Anduze in South of France - gateway between Provence and the Cévennes

Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct, which contains one of the best-preserved aqueducts from the Roman era in France. Thus, the Pont du Gard is considered as one of the most important, well-preserved, bridge structures from the Roman period, and at the same time, it is one of the most popular attractions in the south of France.

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An impressive bridge construction

The Pont du Gard was built as part of a nearly 50-kilometer-long aqueduct. It served to supply the city of Nimes with water, which it derived from the springs near Uzes. The Pont du Gard was built as a three-storey bridge, where the top layer is more then130 meters longer than the lowest level, with a length of 142 meters. The lower and middle floor was built in the shape of arcades, whereby the pillars of the middle floor are tightly aligned with the lowest level. The span of the arches is the largest in the middle of the bridge and become increasing smaller towards the banks.

Pont du Gard | ©: www.anduze-info.com

The history of the Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard was built around the middle of the first century AD, to bridge the Gardon River valley. After its completion, the aqueduct was used to supply the citizens of Nimes, with about 20 cubic meters of water per day streaming dow through a water pipe. Although, between source and destination, there was only a 20km distance to overcome, the aqueduct does not follow an even course. There are several mountain ranges, which block the direct route so that they water pipe had to take several detours. Eventually, the pipe reached a length of 50km. Largely the aqueduct was not above ground but carved directly into the rock.

Pont du Gard | ©: www.anduze-info.com

The decline of the Pont du Grand began in the fourth century when the regular maintenance was greatly neglected. However, it took until the 9th century until the water pipe was completely unusable and the aqueduct was demolished by its citizens. The rocks were carried away and to be used somewhere else. From the Middle Ages on the Pont du Gard was finally used as a road bridge. In 1747, near the aqueduct, a new bridge was built to relieve the Roman construction. Since 1985, the Pont du Gard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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