G ard bridge- This is a Roman aqueduct, located on the territory of modern France, near the city of Nimes. Pont du Gard, as the French call it, is an outstanding structure 275 meters long and 48.7 meters high. This is the highest ancient Roman aqueduct that has survived to this day.
The Romans built excellent houses and aqueducts. Through aqueducts, water reached its destination and provided the inhabitants of the settlement with its life-giving moisture. The importance of aqueducts for the ancient world cannot be overestimated. They were vital and were amazing technical structures built according to certain rules. Often several aqueducts participated in the water supply system.
Panorama of Pont du Gard
The clone of the aqueduct system had to be constant throughout, so that the water was guaranteed to reach, as they would say now, the consumer. And it was often tens of kilometers. And for all the complexity of the task, the Romans managed to build real masterpieces. The bridge of Gard stands out for the perfection of proportions achieved by the use of the "golden section" and rhythmic structure in the construction.
Form perfection
This combination is typical of ancient buildings. Attempts to achieve harmony in the Garda bridge were made in the 19th century. in Europe, but this was never achieved as the rhythmic structure was replaced by modern builders with a metric one. The amazing proportions of the Garda Bridge became the subject of study by a special commission.
Gard bridge - view from space on Google map. Clickable
Let's take a closer look at the Pont du Gard.
The aqueduct itself is three-tiered: there are six arches in the lower tier, eleven in the middle, and thirty-five in the upper. As you approach the shore, the width of the arches decreases. Garda bridge was built without the use of lime, it is made of golden tufa and today makes a grandiose impression. This is one of the most majestic ancient buildings.
P he du Gard was erected in the middle of the 1st century. AD and was part of a 50-kilometer aqueduct that led from Uzès to Nimes in southern France, at that time the province of Gaul.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the aqueduct ceased to fulfill its main function, but for many centuries it was used as a bridge for transportation across the Gar River.
The length of the Garda bridge is 275 m. For example, the length of the longest ancient Roman aqueduct in Western Europe is 728 m, which is located in the Spanish city of Segovia.
It should be added that today it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. Located in a picturesque place, it is an amazing creation of ancient architects. The Pont du Gard is depicted on the 5 Euro banknote. Garda Bridge was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Guard Bridge on a 5 euro banknote
17 reviews so far...
admin writes:
That's right, Volodya. They built, even as they built without fancy equipment. It is unlikely that modern buildings can compete with the ancient ones. Look at our roads, you can still drive and walk on Roman roads today, but ours are all potholes and are repaired twice a year.
admin writes:
Kirill writes:
Very interesting review and the photos are professional and beautiful. Everything would be remembered, used and applied in the right situation. I think your article will be useful to many people who ask this question. I wish you great victories and great luck. I would be very grateful to you for a mutual visit.
admin replied:
May 10th, 2012 at 13:14
It was built by the Romans for domestic needs: to transfer a water supply system across the Gar River to supply drinking water to the city of Nimes.
The height of the bridge is 49 meters, length - 275 meters, it was only part of a whole system of bridges and aqueducts, stretching for a distance of 48 km from the source of Oyr, near the city of Uzès to Nîmes.
The inscription on the aqueduct testifies that it was built in 19 BC. under the commander and proconsul Agrippa, friend and son-in-law of Emperor Augustus. However, the latest research indicates that construction was carried out in the middle of the 1st century BC. n. e. On the stones of the bridge, you can still see marks made by the hands of ancient builders, for example, on the front side of the bridge on the left under No. 3 - "FR S III - frons sinistra".
consists of arcades arranged in three tiers. The stone blocks were laid out in plain masonry without facing or mortar, and the raw stones protruding on the sides were used as supports for wooden scaffolding and for maintaining the aqueduct. Since the water in these places is very saturated with mineral salts, their deposits eventually accumulated on the bottom of the water supply system and they must be removed.
The aqueduct was used until the 9th century, and then, due to lack of maintenance, the walls of the bridge were covered with thick calcium deposits, and it failed.
And in the 17th century, the lower arcade of the bridge was adapted for the bridge and a motor road passed here. The supports of the second tier were narrowed to make room for people to move along the bridge.
Now car traffic on the bridge is prohibited.
The aqueduct bridge has been included in the UNESCO List of Historical and Cultural Heritage since 1985.
