Millau and its Viaduct, outdoor capital of southern Aveyron.

Millau is a town of 22,000 inhabitants nestled at the confluence of the Tarn and the Dourbie, at 379 metres above sea level. It is ringed by three limestone plateaus: the Causse Méjean to the north, the Causse Noir to the east, the Larzac to the south. This unique geography makes it one of the largest outdoor playgrounds in Europe.

The town itself is a pleasant place to be: a medieval centre with its belfry, Provençal markets on Wednesdays and Fridays, quality restaurants, accommodation of every kind. And of course, the Millau Viaduct that soars above the valley, opened in 2004, has become a global icon.

Why come to Millau

• Three spectacular gorges within 30 minutes: Tarn, Jonte, Dourbie.
• Several climbing and via ferrata sites within 15 minutes' drive.
• Paragliding sites among the very best in mainland France.
• Mediterranean climate tempered by altitude, hot dry summers, mild winters.
• Natural heritage listed by UNESCO (Causses and Cévennes, 2011).
• Welcoming town, quiet outside the July-August peak.

How to get to Millau

By road: Millau sits on the A75 motorway (toll-free), 1 hr 30 from Montpellier, 1 hr 30 from Clermont-Ferrand, 2 hrs from Toulouse, 4 hrs 30 from Paris. The Millau Viaduct is a toll section (exit 45 or 47 depending on your direction).

By train: Millau station is served by the Béziers-Neussargues line. Otherwise, get off at Béziers or Rodez and continue by taxi or hire car.

By air: closest airports are Rodez (1 hr), Montpellier (1 hr 30), Toulouse (2 hrs).

Where to sleep, where to eat

Millau offers around a hundred places to stay, from campsites to four-star hotels. I can point you to addresses I know and rate, especially B&Bs and guesthouses in Mostuéjouls, Le Rozier, Saint-Jean-du-Bruel and Veyreau. On the food side, central Millau has several great tables (local Aveyron cooking, charcuterie from the causses, Aubrac and Roquefort cheeses).