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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, was intended to supply the city of Nîmes with water from the sources of Uzes. Its 50 km layout, including the famous Pont du Gard, bears witness to an exceptional mastery of Roman hydraulics, with a constant slope of 25 cm/km allowing a flow of 35,000 m3/day. Analyses of the concretions on its walls reveal two phases of use: a first period of optimal functioning (I–II centuries), followed by progressive degradation from the third century, with a probable abandonment in the sixth century.

The construction combined advanced techniques: a concrete radier of lime and limestone, straight-footed masonry, and a canal covered with a vault or slabs. A specific reddish coating, the malta (mixture of lime, quartz sand and ferric oxide), ensured sealing. Buttresses reinforced the structure on certain sections. In 2023, the discovery of an upstream portion near Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie suggested an extension of the collection network, extending the initial route by more than 2 km.

Partially classified as early as 1840 (Gard Bridge), the aqueduct received successive protections between 1979 and 1999 for its remains scattered over 11 communes of the Gard. Modern excavations (1984-1990) confirmed its key role in Nîmes' water supply, while revealing details of its construction and decline. Protected elements include arches, intermediate bridges (such as Pont-Rou or Font Menestière), and underground sections analyzed for their architectural technique.

The book illustrates Roman ingenuity in resource management, with a system designed to last centuries. Its abandonment coincides with the political and economic upheavals of late antiquity, marked by a decline in public infrastructure. Today, its remains, divided between private and communal properties, offer a material testimony of the Romanization in Narbonnaise and its technical heritage.

Geochemical studies (such as that of J.C. Gilly in 1986) and archaeological studies (directed by Jean-Luc Fiches and Guilhem Fabre) clarified the sources of feeding and the construction phases. The aqueduct remains a subject of study to understand the ancient hydraulic systems and their adaptation to geographical constraints, as evidenced by CNRS publications and interdisciplinary excavations carried out on the section of the upper Vitrenque.

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