Pont du Gard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pont du Gard |
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| Carries | Roman aqueduct of Nîmes |
| Crosses | Gardon River |
| Locale | Vers-Pont-du-Gard, Gard, France |
| Maintained by | Public Association of Cultural Cooperation (since 2003) |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Material | Shelly limestone |
| Total length |
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| Width |
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| Number of spans |
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| Piers in water | 5 |
| History | |
| Construction end | c. 40 - 60 AD |
| Construction cost | 30 million sesterces (est.) |
| Closed | c. 6th century |
| Official name: Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) | |
| Type: | Cultural |
| Criteria: | i, iii, iv |
| Designated: | 1985 (9th session) |
| Reference #: | 344 |
| State Party: | France |
| Region: | Europe and North America |
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Monument historique
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| Designated: | 1840 |
| Reference #: | PA00103291 |
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The Pont du Gard is an amazing ancient Roman aqueduct (a bridge built to carry water). It's located in Southern France, near a town called Vers-Pont-du-Gard. The name means "Bridge over the Gard" because it crosses the Gardon River.
This aqueduct was built to bring fresh water to the city of Nîmes. It stretched for almost 50 kilometers! The bridge part is about 49 meters high and has three levels of arches. Experts believe it was built around the 1st century AD. In 1985, the Pont du Gard became a World Heritage Site, recognized for its importance to history.
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Exploring the Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard is made of three layers of arches. It stands 48.8 m (160 ft) tall. The entire aqueduct only drops 12.6 m (41 ft) in height over its whole length. This shows how incredibly precise Roman engineers were, even with simple tools.
The aqueduct used to carry a huge amount of water every day. About 40,000 m3 (8,800,000 imp gal) of water flowed to Nîmes. This water filled fountains, baths, and homes. It might have been used until the 6th century. However, without proper care, it eventually got blocked by minerals and dirt.
After the Roman Empire ended, the aqueduct was no longer used for water. But the Pont du Gard stayed mostly whole. This was because it became a useful bridge for people to cross the river. For hundreds of years, local leaders took care of it. In return, they charged a fee for people to use the bridge.
Over time, some of its stone blocks were taken. In the 17th century, it was even damaged. But people started to pay more attention to it in the 18th century. It became a popular place for tourists to visit. The bridge has been repaired many times since the 18th century. In 2000, a new visitor center opened. Traffic and buildings were also moved away from the bridge. Today, it is one of France's most popular tourist spots. Many writers and artists have been inspired by it.
Building the Ancient Aqueduct
For a long time, people thought the Roman emperor Augustus's son-in-law, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, built the aqueduct around 19 BC. He was in charge of Rome's water supply. However, newer discoveries suggest it was built later. It might have been constructed between 40 and 60 AD.
Builders had to work around older tunnels from Augustus's time. Also, coins found in Nîmes are from the time of Emperor Claudius (41–54 AD). Because of this, some experts believe the aqueduct was finished around the middle of the 1st century AD. It's thought that building it took about fifteen years. Around 800 to 1,000 workers were likely involved.
How the Pont du Gard Changed Over Time
From the 4th century onwards, people stopped taking care of the aqueduct. This happened as different groups invaded the area. The water channel became blocked with dirt, mineral crusts, and plant roots. This greatly slowed down the water flow. The layers of dirt and organic material inside the channel were up to 50 cm (20 in) thick on each wall.
At first, people thought the aqueduct supplied water to Nîmes until the 9th century. But newer studies suggest it stopped being used around the 6th century. However, some parts might have been used for longer.
Even though some stones were taken, the Pont du Gard stayed mostly whole. It survived because it was used as a toll bridge to cross the valley. In the 13th century, the French king gave local lords the right to charge tolls. Later, this right went to the Bishops of Uzès. In return, they had to keep the bridge in good condition.
However, the bridge was badly damaged in the 1620s. Henri, Duke of Rohan, used the bridge to move his cannons during wars. To make room for his artillery, he had one side of the second row of arches cut away. This made a gap wide enough for carts and cannons. But it also made the bridge much weaker.
In 1703, local leaders repaired the Pont du Gard. They fixed cracks and replaced missing stones. A new bridge was built next to the lower arches between 1743 and 1747. This new bridge was for road traffic. The writer Alexandre Dumas didn't like the new bridge. He said it "dishonored a monument which the barbarians of the fifth had not dared to destroy." The Pont du Gard kept getting worse. By 1835, it was in danger of collapsing from erosion and missing stones.
Napoleon III loved Roman history. He visited the Pont du Gard in 1850 and was very interested in it. He approved plans by architect Charles Laisné to repair the bridge. This work happened between 1855 and 1858. It involved big repairs, like replacing worn-out stones. They also added concrete to some supports to make them stronger. Stairs were added so visitors could walk along the water channel safely.
Since then, there have been more projects to strengthen the bridge's supports and arches. It has survived three major floods in the last century. In 1958, the entire lower level was underwater during a huge flood. Another big flood happened in 1998. A third flood in 2002 badly damaged nearby buildings.
The Pont du Gard was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1985. It was recognized for its "Human creative genius" and its importance to human history. UNESCO described it as a "technical as well as artistic masterpiece."
Visiting the Pont du Gard
The Pont du Gard has been a popular place for visitors for centuries. The amazing quality of the bridge's stone work made it a must-see. French traveling masons often visited it. Many of them carved their names into the stones.
From the 18th century, it became a famous stop for travelers on the "Grand Tour." It became known as an important historical site and a source of French national pride.
Images for kids
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Pont du Gard's stone blocks, some of which weigh up to six tons, were precisely cut to fit together without the need for mortar.
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Pont du Gard viewed from adjacent bridge
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Access point to the interior of the aqueduct of Pont du Gard.
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View from Pont du Gard
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Le Pont du Gard, painted by Hubert Robert for King Louis XVI in 1786
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Pont du Gard seen from the river Gardon
See also
In Spanish: Puente del Gard para niños
