The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard in southern France. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all elevated Roman aqueducts, and, along with theAqueduct of Segovia, one of the best preserved.
The aqueduct bridgeis part of the Nîmesaqueduct, a 50-kilometre (31 mi) system built in the first century AD to carry water from a spring at Uzès to theRoman colony ofNemausus (Nîmes). Because of the uneven terrain between the two points, the mostly underground aqueduct followed a long, winding route that called for a bridge across the gorge of the Gardon River.
After the Roman Empire collapsed and the aqueduct fell into disuse, the Pont du Gard remained largely intact, due to the importance of its secondary function, as a toll bridge. For centuries the local lords and bishops were responsible for its upkeep, in exchange for the right to levy tolls on travellers using it to cross the river, although some of its stones were looted and serious damage was inflicted on it in the 17th century. It attracted increasing attention starting in the 18th century, and became an important tourist destination. Source: Wikipedia
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| Lower part of the Aqueduct |
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The water channel on top of Pont du Gard was covered
to
prevent contamination and solar heating.
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