Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard is the highest Roman aqueduct bridge in the world, and it still stands more or less as it was built about two thousand years ago. It crosses the Gardon river in three tiers of arches, about 49 metres high and 275 metres long at the top, and its pale golden limestone seems to glow against the green hills and the water. The bridge was part of a channel about fifty kilometres long that brought water from springs near Uzès to the Roman city of Nemausus, today's Nîmes, and the ancient engineers managed the journey with an extremely gentle slope, dropping only a few tens of metres over the entire distance.

The construction is impressive in its own right. The stone blocks, some weighing several tonnes, were cut to fit and set without mortar, and the arches were built on wooden centring that was removed after the stones were in place. At the top, a covered channel carried the water. The bridge was probably built in the middle of the first century AD, and the aqueduct served the city for several centuries before it silted up and fell out of use. In the Middle Ages the lower tier was used as a toll bridge, and in the eighteenth century a second roadway was added alongside the lowest arches, so that people could cross the river here, which is why the lower level still has a walkway.

The site is now a large protected landscape, listed by UNESCO in 1985. Paths wind through the garrigue, the scrubland of oak, thyme and rosemary typical of this region, and give views of the bridge from both banks and from higher viewpoints. The Gardon below is a good place to see the arches from a different angle, and in summer people swim and paddle in the river. A museum explains Roman water engineering and daily life in the Roman province, a cinema shows films about the building, and there are activities for children. In summer, the monument is lit in the evening and special shows are held.

The bridge is close to the town of Uzès, with its dukes' castle, the Cathédrale Saint-Théodorit and the Place aux Herbes, and its Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, which lies a short drive away.

It suits families, history lovers and walkers. Summer days are hot and crowded, so early morning or evening is best, and the river level and shade should be considered. Check current prices, parking arrangements and hours on the official website before you go.