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Origin and history

The Medici aqueduct, also known as Rungis water aqueduct, was commissioned by Marie de Medici to supply drinking water to Paris. In 1623, he captured the sources of Rungis (Val-de-Marne) and crossed several communes, including Gentilly, via an underground route of 12,936 metres originally. Its organ point is the bridge-aqueduct of Arcueil-Cachan, 379 meters long, crossing the Bièvre valley. The building, still in operation, is managed by Eau de Paris and partially classified as historical monuments.

The construction began in 1613 under the direction of Jean Coingt, then his son-in-law Jean Gobelain, with a solemn inauguration by Louis XIII. It was designed to serve the palace of Luxembourg and the public fountains on the left bank, which was then deprived. It follows partly that of the Gallo-Roman water pipeline of Lutece, but at a higher altitude. The underground gallery, 1 metre wide, allows dry pedestrian traffic over its entire length.

In the 19th century, the Parisian part was declassified, redirecting the waters to the Panthéon reservoirs and then to Lake Montsouris. Today, the lake, reduced to 10,420 meters, is fed by the sources of the Paray plain, those of Rungis being dry. His 21 looks (including 3 classified) and his bridge-aqueduct, by Thomas Francine and Louis Métezeau, testify to his historical engineering.

Waters, once considered pure, are now unfit for consumption due to urbanization. It initially distributed 1,280 m3/day, distributed between Luxembourg and 14 public fountains, such as the Carmelite or Pot-de-Fer fountains. His heritage also included the Maison du Fontainerier (14th arrondissement), classified in 1994, where the waters were divided between the king, the city and religious communities.

The Arcueil-Cachan Water Bridge, a historic monument, overlooks the Bièvre and Cachan Cemetery. Built on the remains of the Roman aqueduct, it was also used as a support for the Vanna aqueduct (1860). The eyes, surface edicles, allow access to the gallery and oxygenation of the water. Some, like the Louis XIII look at Rungis, are protected.

Urbanisation (MARCHÉ de Rungis, airport of Orly) has changed the sources, but the aqueduct remains an active vestige of the French hydraulic heritage. Associations such as the Savage du Paris historique work for its preservation, while objects and archives are preserved at the Musée Carnavalet.

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