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The Millau viaduct, the highest bridge in the world, designed by architect Norman Foster and engineer Michel Virlogeux,

The Millau viaduct, the highest bridge in the world, designed by architect Norman Foster and engineer Michel Virlogeux, near Millau, France is officially opened

The Millau Viaduct (French: Viaduc de Millau [vja.dyk də mi.jo]) is a multispan cable-stayed bridge completed in 2004 across the gorge valley of the Tarn near (west of) Millau in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie Region, in Southern France. The design team was led by engineer Michel Virlogeux and English architect Norman Foster. Until late 2025, it stood as the tallest bridge in the world for over two decades, having a structural height of 343 metres (1,125 ft).

The Millau Viaduct is part of the A75–A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Béziers and Montpellier. The cost of construction was approximately €394 million (£345 million). It was built over three years, formally inaugurated on 14 December 2004, and opened to traffic two days later on 16 December.

Historical Significance

The Millau Viaduct (French: Viaduc de Millau [vja.

Events Before

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  2. An estimated 6-11 million people around the world take to the streets to protest against war with Iraq

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  3. Bill Maher's political talk show "Real Time with Bill Maher" debuts on HBO

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  4. Actor Paul Rudd (33) weds publicist Julie Yaeger

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  5. The journal Nature reports that 350,000-year-old footprints of an upright-walking human have been found in Italy

    The journal Nature reports that 350,000-year-old footprints of an upright-walking human have been found in Italy

Events After

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  2. Britain's Ellen MacArthur becomes the fastest person to sail solo around the world, taking 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes

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  3. Online video-sharing site YouTube is founded in San Mateo, California, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim

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  4. Kyoto Protocol comes into force following its ratification by Russia, committing industrialized nations to limit and red

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  5. President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak orders the constitution changed to allow multi-candidate presidential elections, asking

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 14, 2004?
The Millau Viaduct (French: Viaduc de Millau [vja.dyk də mi.jo]) is a multispan cable-stayed bridge completed in 2004 across the gorge valley of the Tarn near (west of) Millau in the Aveyron department in the Occitanie Region, in Southern France. The design team was led by engineer Michel Virlogeux and English architect Norman Foster. Until late 2025, it stood as the tallest bridge in the world for over two decades, having a structural height of 343 metres (1,125 ft).
Why is The Millau viaduct, the highest bridge in the world, designed by architect No... significant?
The Millau Viaduct (French: Viaduc de Millau [vja.

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December 14 in HistoryYear 2004