Ponts, Viaducts, French Bank Holidays and Cheese

Posted on 19th May, 2025

This month, our resident writer, Beth, tells us about May in France, affectionately called “le mois du gruyère” by some, a delightful French expression that captures the essence of the month. Literally, it translates to “the month of Gruyère”, “le fromage”. It’s a playful way to describe May’s work calendar, which ends up looking as holey as a wheel of Swiss Gruyère! Here she explains how the French are experts at turning a public bank holiday and their RTTs into extended weekend adventures and explorations of their beloved country.

Faire ‘le Pont’, the Bridge

“Fancy getting away from it all for a long weekend? It often happens here in France, particularly during May, when we enjoy three public holidays. Folks frequently tack on a day of their annual holiday to take them into the weekend. The term used for this is faire le pont – make the bridge.

May 1st, Fête du Travail (the public holiday, Labour Day), fell on a Thursday this year. Many took a pont by booking the Friday off using annual leave, thus enjoying a long weekend. Perfect! And where do folks go?

In the spirit of just about staying on theme…, here are some of the more famous ponts and viaducts that often feature in holiday itineraries. You might find them interesting, too.

Pont du Gard

Situate yourself between Nimes and Avignon in Occitanie in southern France, and step back in time. You’ll doubtless see signs for Pont du Gard, a masterpiece of ancient Roman architecture. Today, it is admired rather than used.

The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct built by the Romans in the 1st century CE. Remarkably well preserved, at almost fifty metres tall, it is the highest Roman aqueduct in the world. But it’s not just its height that makes this construction so special.

The aqueduct has three tiers of arches, which was a rare achievement for the time. It is the tallest Roman aqueduct in the world and used to carry water for over 50 kilometres through the French countryside to Nimes. Unsurprisingly, it has been listed as a historical monument since 1840, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Millau Viaduct

Not a fan of heights? Then closing your eyes when you cross this one might be preferable. The Millau Viaduct links Clermont-Ferrand with Béziers and Narbonne in Hérault. Conceived by the French engineer Michel Virlogeux and designed by the English architect Lord Norman Foster, it was built in 2001 using an incredible 290,000 tonnes of steel and concrete supported by 1,500 tonnes of steel cable.

The viaduct holds the world record for the tallest bridge, culminating at a dizzying 343 metres (higher than the Eiffel Tower). It is 2460 metres long and connects with the base of the Tarn Valley in only nine places. It sustains a narrow, slightly curved steel roadway supported by stays. Actually, from afar, it looks like a huge yacht, which, strangely, since it isn’t close to the sea, melds beautifully into the spectacular natural surroundings.

Pont Alexandre III in Paris

Of the many, many famous bridges in Paris, Pont Alexandre III is probably the best known and most ornate. Dating back to 1900, it was built in time for the World Exhibition. The new bridge symbolised the Franco-Russian friendship and the alliance signed between the two nations (Tsar Alexandre III and French President Sadi Carnot) in 1891. Russian emperor Nicholas II laid the first stone on October 7th 1896, in the presence of French President Félix Faure.

This wonderfully grand bridge is reminiscent of the Belle Epoque era and today connects the Grand and Petit Palais to the Hôtel des Invalides.

Morlaix Railway Viaduct

Here’s a structure that altered the whole look of this town in Brittany. The viaduct was designed by the engineers Planchat and Fenoux and built by the Compagnie des chemins de fer de l’Ouest in Morlaix, Finistère, between 1861 and 1863. Its primary use was as a railway bridge. Today, it is a protected historic monument. But what makes it special?

Well, it’s a whopping 62 meters high and 292 meters long, with arches that span the city’s historic heart. Frankly, it’s impressive. Another standout technical feature is its dual levels. The upper level, with fourteen arches, was intended for the Paris-Brest railway line, while the lower level, with nine arches, became a pedestrian daytime walkway. It’s a reassuringly chunky architectural wonder.

Pont Valentré in the Lot

One of my favourites, le Pont Valentré, is a famous, truly stunning landmark of Cahors in the Lot department, and a masterpiece of medieval architecture. Its construction began in 1308 and took more than seventy years to complete. Its purpose was to strengthen the city’s defences and aid trade. It later played a strategic role during the Hundred Years’ War, testifying to the importance of Cahors.

Pont Napoleon in the Pyrenees

Friends who spend weeks skiing and trekking in the breathtakingly scenic Luz area regularly traverse this mighty bridge. It is located 70 metres above the Gave de Pau and was commissioned in 1859 by Emperor Napoléon III following his stay at the thermal waters of Saint-Sauveur, in the Hautes-Pyrenees. Its purpose was to connect the spa district to the Gavarnie road.

Led by the famed civil engineer Eugène-François Bruniquel, construction began in 1860 using a wooden tower arch from the riverbed. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1861 and was visited by Napoléon III in 1863, as evidenced by the plaque affixed to the 68-metre-long deck.

I have no idea what possesses participants to do this, but because of its eyewatering height, Pont Napoléon is also a very popular spot for bungee jumping. Me? I’d rather enjoy the surrounding spectacular natural sights the right way up.

Garabit Viaduct in Auvergne

In the 1870s, the railway line extension connecting Paris south to Béziers was agreed upon. The combined ingenuity of Léon Boyer and Gustave Eiffel resulted in the design and building of the mighty iron Garabit Viaduct in Cantal (Auvergne Rhone-Alpes region). It linked both banks of the Truyère River, which has carved out a sumptuous valley with spectacular gorges. It took four years to build the 564-metre-long, 122-metre-high structure. Celebrated as a civil engineering masterpiece, it was classified as a Historic Monument in 2017.

May in France: The “Month of Gruyère” Explained

Thanks to strategic long weekends and mini-breaks, the French turn May into a month of short workweeks and extended relaxation. Instead of a solid block of productivity, it’s a calendar full of gaps, just like mouse cheese!

So if you’ve ever wondered why the French seem so laid-back in May, now you know: they’re simply enjoying le mois du gruyère, visiting family, friends and sites all over France.”

Thank you, Beth, for enlightening our visitors and members with more fun stories from your corner of France. For those of you who don’t know Beth yet, she and her husband, Jack, live in the heart of southwest France. They have amazing stories to tell... Merci Beth, a bientot on our French blog.

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