The tallest bridge in the world has been a jewel of the south of France for 20 years.

Millau – The highest bridge in terms of bridge structure height is a road bridge located near Millau in southern France, which was officially opened 20 years ago, on December 14, 2004. This impressive structure spans the valley of the Tarn River. It connects sections of the highway between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers, significantly shortening the travel time between northern France and the Mediterranean and Spain. The route across the bridge is faster and about 100 kilometers shorter than the previous way through the valley.

Its roadway is 32 meters wide, rises to a height of up to 270 meters above the ground, and the tallest of the seven pylons reaches a height of 343 meters, surpassing the Eiffel Tower by 19 meters. The bridge is supported by seven slender concrete pillars (the shortest is 77 meters, while the tallest is 343 meters), to which pylons holding steel cables are attached, from which the roadway is suspended. This technical marvel, measuring 2460 meters in length, is the work of British architect Norman Foster and was constructed in a record short time of three years.

The foundation stone was laid in December 2001, and by November 2003, all pillars were completed. During the three-year construction period, no worker lost their life or was seriously injured. The bridge was officially opened on December 14, 2004, by the then French President Jacques Chirac, and normal traffic began two days later. A toll is charged for crossing the viaduct, which ranges from 6.5 euros to 46 euros depending on the type of vehicle.