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When was Pont du Gard built?
50 AD
The Pont du Gard is a part of this monumental aqueduct. This bridge was built to allow the aqueduct of Nîmes to cross the river Gardon. Built around the year 50 AD, the Pont du Gard is a true testiment to Roman engineering. It peaks at over 48 m and crosses the river over a length of 275 meters.
How much did it cost to build the Pont du Gard?
| Pont du Gard | |
|---|---|
| Construction cost | 30 million sesterces (est.) |
| Closed | c. 6th century |
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| Official name | Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) |
How long did it take to build 1 aqueduct?
As water flowed into the cities, it was used for drinking, irrigation, and to supply hundreds of public fountains and baths. Roman aqueduct systems were built over a period of about 500 years, from 312 B.C. to A.D. 226. Both public and private funds paid for construction.
How long was the Pont du Gard?
902′
Pont du Gard/Total length
Who built Pont du Gard built?
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa
Labor. The Pont du Gard was built in the 1st century AD by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa who was a statesman, general, and an architect. He was the lieutenant to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus, nephew of Julius Caesar and first emperor of the Roman Empire, who ordered him to construct the Pont du Gard.
Why was Pont du Gard built?
Pont du Gard, (French: “Bridge of the Gard”) giant bridge-aqueduct, a notable ancient Roman engineering work constructed about 19 bce to carry water to the city of Nîmes over the Gard River in southern France. Augustus Caesar’s son-in-law and aide, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, is credited with its conception.
Does the Pont du Gard still used today?
Today, it remains the only example of a three-story antique bridge still standing, with three rows of arcades, one on top of the other: 6 arches on the bottom, 11 in the middle, and 35 on top.
Why is the Pont du Gard famous?
The Pont du Gard is a Roman monument built halfway through the 1st century AD. It is the principal construction in a 50 km long aqueduct that supplied the city of Nîmes, formerly known as Nemausus, with water. Built as a three-level aqueduct standing 50 m high, it allowed water to flow across the Gardon river.
Can you walk on the Pont du Gard?
The Pont du Gard site, nestled in the heart 165 ha of scrubland is the perfect place to walk, walk around and discover the many riches of this timeless place. It is a dive in a preserved fauna and flora and a protected historical heritage that we invite you to savor.
Did slaves build the Pont du Gard?
The Pont du Gard aqueduct France A trip to the aqueduct’s museum, where all the guides have a passionate and in depth understanding of its story, helps conjure up both the violent sweat and toil of the slaves that built it in the inescapable heat and the lavish lifestyle of those it served for 5 centuries.
Is Pont du Gard still used today?
What was the purpose of the Pont du Gard?
Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) The Pont du Gard was built shortly before the Christian era to allow the aqueduct of Nîmes (which is almost 50 km long) to cross the Gard river.
When was the first bridge built on the Pont du Gard?
It was repaired in 1703 by local authorities. In 1743 – 1747, French engineer Henri Pitot built a bridge, out from the lower tier of arches of Pont du Gard, for road traffic to pass through. Many people have since been critical of Pitot’s bridge.
How long did it take to build the Nimes aqueduct?
These estimates would put construction of the aqueduct in the reign of the emperor Claudius (41–54 AD). It is estimated that it took between 10 and 15 years to construct the Nimes aqueduct with Pont du Gard taking less than 5 years and a labor force of 800 to 1,000 workers.
When was the last time Pont du Gard flooded?
In the last few years, Pont du Gard has survived major floods in 1958, 1998 and 2002. In 1985, Pont du Gard was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. It is one of France’s most popular tourist attractions, with 1.4 million visitors reported in 2001.