The French really know how to present their history...you can only walk there and it just rises up before you as you round the bend...its really quiet, in the middle of a valley, no tourism stuff anywhere near it...magnifique!
Saturday, 18 May 2013
Pont du Gard
Another day of stunning architecture. From the Millau Viaduct built in 2004, we next went to see the most incredible Roman construction, the Pont du Gard Aquaduct built in the first century....2000 yrs ago! It really is awe inspiring, the aquaduct carried water 50km to supply the city of Nimes, much of it underground, with the 270m, arched Pont du Gard bridge built to carry the water across the Gardon river. The water was in a channel along the top with the arches being the strength for the bridge structure. Each block 4-5 tonnes and there is only 17m difference from the beginning over the 50 km. How did they work that out!?
The French really know how to present their history...you can only walk there and it just rises up before you as you round the bend...its really quiet, in the middle of a valley, no tourism stuff anywhere near it...magnifique!
The French really know how to present their history...you can only walk there and it just rises up before you as you round the bend...its really quiet, in the middle of a valley, no tourism stuff anywhere near it...magnifique!
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WOW!!! That is totally impressive! How they built those HUGE things without the machinery of today is mind-blowing ay? Great to see that you're having good weather and it sounds like you're really checking out a lot of the countryside and sights :)
ReplyDeleteTotally amazing alright. When I studied Latin at school we did months of Roman architecture and even the road building was incredible. They would get no points today for human rights, though...the heavy work done by heaps of slaves and the army!!
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