The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to carry water over 50 kilometers to the Roman colony of Nemausus, now Nimes. It crosses the river Gardon near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard in southern France and is one of the best preserved Roman aqueduct bridges, added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites in 1985 for its exceptional preservation, historical importance and architectural ingenuity.
Facts
LocationVers-Pont-du-Gard, Gard department, southern France 1 Architectural StyleAncient Roman aqueduct engineering (arched masonry) 1 Structural SystemArched masonry aqueduct, blocks fitted by friction and gravity without mortar or clamps 1 Primary MaterialLimestone (local Shelly limestone, Pierre de Vers) 1 Building Type Height (metres) Storey Count UNESCO Inscription Year Current UseTourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site; no longer functions as a working aqueduct 1 Visitor AccessOpen to the public; pedestrianised site with a dedicated visitor centre 1 Disputed
Commissioned ByRoman state; traditionally credited to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, though modern dating disputes his direct involvement 1 Traditional attribution to Agrippa (c. 19 BC) is contested by excavation evidence dating construction to 40-60 AD (Wikipedia, History section). ConstructionLong credited to Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa around 19 BC; modern excavation evidence instead points to construction between 40 and 60 AD (Wikipedia, History section). Connections
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Architecture and Design Atlas: Pont du Gard, the same subject.
Sources
1. Pont du Gard (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section, first sentence
The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to carry water over 50 km (31 mi) to the Roman colony of Nemausus (Nîmes).
Lead section, third sentence
The Pont du Gard is one of the best preserved Roman aqueduct bridges.
Lead section, second sentence
It crosses the river Gardon near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard in southern France.
Description section, gradient paragraph
the aqueduct's engineers were able to lower the height of the bridge by 6 metres (20 ft) to 48.77 metres (160.0 ft) above the river
Description of the bridge section, first sentence
Built on three levels, the Pont is 49 m (161 ft) high above the river at low water and 274 m (899 ft) long.
Description section, first paragraph
The bridge has three tiers of arches made from Shelly limestone and stands 48.8 m (160 ft) high.
Description of the bridge section, construction paragraph
The Pont du Gard was constructed largely without the use of mortar or clamps.
Lead section, fourth sentence
It was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites in 1985 because of its exceptional preservation, historical importance, and architectural ingenuity.
History section, tourism paragraph
Today it is one of France's most popular tourist attractions, and has attracted the attention of a succession of literary and artistic visitors.
Tourism section
The entire area around the bridge was pedestrianised and a new visitor centre was built on the north bank to a design by Jean-Paul Viguier.
History section, first paragraph
Newer excavations suggest the construction may have taken place between 40 and 60 AD.
History section, first paragraph, Agrippa attribution sentence
The construction of the aqueduct has long been credited to the Roman emperor Augustus's son-in-law and aide, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, around the year 19 BC.
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