The pont du Gard

Photo 1: Le Pont du Gard from the banks of the Gardon

Today we jump to another part of the world, let’s go to Provence (France). During a holiday in 2016 we stop in Arles. We dedicate this day to visiting one of the monuments that occupied my childhood fantasies. In the elementary school book to illustrate France there were three images, the Eiffel Tower, the Mont Saint Michel, the Pont du Garde. I have already visited the first two, I only miss the famous Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard.

It is July 15 and it is the day after the Nice massacre with 84 deaths from a bomber with a truck, I absolutely have no desire to queue to find parking and I want to avoid crowds as much as possible. I find the possibility to park along a road from where a path starts not far away that descends the hill to the bank of the Gardon river and to the bridge. I guessed the right way, it passes alongside the remains of the ancient Roman aqueduct with its arches and consequently leads to the bridge. The aqueduct brought water to Nimes from a spring. Think what the ancients knew how to do: the aqueduct has a length of 50 km, but the source was only 17 meters above Nimes, that is to say that the average slope is 34 centimeters per kilometer, unbelievable! The bridge is about 50 meters high and has 3 arches, the top had a conduit through which the water passed, while above the first series of arches there is a road still passable by pedestrians. Its view is impressive from the banks of the Gardon and I realize that I am lucky to have always been curious and attentive at school. My teacher was able to instill in me the desire for knowledge, to never be satisfied with knowing and that the world is full of beauties to see and enjoy.

Equally beautiful is the view from above the bridge, despite everything it is celebrated by swimming or paddling in a canoe. Walking over or under the bridge you realize the imposing limestone with which it was built in 17 BC, without the aid of mortar or other adhesives, they are only stone by stone, some of which weigh more than 6 tons. We still have to marvel at the ingenuity of those who built these wonderful works and it is up to us to preserve them in order to enjoy them for future generations.

Photo 2: The remains of the Roman aqueduct on the path towards the Pont du Gard

Photo 3: The remains of the Roman aqueduct on the path towards the Pont du Gard

Photo 4: The Pont du Gard

Photo 5: the Pont du Gard beach

Photo 6: second and third level of the Pont du Gard

Photo 7: the road that passes over the first level of the Pont du Gard

Photo 8: view of the Gardon river from the Pont du Gard

Photo 9: the limestone blocks that make up the Pont du Gard

Photo 10: the limestone blocks that make up the Pont du Gard

@DeniGu @PattyBlack @ErmesT @TravellerG @LuigiZ @davidhyno @renata1 @JaneBurunina @AntonellaGr

29 Likes

Još jedna odlična priča @plavarda

Hvala što ste me označili.

Ovo je vrijedno divljenja.

:blush: :croatia:

2 Likes

Cara @renata1 grazie infinite a te.

1 Like

Marvelous… Appreciate your dedication, my dear @plavarda

Where do you get these details from?

Really interesting.

Single stone of 6 tons!

How did they manage to lift these up there?

The whole construction without any mortar/adhesive?

17 BC? Still usable… Amazing…

Very interesting… Thanks for sharing.

:bouquet: :bouquet: :bouquet:

2 Likes

Completely a nice place. I will visit this place soon. Thanks-

1 Like

Grazie @plavarda mi hai riportato con la mente ai miei ricordi da bambina, non in Francia ovviamente ma in Campania esattamente nelle valli di Maddaloni quando per andare in gita con i miei genitori si passava sotto l’enorme ponte dell’acquedotto Carolino detto anche di Vanvitelli, patrimonio dell’UNESCO. Lo hai mai visto? È mastodontico e perfettamente funzionante e ben conservato nonostante i secoli e i terremoti. E fornisce tra l’altro l’acqua ad alcune aree della Reggia di Caserta. Certo che gli ingegneri di una volta non ci sono più! Haha glielo dico sempre ai miei colleghi (tutti ingegneri). Bello comunque il salto da una parte all’altra del mondo, un magnifico viaggio attraverso il tempo, la storia e la cultura, bravo così si fa, bisogna variare!

Ciao buon fine settimana!

1 Like

Carissima @PattyBlack a volte qualcosa mi sfugge, sono un disastro! Però frugandomi nelle tasche non mi è sfuggita una cosa. Il Pont du Garde lo abbiamo tra le mani tutti i giorni!! Infatti è raffigurato sul retro dei 5 Euro!!

Purtroppo l’acquedotto carolino mi manca proprio!! Vedremo di colmare questa lacuna, ma certo che il tempo diventa sempre meno e gli anni buoni diminuiscono, mi sa che dovrò rinunciare a molte cose che vorrei vedere!!! Pazienza!! Intanto adesso guarderò cosa ritraggono gli altri Euro e viaggerò con loro! Ah Ah Ah !!!

Un grosso bacio

Paolo

1 Like

Caro Paolo l’importante è sfruttare al meglio gli anni che ci restano, senza pensare a quante cose vorremmo fare ma non riusciremo per un motivo o per un altro! :smile: :smile: sei troppo divertente @plavarda vai a scovare delle cose impensabili!! Un abbraccio grandissimo e buon week end :hugs: e buon viaggio tra gli euro! :wink:

1 Like