Pont Du Gard or Aqueducts

Presented by
Prof. Shruti Pant
•Pont du Gard is a giant bridge-aqueduct, a notable
ancient Roman engineering work constructed about 19 BC to
carry water to the city of Nîmes over the Gard River in
southern France. 

•Augustus’ son-in-law and aide, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa,

is credited with its conception.

•Three tiers of arches rise to a height of 155 feet (47 m).

•The first tier is composed of 6 arches, from 51 to 80 feet (15

to 24 m) wide, the largest spanning the river.

•The second tier is composed of 11 arches of the same

dimensions

•The third, carrying the conduit, is composed of 35 smaller (15-foot) arches.

•Like many of the best Roman constructions, it was built without mortar.
•The structure was severely damaged in the 5th century but was restored in 1743.
•A highway bridge has since been added to the structure alongside its base.
It is 20 km in length from the source
of “aqua”.

It is over 50 km in length.

•It’s a World Heritage Site and the immediate

vicinity has been turned into a calm and very
pleasant park, with clearly marked walking and
biking trails.

•The lower bridge section walking area was

added for convenience and safety in 1743.
 •The lower level is the water channel.

• The channel is 6.2 ft. high and 4.5

ft wide and was coated with
“water-proof” concrete.

• It would bring 125,000 cubic

meters of water per diem.

• The second level or road was

created in the Middle Ages. In 1958 this placid river
• A toll was set up around 1295. flooded the valleys below
the aqueduct and took
• In 1743 the road to the side of out many bridges.
the aqueduct was constructed,
and the pillars filled in with the
missing parts.
• Today is it a major tourist
attraction and a public park.