The Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct above the Gardon

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Above the Gardon, the Pont du Gard’s three tiers of arches tell the story of water carried to Roman Nîmes. This photo report explores the monument, the remains of the aqueduct and the surrounding landscape.

The Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Pont du Gard is one of the most famous monuments in France. This ancient masterpiece of elegance and engineering is the most visible and spectacular part of a fifty-kilometre long aqueduct intended to supply the city of Nîmes. It was not intended to facilitate the passage of people and animals from one bank of the Gardon to the other. The superior technical mastery of the Roman engineers is still astonishing, for two millennia, the Pont du Gard has been admired by men.

The Pont du Gard is made up of three rows of superposed arches. The first row has six arches, is 142 metres long, 6 metres wide and 22 metres high. The arches are wide, and the pillars are equipped with cutwaters to effectively resist the river's flooding. Some blocks weigh more than six tons. We notice the holes and the projecting blocks on the walls: they supported the scaffolding. It supports the second row of arches as large but less thick (four metres): eleven arches over a length of 242 metres and a height of 20 metres. The third row, seven metres high and three metres thick, has 35 arches over a length of 275 metres. It supports the canal where the water flowed, 49 metres above the river that flows to the bottom of the gorges. The Pont du Gard was built around 50 A.D., the duration of the work is estimated at two to three years, and the number of workers present on the site is estimated at about a thousand. In the 18th century, a road bridge was added to it on the downstream side to allow wider vehicles to pass through.

The inhabitants of Nîmes financed the construction of the Pont du Gard, the Roman city was prosperous and dynamic enough to finance a project on a monumental scale. It was the highest water bridge in the Roman world and the pride of the city's inhabitants. The aqueducts were then among the most expensive and symbolic buildings that could be built in Roman cities, and they contributed to the prestige and reputation of the city.

The Pont du Gard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The visitor facilities and museum offer ways to understand both the aqueduct’s construction and its place in the landscape.

The Gardon and the riverside

The river is part of the scenery, but swimming is prohibited beneath the monument, as is jumping from the bridge or rocks. Follow the signs and current restrictions. River levels can change suddenly: check the site’s riverside information before planning water activities.

Pont du Gard aqueduct

Nîmes (Nemausus) was one of the most prosperous cities in the 1st century AD in Roman Gaul. The Emperor Augustus granted the former capital of the Gallic tribe of Volques the privileged status of Roman colony. Yet the substantial water source at the Jardins de la Fontaine was no longer sufficient for the inhabitants’ needs. A Roman city consumed large quantities of water for public baths, the baths of wealthy citizens, and public and private fountains. The leaders of the Roman city of Nimes decided to build an aqueduct to supply water to their city and they chose to collect water from the fountain of Eure near Uzes and send it to their city.

The aqueduct winds through the Provençal garrigue for about fifty kilometres. The water flowing by gravity, it follows the contours of the land but must cross the valleys, hills, and the Gardon gorges. The difference in altitude between the start and finish is only 12.6 metres with an average grade of 24.8 cm per km or 0.0248%! The accuracy of the Roman builders is astounding. The daily flow of water is estimated at 40,000 cubic meters on average.

There are remnants of the aqueduct, from the fountain of Eure in Uzes, the Pont de Bornègre near Saint-Maximin and several bridges, arches and concretions between the village of Vers and the Pont du Gard which can be explored on a pleasant walk, the bridge of the Vallée de Sarnette near Remoulins and two tunnels north of Sernhac. The arrival of the aqueduct is still visible in Nimes.

The aqueduct operated for nearly five centuries, it was the subject of constant and costly repairs. Water left several inches of limestone deposit in the channel, up to 50 cm in places, and large concretions formed during subsequent catchments can be seen.

The aqueduct was finally abandoned in the 6th century, its stones were reused in the construction of houses and Romanesque churches in the Middle Ages.

Preparing your visit to the Pont du Gard

Access to the outdoor site is free, while parking, the cultural spaces and some activities have separate charges. Access to the water channel at the top is regulated and takes place on guided tours. Check the official visiting information for opening times, access and tickets before travelling.

Visit of the Pont du Gard in photos : slideshow

Accommodation near the Pont du Gard

Accommodation · Guest Houses in Provence PortalGuest houses near the Pont du GardExplore the selection of bed and breakfasts, gîtes and holiday rentals to plan your stay. View the selection →

Activities and events

Pont du Gard official web site : www.pontdugard.fr

• Pont du Gard Museum, museum tour, temporary exhibitions, cinema and media library
• Guided tours
• Illuminations: lighting of the Pont du Gard at nightfall
• Heritage Day
• Events: check the current programme of the venue or municipality.
• Swimming in the Gardon
• Discovery trail and hiking

Coming to Pont du Gard

GPS coordinates N 43°56'48'' - E 4°32'09''

Location: altitude 42 meters ,the Pont du Gard is located 3 km from Vers-Pont-du-Gard, 3 km from Castillon-du-Gard, 3km from Remoulins, 8 km from Collias, 14 km from Uzès, 23 km from Nîmes, 25 km from Avignon, 36 km from Orange

Getaway · Guest Houses in Provence PortalThe Roman aqueduct remains near the Pont du GardRead my photographic report on the Portal. Read the getaway →