The Millau Viaduct

MILLAU, France--When faced with a problem--a significant missing link on one of the major north-south highways out of Paris--the French came up with the perfect solution: build the tallest bridge in the world. Called the Millau Viaduct, because it spans the Tarn River just outside this small French town not too far from Clermont-Ferrand, this massive bridge towers 1,125 feet above the Tarn Valley--and by the way, cuts 37.3 miles off the drive from Paris to Perpignan in the south.

But little things like less driving and less cost--since taking the A75 (the autoroute that includes the Millau Viaduct) saves drivers about $21 in tolls versus what was required to go from Paris to Perpignan prior to the bridge's opening in 2004--are just details when you look at this bridge from just about any of the many different viewing spots. It's gigantic, beautiful, graceful, and, yes, it is the tallest bridge in the world.

CNET reporter Daniel Terdiman visited the Millau Viaduct as part of Road Trip 2011.