Near the Garda bridge there are beaches, trekking routes. From the bus stop and parking lot to the bridge there is a road along which there are cafes and recreation areas. ( www.pontdugard.fr)
Directions to the Pont du Gard:
- from Nimes buses - www.edgard-transport.fr/ftp/FR_lignes/B21_Pont.St.Esprit-N%EEmes.pdf
- from Avignon buses - www.edgard-transport.fr/ftp/FR_lignes/B22_Pont.St.Esprit-Avignon.pdf
http://www.edgard-transport.fr
By car:
- from Nimes: D6086, D19.
- from Avignon: N100, D6100, D19.
The Pont du Gard crosses the gorge of the river Gardon in the vicinity of the Roman city of Nemaus, which today the French call Nîmes. The Romans built the Pont du Gard in the 1st century BC. AD to supply the city with water coming from the very natural source where the world-famous Perrier brand now takes water. The aqueduct bridge is just part of a 50-kilometer water supply system that brought water from a source to the city of Nimes without a single pump. Roman engineers used the simplest measurements and calculations so that the water pipe gradually descended from the source to the city and the water flowed through it by itself due to the action of gravity.
The Pont du Gard is an example of the craftsmanship of ancient architects. Individual blocks, each weighing up to 6 tons, were laid in masonry without the visible use of mortar - in a method known as "opus quadratum". The Romans further strengthened the structure by slightly changing the standard order of laying the cladding. Instead of alternating halves and whole blocks in each row, they laid out alternately a row of whole blocks and a row of halves. This significantly increased the strength of the building as a whole at the expense of some freedom of movement.
The supports of the lower and middle tiers stand exactly on top of each other so as not to burden the arched spans with additional weight. The width of the spans gradually decreases in both directions from the middle of the aqueduct to the banks, in order to reduce the weight carried by each arch accordingly. The giant keystones weigh 6 tons each. They are hewn with great care and put into place.
The three tiers of the Pont du Gard rise to a height of 49 m and have 52 arches. The lowest tier consists of 6 arches, its total length is 142 m, its height is 22 m and its width is 6 m. The middle tier of 11 arches is 242 m long, 20 m high and only 4 m wide. 275 m, height 7 m and width 3 m. The water channel laid out in stone was supported by 35 relatively small arches. This canal, 1.2 m wide and 1.8 m deep, is still in good condition. The gradient of its descent is about 19 cm per 1 km. At one time, he delivered 20,000 cubic meters to the city per day. m of water.
After the 4th c. the aqueduct practically ceased to be cleaned, so by the 9th century. it finally turned out to be clogged with salts and debris and ceased to serve as a water pipe. However, until the 18th century it was used as a footbridge. In 1747 a new bridge was built nearby for pedestrians.
Today, the Pont du Gard is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the south of France. And it is still possible to cross the Gardon River on foot.
Chronology
- 1c. AD: Pont du Gard built, serving as an aqueduct.
- Vb.: The water supply silted up due to lack of maintenance and stopped working.
- 19th century: Napoleon III restored the Pont du Gard.
- 1985: The Pont du Gard is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Facts
- features: The Pont du Gard served as both a water pipe and a pedestrian crossing. Local limestone was used for its masonry.
- Dimensions: Height 49 m, length 275 m at its widest point.
- Width of arch spans: The largest arch is 24.4 m wide.
- Descent gradient: The 1.2 m wide channel drops 1.9 cm for every 1 km.
A gem of ancient architecture, the Pont du Gard is one of the most beautiful Roman structures in the world. Discover a key monument in the heart of Provence.
Pont du Gard, 2000 years of history
The Pont du Gard is an aqueduct built by the Romans in the first century AD. Unique in its size, the bridge rises to 49 meters, being highest antique bridge in the world. It consists of arcades arranged in three tiers (6 arches form the lower tier, 11 arches form the middle tier, and the upper tier initially included 47 small arches), which is also a rare structure for that era. More than a thousand people participated in the construction of this colossal monument, built in just 5 years!
Due to the fact that the aqueduct has been preserved in excellent condition, it stands out from all architectural monuments and is admired as a masterpiece of the creative genius of mankind. Impossible to pass by as he is the last of the 3-tier antique bridges that have survived to this day.
