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Origin and history

The Roman aqueduct of Saints, built around the year 20 during the Julio-Claudian dynasty, was intended to feed Mediolanum Santorum (Saints) in drinking water. It served the thermal baths of Saint-Vivian and Saint-Saloine, as well as public fountains, thanks to a network of cut stone pipes, alternating tunnels, gutters and bridges. Its 11 km line, oriented north-east/south-west, followed a slope of less than 1 mm per metre, exploiting gravity to bring water from sources such as Font Morillon (Fontcouverte) and Grand Font du Douhet.

A first phase of construction dates from the first century, but the population increase of Saints requires a doubling of the water supply at the end of the first or the beginning of the second century (between 70 and 120). A third slice, discovered in 2010, remains undated. The U- or square-section pipes (30 to 40 cm wide) were covered with lintels to avoid scooping. Galleries vary in size: some exceed 2 metres high, while others measure less than 1 metre. The system ceased to function in the fourth century, its stones being reused for other constructions.

The main sources — Font Morillon, Grand Font du Douhet and Venerand — are still active today. Font Morillon, located in a stooped vaulted room (rediscovered in 2013), gives its name to the city ("covered fountain"). The Grand Font du Douhet, exploited from protohistory via a natural fault enlarged by the Romans, also fed a mill in the Middle Ages. The visible remains include two piers on the canal bridge, battery bases, and tunnels dug into the rock, some of which are accessible to the public.

Archaeological excavations, initiated in the 18th century, were marked by the works of Abel Triou (completely traced in 1968) and Bernard Bourgueil (scours since 2003). In 2010, Jean-Louis Hillairet (Inrap) discovered a third aqueduct superimposed on the first. Since 2012, a committee led by municipalities, DRAC and associations has been working to restore and open the site to the public. A section of pipe is exhibited at the archaeological museum of Saintes, illustrating Roman techniques.

Ranked Historic Monument in 2014, the aqueduct includes seven tunnels and scattered remains on Fontcouverte, Le Douhet, Venerand and Saintes. His route, marked by visiting wells and vents, crossed valleys through bridges with full arches. Despite the disappearance of most structures (reuse of materials, erosion), the sources and some underground sections remain accessible, offering a rare testimony of ancient hydraulics in Saintonge.

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