Idea #469 – Exploring the roman aqueduct of “pont du Gard”
The pont du Gard is a Roman aqueduct stepping over the Gardon, situated to Vers-Pont-du-Gard, in France. He assured the continuity of one the Roman aqueduct which led the water of the Fountain of Eure to Nîme, 52 km long. Top of 48,7 m on three floors, and still long today of 275 m – for 360 m of length originally -. The bridge has lost 12 arcs with regard to its original design.
The average slope is of 24,8 cms by km, and between starting and arrival point is 12,6 m. His average flow was estimated at 40 000 cubic meters of water a day, that is 400 liters of water per second. The water put a whole day to reach by gravity of its point of harnessing until the work of distribution, the castellum divisorium, still visible in Nîmes. The water was then sent by pipes to fountains, thermal baths or reservoirs. Stones, in big calcareous device, still carry the tracks of the Roman graffiti of assembly, but also companions of the Tour de France, who come to observe this object of art for the XVIIth century.
The aqueduct was built probably in the first half of Ier century AD. And would have stopped working at the beginning of VIth century, after the first problems due to the maintenance are noticed in the IVth century. We estimate at one thousand the number of workers, working on five intense years. Although damaged in the Middle Ages, by the entaillement of piles to allow the passage carter, The exceptional architecture of the pont du Gard drew the attention from the XVIth century. From then on, the monument benefited from regular restorations intended to protect its integrity. A road bridge was attached to it in 1743, equipped with a toll.
Prestigious work and higher aqueduct known for the Roman world, he is the object of a classification in conformance with historic monuments by the list of 1840 and was registered on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Pont du Gard, Gard, France.
