We couldn't be in this area of southern France and not visit the Pont du Gard. We have visited it on each of our four trips to France. It never ceases to amaze. And this time we can also visit the new museum that was under construction during our last visit in 2006.
In the 1st C, the Romans built an aqueduct to carry water 85km from a ground spring in the village of Uzes to the booming Roman city of Nimes. When the aqueduct reached the gorges of the river Gardon, it had to be elevated not on a single tier but on a triple tiered bridge or "pont".
And here it is ... 2,000 years later! It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and second only in importance to the aqueduct we visited in Segovia, Spain last month.
The bottom of the gorge here is rock - no stones or pebbles - just rock. After snow melt, the rock is submerged for some weeks while the river rushes through the gorge. But now, in Summer the water is only flowing in the main, deeper watercourse.
Originally the water was enclosed in the very top section (the third tier) of the aqueduct.
Walking on the first tier of the pont and looking up.
Standing on the first tier and looking down to the water. Those sides are all rock.
Canoeing is incredibly popular throughout France and Italy.
And this is the new Museum of the Pont du Gard. It encapsulates all of the Roman history of southern France and it was wonderful. We spent many hours here.
Fabulous working models .....
Once we emerged from the museum it was early evening.
7pm and still lots of people around.
Time for a drink before heading home.
Next: the Millau Viaduct.
No comments:
Post a Comment