European Travel: Pont Du Gard
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The Pont du Gard outside of Nimes, France is one of the most famous examples of the ancient Roman aqueduct. These aqueducts were architectural marvels at the time and are still considered incredible feats of engineering. The purpose of these aqueducts was to carry water across a valley, hollow, or basically anywhere that water would not naturally flow.
The Pont du Gard was used in particular to carry water across the Gard river, thus the name. Translated literally, it means bridge over the Gard. The Pont du Gard is a three-tiered structure that carries water on the top of the third level and supports automobile traffic on the first level. At its longest level, it spans 275 meters.
The Pont du Gard throughout History
This aqueduct was built shortly before the Christian era of Roman civilization. It was part of a long aqueduct that spanned nearly 50 kilometers to bring water from Uzes to the ancient Roman city of Nimes. As much as 20,000 cubic meters of water flowed into Nimes every day across the pont!
Today, it is one of the most visited tourist sites in the whole of southern France. Visitors flock to the area throughout the day and the area around the pont can become quite crowded. The best time to visit the aqueduct bridge is early in the morning before the crowds arrive. In this early hour the sun, the air, and the quiet allow the visitor to fully appreciate the marvel before them.
Posted on: Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 2:20 pm 
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