The Pont du Gard — Two Parts Italy

The early Romans left some very impressive structures for us to admire.

The Church of Santa Maria della Rosa in Lucca was built right up against this section of the old Roman wall.

Public baths, colosseums, pagan temples, villas, fortresses, intricate mosaics, paved roads, artwork, and catacombs exist throughout what was once the Roman Empire.

In Lucca, where I spend most of the year, Roman ruins can be found both above ground and below. As is true in many Italian cities, if you start to dig you just might find signs of earlier Roman inhabitants.

Perhaps the most impressive artifacts of Roman civilization are the ancient aqueducts. Built to move water from sources in the hills to the towns below, these massive structures are amazing testaments to Roman engineering. They brought fresh water into cities, filling fountains and communal baths and supplying homes, mills, and farmland.

Though built for very practical purposes, the aqueducts are also beautiful. Tall structures with tiers of arches crossed valleys to support the water channels above as they made their way downhill. And while the ones that still stand are no longer used to supply water, they remain as impressive landmarks and reminders of those long ago Roman engineers.

Some of the most spectacular Roman ruins are found well beyond Italy’s borders. Perhaps the best example of a Roman aqueduct - the Pont du Gard - is found in France, near the town of Uzes.

Long ago graffiti carved into the limestone of the Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard was built across the Gardon River, bringing millions of gallons of water to the city of Nimes. Its series of arches stand 164 feet high with a length of nearly 1200 feet, making it the tallest of all the Roman aqueducts. Constructed of massive limestone blocks, it is strong enough to support the water channel without mortar but soft enough to allow inscriptions to be carved into the stones.

A stop at the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a highlight of any visit to this region of France. The visitor’s center museum provides an overview of the construction of the aqueduct and its importance to the region. After a stop in the small museum, a short walk leads to the bridge of the aqueduct.

The short walk to the aqueduct is beautiful, especially on a beautiful spring day.

Walking across the bridge, high above the Gardon, provides a view up and down the river. Below there is a lot of activity. It’s fun to watch people floating by in kayaks and the swimmers and picnickers who line the river banks.

The first time I visited the Pont du Gard, a rag tag group of musicians played on the bridge providing a festive atmosphere.

With or without the band, spending time at the Pont du Gard is a treat.