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Origin and history

The lake of Nîmes, built between 40 and 80 AD (probably under the emperor Claude), was intended to feed the city of Nîmes in water from the sources of Uzes. Its 50 km route crossed the garrigue, crossing the Gardon via the bridge of the Gard, leading to the castelum divisorium of Nîmes. Research (1984-1990) revealed two phases of use: optimal operation for 150 years, followed by degradation from the third century, with probable abandonment in the sixth century.

The construction combined advanced Roman techniques: a concrete radier of lime, straight-footed masonry, and a vault covered with a reddish coating (maltha), composed of lime and quartz sand rich in iron oxide. The constant slope of 25 cm/km allowed a flow of 35,000 m3/day. Foothills reinforced the building on some sections.

The canal has been the subject of successive protections in respect of historical monuments: the bridge of the Gard (classified in 1840), the castellum of Nîmes (1875), then various remains between 1979 and 1999 (arch of the Pradier Combe, bridges of Pont-Rou, etc.). These classifications underline its archaeological importance in understanding Roman techniques and their adaptation to the territory.

In 2023, a discovery revealed a possible extension of the route to the sources of the Moulin Neuf (Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie), adding more than 2 km to the initial length. This discovery calls into question the unique origin of the water fountain as a collection point.

The materials used — lime mortar, limestone, and waterproof coatings — bear witness to Roman expertise in hydraulics. The book also illustrates the territorial organisation of the colonia of Nîmes (Nemausus), dependent on a controlled water supply for its urban and agricultural development.

Today, the remains of the aqueduct, scattered over several communes of the Gard, are partially accessible. Their protection reflects a technical, historical and landscape heritage, linked to the history of Romanization in Narbonnaise.

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