Built around 50 AD, the Nîmes Aqueduct carried 30,000 to 40,000 m3 of water daily from a spring in Uzès over a distance of 50 km to Nîmes – then the Roman colony of Nemausus. As a whole, the aqueduct is considered one of the greatest feats of Roman engineering. Just one element of the aqueduct is the three-tiered bridge known as Pont du Gard; one of the world’s finest surviving Roman structures. Numerous other structures survive and can be visited, from the regulator basin at the source to Pont du Gard as well as other sections of the water channel along the way to the castellum in Nîmes, at which point the water was channelled to where it was required in the city.
This page provides information, tips and suggestions for visiting the various surviving features that made up the Nîmes Aqueduct.
- Thomas Dowson
- Last Checked and/or Updated 9 April 2026
- France, France Travel Tips
Camille Jullian, a respected Gallo-Roman archaeologist, described the Pont du Gard as “the divine thing”. Surely few, if any, would disagree with him. Even if the Romans built more technically and aesthetically superior aqueducts elsewhere, standing in the river-bed looking up at the three tier structure is a breath-taking experience. The Pont du Gard is one of the highest surviving Roman structures; it is about the same height as the Colosseum in Rome.
Today it is a popular tourist attraction as well as a favoured spot for locals and visitors to pass the time on a sunny day. Back in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD Pont du Gard was a crucial part of a 50-kilometre long system that carried water from springs just outside the city of Uzès to the Roman colony of Nemausus, modern-day Nîmes. From the source to the castellum in Nîmes, there are a number of sections of the aqueduct that can be visited.
In the mid 1st century AD the Roman colony of Nemausus (Nîmes) was thriving. Not only was the population growing in size, the city increasingly adopted a Roman way of life. Water was required for the fountains and bathhouses, symbols of both refinement and power.
This page provides details for those wishing to visit the various parts of the aqueduct, as well as providing some historical information for conetxt. For those wishing to read about the Nîmes Aqueduct, there are two books I greatly enjoyed reading and recommend. The first is a detailed, informative guide to Roman Remains of Southern France by James Bromwich (1993, Routledge). The second is a more narrative history of Roman Provence by Edwin Mullins. Both books are reliable and interesting places to start.
For more detailed accounts of the surviving features and the mechanics of the system, I recommend the following thorough academic articles. They are very readable, and have a number of good photographs and diagrams:
➤ Guilhem Fabre, Jean-Luc Fiches & Jean-Louis Paillet, Interdisciplinary research on the aqueduct of Nîmes and the Pont du Gard, Journal of Roman Archaeology, 1991, volume 4, pages 63 – 88. Access details.
➤ Charles R Ortloff,
Roman Hydraulic Engineering: The Pont du Gard Aqueduct and Nemausus (Nîmes) Castellum, Water: Water Engineering in Ancient Societies, 2021, volume 13(1). Open Access.
The Nîmes Aqueduct
From the Fontaine d’Eure springs in Uzès to the destination in Nîmes, the total length of the aqueduct is around 50 km. Interestingly, the start point in Uzès and the end point in Nîmes are only 20 km apart. To navigate the geography of the landscape, the aqueduct follows a winding V shape.
One of the most impressive aspects of the aqueduct is the gradient of the water channel. The drop in elevation over the 50 km length is only about 17 meters. As a result, the water descended at an average gradient of only 35 cm per kilometre. This represents a level of precision that is difficult even by modern standards.
At its peak, the aqueduct delivered an estimated 40,000 cubic meters (nearly 9 million gallons) of water per day to the Roman city of Nemausus.
The most spectacular part of the entire aqueduct system is the Pont du Gard, a three-tiered bridge built to carry the channel across the Gardon River. This extraordinary feet of engineering makes Pont du Gard, at least, well worth visiting. Although enthusiasts of architectural and engineering history, as well as those interesting in the Romans, will greatly enjoy visiting other parts of the system, from the regulator basin in Uzès to the collection tank in Nîmes.
Interactive Map of the Nîmes Aqueduct
Our interactive map includes 23 points of interest, following the route of the aqueduct from the spring in Uzès to the tank in Nîmes where lead pipes took the water to various parts of the city. Some of these remnants are quite substantial, others less so. These are the locations of all the known remains of the aqueduct – using the satellite mode, you can view photos and streetviews of most of the remains.
Regulator Basin, Uzès
In the early 1990s the remnants of the regulator basin, now in the La vallée de l’Eure park on the easter edge of Uzès, were made safe for visitors. There is not really that much to see, but the point of origin of the Nîmes Aqueduct is there for those who wish to see it. The ruins are freely accessible, with a car park (free of charge) a couple of hundred metres away. A map at the car park indicates the position of the site. There are toilets at the car park.
Pont du Gard
Visiting Pont du Gard
The monument can be vsited from each side of the Gardon River. These are known and sign posted as Rive Gauche (left bank) and Rive Droite (right bank). There are large car parks on both sides, which charge €9 per vehicle, per day (08h00 to 00h00), irrespective of the number of occupants in the car. There is no further entry charge to see Pont du Gard. There is an entry fee to visit the facilities at the Discovery Centre (museum, cinema, exhibition area) on Rive Gauche (see the section below).
From the car parks it is only a few minutes walk to the monument, along substantial concrete paths that are suitable for wheelchairs. The path on the righthand side continues along the river bank beyond the monument. Whereas the path on the lefthand side stops at the monument, from which point various footpaths lead up the side of the valley to different vantage points from which to view the bridge. These are not suitable for wheelchair users.
