Pont du Gard, France

From series “The Most Interesting UNESCO Sites in France”

3 out of 15 - Ancient theater and Arc de Triomphe in Orange, France

4 out of 15 - Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay, France

5 out of 15 - Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, France

7 out of 15 - Cathedrale Saint-Etienne de Bourges, France

8 out of 15 - Avignon historic center, France

9 out of 15 - Fortified city of Carcassonne, France

Year: 1 century A.C. . Lenght: 275 m. Height: 47 m .

Several aqueducts built during the Roman Empire have survived in the world. The highest of them is in France. It's called the Pont du Gard. This ancient bridge is 275 meters long and 47 meters high. The bridge passes over the Gardon River. It is located in a very picturesque natural area. As recent studies have shown, the construction of the aqueduct took place in the 1st century AD.

It is noteworthy that lime was not used in the construction of the bridge. This did not prevent the bridge from being built incredibly strong and reliable. The aqueduct is three-tiered. It has a rather complex architectural style. Each tier has a different number of arches. They differ in width. Originally, the bridge was built to provide water to the surrounding cities. It was used as a regular transport bridge after the fall of the Roman Empire.

Some of its pillars had to be destroyed so that large vehicles could pass over the bridge. This caused the threat of a complete collapse of the entire aqueduct at some point. Another bridge was built near the historic bridge in the mid-18th century. It began to be used as a transport one. The last major reconstruction of the historical monument was ordered by Napoleon III in the middle of the 19th century. The bridge has long been closed to vehicles. But it continues to be open to pedestrians.

Everyone can take a walk on the bridge during the tour today. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore its incredible stone fragments and enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding area from the bridge. The ancient monument looks most spectacular in the warm season. The hills located on the banks of the river are covered with dense vegetation at this time. Several hiking trails can be found near the bridge. Very spectacular views of the historical monument are opened from natural viewing platforms. The main mystery of the Pont du Gard aqueduct is related to the exact dating of its construction. The inscription was found on one of the stones of the bridge. It shows that it was built in the prehistoric period.

Next - Cathedrale Saint-Etienne de Bourges

Abbey of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, France

Cathedrale Saint-Etienne de Bourges, France

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Pont du Gard - interactive map

Nearest airports:
» Garons Airport FNI - in 23 km

» Caumont Airport AVN - in 29 km

» Orange-Caritat Air Base Airport XOG - in 34 km

» Istres Le Tube Airport QIE - in 57 km

» Mediterranee Airport MPL - in 61 km

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Cities nearby

» Guide to Nimes

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» Guide to Avignon

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» Bed & Breakfast

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» Guide to Arles

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Best hotels near Pont du Gard

Villa Thermae

Located in 1 km from Pont du Gard
Route on the map:

Rooms: 3

All rooms feature a private terrace with a garden view and heating, while one is decorated in a Japanese style. They all have a private bathroom … More: photo, rates and booking

Yourtes la Terre des Lauriers

Located in 2 km from Pont du Gard
Route on the map:

Rooms: 2

… More: photo, rates and booking

Hotel les Acanthes

Located in 3 km from Pont du Gard
Route on the map:

Rooms: 9

Each individually decorated room has a separate bath or shower, air-conditioning and a flat-screen TV. Solar energy is used for hot water and free … More: photo, rates and booking

Villa Carina

Located in 4 km from Pont du Gard
Route on the map:

Rooms: 1

… More: photo, rates and booking

Nearest unique sightseeing spots to visit

12 km - Avignon historic center

From the series 'The Most Interesting UNESCO Sites in France'

The city of Avignon is famous all over the world for its amazing historical sights. The entire area of its historic district is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site today. Historical monuments of various periods have been preserved here. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame …

18 km - Arenes de Nimes

From the series 'Ancient Amphitheaters and Arenas, That Are Still Operational'

One of the largest amphitheaters in the world is located in the French city of Nimes. The magnificent exterior facade of the amphitheater is decorated with 120 arches. The length of the elliptical arena of the theater is 133 meters, and the width is 101 meters. The …

30 km - Ancient theater and Arc de Triomphe in Orange

From the series 'The Most Interesting UNESCO Sites in France'

The city of Orange is famous all over the world for its ancient sights. A large ancient Roman theater has been preserved here. It is considered one of the largest and most beautiful in the world. The theater is used for musical concerts and theatrical performances …

31 km - Amphitheater in Arles

From the series 'Ancient Amphitheaters and Arenas, That Are Still Operational'

In Arles is a huge and incredibly beautiful antique amphitheater. It was built in 90 AD and is distinguished by its impressive size. Originally, the theater was designed for 20000 spectators. Such a large amphitheater was built not accidentally, it was used for …

49 km - Pont d Arc

From the series 'Incredible Natural Arches Built by Water and Wind'

The remarkable natural Pont d’Arc Bridge is located in the French town of the same name. The geological rock formation was formed by the rapid flow of the Ardeche river, which for centuries has washed a beautiful arch of imposing dimensions in a solid rock. The width …

97 km - Chateau d If

From the series 'The greatest France castles '

Chateau d If is located on the island of the same name in the Mediterranean Sea. It can be called one of the most famous castles in the world today. The fortification was built for the defense of Marseille in 1531. King Francis I initiated the construction of the …

Top destination around Pont du Gard - Nimes

Families who are used to spending time actively will certainly appreciate Escattes Aventure - a place where kids can climb trees in plenty. There are also opportunities for playing in a team, children of any age will find entertainment to their taste - both very small and older children can choose different difficulty levels. Parc Panda is another great park with the opportunity to play paintball having a lot of fun and increasing the level of trust between all family members who participate in the game. However, you can do the same in Paintball Pro Nimes and Laser Game Evolution (the only difference is that laser tag players gather here).

In Nimes, there is every opportunity to have a nice time in entertainment centers. For example, you can visit Bowling One or Space Bowling and play your favorite game, or check out Cap'vr and try out virtual reality game simulators. As is known, kids like this pastime very much. You can take them with you to Golf de Nimes Vacquerolles so that they can tap into the "game of billionaires" and, of course, enjoy the magnificent natural scenery.
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