Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard
Coordinates43°56′50″N 04°32′08″E / 43.94722°N 4.53556°E / 43.94722; 4.53556
CarriesRoman aqueduct of Nîmes
CrossesGardon River
LocaleVers-Pont-du-Gard, Gard, France
Maintained byPublic Association of Cultural Cooperation (since 2003)
Websitepontdugard.fr
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialShelly limestone
Total length
  • Upper: 275 m (902 ft) (originally: 360 m (1,180 ft))
  • Mid: 242 m (794 ft)
  • Low: 142 m (466 ft)
Width
  • 6.4 m (21 ft) (max)
  • 1.2 m (4 ft) (aqueduct)
Height
  • 48.8 m (160 ft) (total)
  • 1.8 m (6 ft) (aqueduct)
No. of spans
  • Upper: 35 (originally: 47)
  • Mid: 11
  • Low: 6
Piers in water5
History
Construction endc. 40–60 AD
Construction cost30 million sesterces (est.)
Closedc. 6th century
Official namePont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)
TypeCultural
Criteriai, iii, iv
Designated1985 (9th session)
Reference no.344
RegionEurope and North America
Designated1840
Reference no.PA00103291
Location
Map
References
[1][2]

The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to carry water over 50 km (31 mi) to the Roman colony of Nemausus (Nîmes).[3] It crosses the river Gardon near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard in southern France. The Pont du Gard is one of the best preserved Roman aqueduct bridges. It was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites in 1985 because of its exceptional preservation, historical importance, and architectural ingenuity.[4]

  1. ^ "EPCC du Pont du Gard". Culture-epcc.fr. 2008. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  2. ^ Base Mérimée: PA00103291, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French)
  3. ^ "Map of the Roman Aqueduct to Nîmes". Athena Review Image Archive. Athena Review. Archived from the original on 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2015-09-02.
  4. ^ "Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved 17 October 2021.