Jump to:
Standing below the colossal Pont-du-Gard, it’s difficult to comprehend just how old this construction is. Built half way through the first century AD, the aqueduct was the crowning structure in a 50 km (30 mile) network of canals that transported water from a spring at Uzès to the Roman colony of Nemausus (present day Nîmes).
It’s a masterpiece of Roman engineering more than 2,000 years old, and yet its stately proportions and august air fit seamlessly into the modern landscape. Although southern France is blessed with a large number of Roman sites, the Pont-du-Gard is one of the most impressive of all.
Pont-du-Gard consists of three tiers of precisely engineered arches cut from soft yellow, locally quarried limestone. Meticulously carved by hand using picks and sharp metal, the gargantuan stones were precisely engineered and placed to create a mere 2.5 cm (1 inch) drop over the course of the 275 m (902 ft) long aqueduct and keep the water flowing across.
At 50 m (164 ft) high, the structure lords over the river valley and remains the highest of all elevated Roman aqueducts. Its remarkable state of preservation has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can walk along the tiers to marvel at the engineering involved, its 52 arches, and to admire the panoramic views it offers over the surrounding countryside.
The museum does an exceptional job of explaining all the facts about the aqueduct's construction, for both adults and children. It traces the history of how the Pont-du-Gard was built through models, life-size reconstructions, interactive displays and videos.
You also gain vivid descriptions of life in the ancient Roman world as well as a thorough explanation of why water was such a crucial part of Roman life, from domestic and agricultural uses to supplying baths and public fountains. The interactive exhibits and hands-on displays in the Ludo play area are designed for young visitors.
who's been there
-
617-223-4521617-223-4762
- Make an inquiry
Suggested itineraries featuring Pont-du-Gard
Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Pont-du-Gard, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. Treat them as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Places near Pont-du-Gard
- ±«³úè²õ 8 miles away
- Avignon 14 miles away
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine region 17 miles away
- ³§²¹¾±²Ô³Ù-¸éé³¾²â-»å±ð-±Ê°ù´Ç±¹±ð²Ô³¦±ð 19 miles away
- Orange 19 miles away
- Les-Baux-de-Provence 20 miles away
- Arles 20 miles away
- L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue 26 miles away
- Gordes 34 miles away
- ²Ñé²Ô±ð°ù²ú±ð²õ 35 miles away
- Roussillon 38 miles away
- Aix-en-Provence 54 miles away
- Provence 84 miles away
- ¸é³óô²Ô±ð-´¡±ô±è±ð²õ 96 miles away
- Saint-Tropez 116 miles away
- The French Riviera 116 miles away
- Grasse 121 miles away
- Lyon 127 miles away
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence 131 miles away
- Antibes 132 miles away
- Nice 137 miles away
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat 141 miles away
- ȳú±ð 142 miles away
- Monaco and Monte Carlo 145 miles away
- Dordogne 151 miles away
- Talloires 155 miles away
- Annecy 157 miles away
- Chamonix 174 miles away
- La Roque-Gageac 177 miles away
- ³§²¹°ù±ô²¹³Ù-±ô²¹-°ä²¹²Ôé»å²¹ 177 miles away
- Castelnaud-la-Chapelle 179 miles away
- Beynac-et-Cazenac 179 miles away
- ³§²¹¾±²Ô³Ù-ɳ¾¾±±ô¾±´Ç²Ô 241 miles away
- Bordeaux 261 miles away
- Château de Cheverny 288 miles away
- Château de Chenonceau 288 miles away
- Château de Chambord 293 miles away
- Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire 293 miles away
- Alsace 294 miles away
- Amboise 295 miles away