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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The aqueduct of Nîmes, built between 40 and 80 AD probably under Emperor Claude, is a masterpiece of Roman engineering. It connected the fountain of Eure near Uzès to Nîmes for about 50 km, crossing the Gardon through the bridge of the Gard. Recent research (1984-1990) revealed two phases of use: a first period of 150 years with clear water, followed by progressive degradation from the third century, with a likely abandonment in the sixth century.

The route of the aqueduct crosses the Nîmes garrigue and includes several works of art, including arches and bridges such as Pont-Rou or Font Menestière. A discovery in 2023 suggests an extension of the collection to the sources of the Moulin Neuf at Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie, adding more than 2 km to its initial length. The system was designed with a constant slope of 25 cm/km, allowing a flow of 35,000 m3/day.

The construction used innovative materials for the time: a concrete radier of lime and limestone, straight feet masoned with waterproof coatings, and a vault covered with a reddish coating called malta (mixture of lime and quartziferous sand rich in ferric oxide). Counterfeiting reinforced some sections. The ensemble illustrates Roman mastery in hydraulics and architecture.

The monument was gradually protected: the bridge of the Gard was classified in 1840, followed by the castelum divisorium de Nîmes in 1875. Other sections (Arch de la Combe Pradier, Ponts de Vers-Pont-du-Gard) were protected between 1979 and 1999, reflecting its heritage importance. The remains of Sernhac, registered in 1998, include plots crossed by the aqueduct.

Scientific studies, such as those of Émile Espérandieu (1926) or geochemical analyses of concretions (1986), have helped to reconstruct his operational history. The aqueduct bears witness to the links between Nîmes and its land, as well as Roman water management techniques, still visible today in the Occitan landscape.

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