About
The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge that spans the Gardon River in the French department of Gard, near the village of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. Built in the 1st century AD, it is one of the most recognisable survivals of Roman engineering, and it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
What you will see
The monument is a tall, multi-tiered stone bridge. It was part of a water channel that carried water to the Roman city of Nemausus, now Nîmes. Standing above the river, it shows how the Romans could carry a watercourse across a deep valley using only stone arches, with no mortar holding the blocks together in the main structure.
- The three levels of arches, which are the feature most visitors come to see
- The river and its banks below, which give a clear sense of the bridge's scale
- The approach and surrounding landscape, where the site is set within open countryside
Planning a visit
The Pont du Gard suits a half-day or longer outing rather than a quick stop. Visitors who enjoy history, engineering or walking will find it rewarding. The site is at 400 Route du Pont du Gard, 30210 Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France, and you can contact it by telephone on +33 4 66 37 50 99 for current arrangements before you travel.
Because the bridge sits in the Gard, it pairs naturally with a trip to Nîmes, the city the aqueduct once served, where further Roman remains can be seen. Combining the two gives a fuller picture of how the Roman water system worked.