Okay, so it's not an authentic picture of the Millau viaduct, but more so a Clements picnic inspired version. 3D Bugles, (a favourite crisp over in France for us) were linked together with a piece of holey emmental cheese between some of the remaining smelly cheese from the cheese festival (yes, I am still eating that!) and a crisp packet. Quite an achievement that took us 2 mins planning time and 3 mins building time. We only needed 6 towers, whereas the real one has 7, sadly the length of cheese was the let down really!
Back to the real thing. Original planning permission was granted in 1996, it was started in 2001 and then it's completion was in 2004. Quite a stunning project, that we originally planned to see, then crossed off our list, then this morning decided to stuff that idea, and just went to see it anyway! Thanks Dan for the tip! A 100km drive north was the detour (we are now in the throws of working out how to get east again!) and it was purely a fuel burning exercise just to go and see a bridge. It was however, well worth it. Simply stunning and breathtaking in the size and scale of the project, the technology that built it and the effect on the original landscape.
One boring viaduct fact is that one of the uprights that holds the bridge in place, is taller than the Eiffel Tower; quite amazing. The rather excellent free visitor centre filled us with many other boring facts and irrelevant information. We watched an excellent video (albeit in French) that told the story of the creation, Jasper was enthralled! However, we used the the irrelevant information well and it inspired the family to create their own version on the picnic table.
Ed
So glad you enjoyed it - was worried you'd all hate it and then charge me for 200km of fuel. Love Maya's reconstruction - that's my sort of bridge! Missing you all.
ReplyDeleteUncle Dan x