Nimes Aqueduct: 5 centuries of running water
Built around AD 50 under the reign of Claudius or Nero, the aqueduct, of which the Pont du Gard is a part, provided the city of Nimes with large quantities of running water under pressure for 5 centuries. Roman city, antique Nemaus", receives such an unprecedented development in the first century AD that it becomes clear the need to build an aqueduct in the model and likeness of Rome, the capital and model for the entire Roman Empire. This creation provides the city (with about 20,000 inhabitants at the time) a new prestige: fountains, baths, water supply in rich estates, sanitary condition of the streets contribute to a comfortable and comfortable life in the city. With an average slope of 25 cm per kilometer, one of the smallest for structures built in that era, the aqueduct supplied from 30,000 to 40,000 m 3 of running water per day by gravity from a source located at Uzès, 50 kilometers from Nîmes.
Iconic place of UNESCO and Monument of architecture and history of France
In 1985, this French park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2004, and then in 2010, the monument was awarded the title of French Architectural and Historical Monument by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development for the merits of the natural park surrounding the aqueduct.
Unique heritage
From a height of 2000 years of existence, the Pont du Gard proudly rises above the meandering valley of the Gardon River. An undeniable icon of Roman civilization, it has passed through the centuries, remaining almost intact. Its unprecedented size, airy architecture and excellent condition cause admiration and surprise.
stone colossus
A true technical achievement, the construction of the Pont du Gard required a combined effort of aboutthousand people, which within 5 yearsworked to realize the dream of the greatness of the Roman Empire.
It is the highest bridge built in the ancient period. To create the central arch spanning the Gardon River, the builders designed the largest whirlpool ever built. The Pont du Gard is the only example of a three-tiered aqueduct that has survived to this day.
Title "Monument of architecture and history of France®"
Landmarks that have received the title of Monuments of Architecture and History of France® have widely known, are included in the registration list of the Ministry of Culture and are among the most popular tourist destinations. The purpose of conferring this title is to consolidate the glory of the Architectural Monuments cornerstones as in the area preservation of the environment, cultural heritage and landscapes, as well as in the field receiving visitors.
An exceptional landscape heritage of 165 hectares
protected natural environment, the natural treasure of the Pont du Gard is the main component of the interest shown by visitors to this Roman monument, which forms a single whole with its natural surroundings.
The architectural project of the park, a tribute to modernity
On each of the banks, 500 meters from the Bridge, there are two buildings, hidden from view from the monument, the purpose of which is to receive and inform visitors to the park. The project of their creation was carried out by the great French architect, recognized throughout the world, Jean-Paul Viguier. His style and manner are filled with modernity. Here he creates a minimalist and introverted structure that is one of the many charms of the Pont du Gard that attracts visitors.
The Pont du Gard is the tallest Roman aqueduct that has survived to this day. The Pont du Gard is located above the Gardon River. This two thousand year old ancient Roman aqueduct is a kind of monument of the past. The Pont du Gard aqueduct is the largest Roman structure of its kind. ( 11 photos)
1. The aqueduct is 275 meters long and 47 meters high. The aqueduct was intended to transport drinking water to the city of Nimes.
2. The aqueduct was made of six-ton stones, which fit very tightly to each other. Still very interesting, the scientists found out that only one of the six lower arches is the bearing part of the bridge.
3. Pont du Gard was part of a 50-kilometer aqueduct that supplied drinking water to the Roman city of Nimes, it should be noted that the bridge functioned reliably for four centuries.
4. The inscription on the aqueduct testifies that it was built in 19 BC. under Emperor Augustus. But scientists who made special measurements claim that the aqueduct The Pont du Gard was built in the middle of the 1st century n. e. On the bridge even today you can find ancient records of the builders.
5. consists of arcades arranged in three tiers. The aqueduct was used by the flesh until the 9th century, then, due to lack of maintenance, the walls of the bridge were covered with deposits, since the water here is saturated with mineral salts, and so the aqueduct went out of service.
6. So already in the 17th century, the lower arcade of the bridge was adapted for a bridge and a motor road passed here. The supports of the second tier were narrowed to make room for people to move along the bridge. Thus the aqueduct was transformed.
7. But already in 1747, a modern bridge was built nearby, traffic along was banned, and the ancient monument itself was restored by order of Napoleon III.
9. Pont du Gard aqueduct consists of arcades, six arches form the lower tier, eleven - the middle one, and thirty-five make up the upper tier, through which the water supply actually passed.
