Around thirty children discovered the Millau Viaduct from its most secret corners

Au plus près du modèle, les enfants ont dessiné le géant de la vallée. Midi Libre – Laura Vaillant

Les enfants sont venus, en famille, fêter le Carnaval au Viaduc de Millau. L'occasion de lever quelques mystères autour du monument.

"Up close it's super big!" The wonder of around thirty children, Friday afternoon, who came to discover the Viaduct in length, width and height. The madness of grandeur will have convinced many parents to take the road towards the area of ​​the Millau Viaduct, its museum, and especially the giant of the valley nearby.

The objective of the afternoon was clear: to celebrate Carnival with family at the Viaduc. Coming dressed in their best disguises, the young people aged 8 to 12 initially discovered the monument around a miniature. The opportunity for Benoît Balaye, guide on the area, to teach them more about the Aveyron emblem.

Charades, rebuses, riddles… The man who worked for 20 years in animation used various and varied stratagems to introduce the world of the giant of the valley to the smaller. "Patrollers", "pylons" or even "apron" are terms which no longer hold any secrets for them.

"We want to introduce the Millavois Viaduct"

Once the little ones have understood where they are going, head towards the Viaduct by taking the "explorers' path". Young children were able to discover this monument up close that they know so much, but from below. "We have a lot of Millavois who are there today, explains Vincent Lescure, another guide in the area. And they tell us that some of them have never been here, to the area. It was their children who motivated them to come."

Through this type of event, the objective of the management of the building which will celebrate its twentieth anniversary this year is to bring the Millavois . "We are trying to develop activities in the area, like on All Saints' Day when we organized a pumpkin hunt, confides Camille Baduel , in charge of communications for the group. It's their Viaduct, so it's important that the people of Millavois, and especially the young people, discover it since' they are the future."

During the afternoon, the young budding patrollers slipped into the shoes of architects by designing the Viaduct, taking advantage of the talents of the architects. a makeup artist to enhance their disguises, and enjoy some sweets with the pylons as table neighbors. Next Thursday, the experience – which is being carried out this year for the first time – will be repeated. Registrations are already full, but the group hopes to bring back the youngest for the Easter period, for a new event.