to the south, Toulouse to the west or the Verdon Gorge for another great landscape. The Carcassonne site is another monumental stop in Occitanie.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Millau Viaduct toll cost?
For a car (class 1), €11.30 from September 16 to June 14 and €13.80 from June 15 to September 15 (prices as of February 1, 2026); €6.80 for a motorcycle.
How tall is the Millau Viaduct?
343 m (1,125 ft) at the top of the pylons, which is 13 m (43 ft) taller than the Eiffel Tower according to the operator; the tallest pier, P2, is 245 m (804 ft).
Can you visit the Millau Viaduct for free?
Yes: the Millau Viaduct rest area, its viewing platform and the Viaduc Expo are free. Guided tours cost money (Sentier des Explorateurs: €6 per adult).
Can you walk across the Millau Viaduct?
No, the viaduct is part of the A75 motorway, which is closed to pedestrians and cyclists.
How long does it take to visit the Millau Viaduct?
About 30 minutes for the Viaduc Expo and 45 to 50 minutes for the Sentier des Explorateurs, plus time for the viewpoints.
Does the Millau Viaduct close because of wind?
It would close above an average wind of 140 km/h (87 mph), but the operator says it has never been closed for this reason since it opened.
Our sources
- Compagnie Eiffage du Viaduc de Millau (leviaducdemillau.com): key figures, presentation, construction stages, rest area, Viaduc Expo, guided tours, Sentier des Explorateurs, viewpoints, toll prices, FAQ, access map, consulted on 23 October 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/Paris time zone, applied by Destination de Voyage to the approximate coordinates of Millau (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices and hours may change: check the official website before you go.