Between the car park and the monument on Rive Droite, there is only a restaurant. It is open at lunchtime throughout the year and in the evening during the summer. Light meals and snacks are available at the bistro café on Rive Gauche, along with all the other typical visitor facilities. These include toilets (free to use), shops selling souvenirs and local/regional products, the ticket office and the Discovery Centre.
It is possible to get the buss to Pont du Gard from Avignon and Alès (115) or Nîmes (121). The bus stop is on the left bank. Specifically, on a traffic circle that is a 3-minute walk to the visitor centre.
Pont du Gard Discovery Centre & Museum - Rive Gauche
The Discovery Centre on Rive Gauche includes a museum, a cinema, Ludo area and a temporary exhibition space.
There is an entry fee to access these cultural spaces. As stated on the official website, the site management uses third-party external sellers for visitors to purchase tickets online in advance (highly recommended).
Tickets for the Discovery areas can be booked online through GetYourGuide and Tiqets. You also have the option to purchase combination tickets, with the Popes Palace in Avignon and the amphitheatre in Nîmes.
Walking Along the Top of Pont du Gard - Guided Tours
The channel across the top of the bridge is closed to the public. The only way to walk across the top of the bridge, in the channel, is to take a guided tour. These last a around an hour. They are available in French and in English (peak summer time only) and can only be booked in advance by following the instructions on the Official Website. As places are limited, and only a few tours run each day – you are strongly advised to reserve your place in advance.
For anyone who has a fear of heights or enclosed spaces, see our short video on Youtube. You will see exactly what it is like to walk along the top.
Castellum Aquae, Nîmes
A castellum is a Roman structure that was situated at the end of an aqueduct, where the water was delivered to a basin and then dispersed. Although the ruins seem quite simple and unassuming and tucked away in a side street of Nîmes, there is only one other castellum divisorium from the Roman world that is better preserved, and that is at Pompeii.
The main features of the castellum are still visible. And despite being in a fenced off area on the side of the road, these features can be seen from the pavement. The ruins are freely accessible 24/7 – an information panel has a map, diagram and text in French, English and Italian.
The aqueduct’s channel enters a circular tank of 5.90 metres in diameter and about 1.40 metres deep. From the pavement visitors can clearly see the ten openings, each about 40 centimetres in diameter, in the wall around the tank. These were the opening into which lead pipes were placed that carried water to various parts of the city, including the public fountains and the different parts of the city.
What you can not see from the pavement are three holes on the floor of the tank. These would have served to drain the tank. They would have emptied into the drainage canal that is underneath the line of ten pipe openings; that can be seen from the pavement.
Fort Vauban
The castellum can be found at the base of the walls of a 17th century citadel, Fort Vauban, on Rue de la Lampeze. During the building of the citadel in 1688 the castellum was covered over with rubble. In 1844 it was rediscovered, and excavated and made accessible to the public.
Today the citadel is one of three sites that make up the Université de Nîmes; it is here that students study social and human sciences. Towards the end of the 17th century, more specifically following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, French protestants (Hugenots) were deprived of their civil liberties and religious freedom. Many Hugenots fled France, while those living in and around the Cevennes mountain region took advantage of the mountainous terrain and fortified themselves. The citadel in Nîmes is one such stronghold; one of the reasons why it was built on a relatively high rocky outcrop beyond the city walls. In 1790, after the French Revolution and following considerable conflict between Catholics and Protestants, the citadel became a prison. During World War II the citadel was used to house those who fought against Nazi occupation of France. And then, after the liberation of France, the citadel housed Nazi collaborators.
A fire in 1974 destroyed a lot of the building, and in 1991 the prison was closed. And following an architectural competition in 1991, the site was redeveloped for the Université de Nîmes – opening in 1995 (read more on the history of the citadel and its transformation from 1688 to 1995 on the university’s website).
Donations and memberships start from as little as €5.
Add Pont du Gard / Nîmes Aqueduct to Your Itineraries & Travel Lists
Pont du Gard and the Nîmes Aqueduct are in the Occitanie region of France. Close to the border of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. If you are planning an trip to include parts of the Nîmes Aqueduct, with our Itinerary Builder you can create your own travel lists and itinerary for your trip. These can be shared with your friends and on social media. You can see how this is done by watching our Using the Itinerary video on YouTube, or reading the Using the Itinerary page.
For more sites and museums to visit, see our guides to Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.
Castellum Aquae
Le Castellum Aquae in Nîmes (also called the castellum divisorium de Nîmes) is at the end of the 50 kilometre aqueduct (known as the Nîmes Aqueduct) that brought water from from a spring near Uzès, the Eure Fountain, to what was then the Roman city of Nemausus. Although the ruins seem quite simple and unassuming and tucked away in a side street of Nîmes, there is only one other castellum divisorium from the Roman world that is better preserved, and that is at Pompeii.
Pont du Gard
Today Pont du Gard is a popular tourist attraction at a spot on the Gardon River favoured by locals to pass the time on a sunny day. Back in the 1st century AD the three tiered aqueduct was a critical part of a 50-kilometre long system that carried water from a spring just outside Uzès to the Roman colony of Nemausus, modern-day Nîmes. Roman architects created a technical masterpiece, standing over 50 m high, and 275 m long at the highest point. The lower level served as bridge well into the Middle Ages, long after the aqueduct ceased transporting water.
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