Le Pont du Gard, © Gard Tourisme
Mise en lumière du Pont du Gard, © Yann de Fareins
Canoë sur le Gardon, © Gard Tourisme
Musée du Pont du Gard, © J.L. Mabit
Features
the best period
Spring, Summer, and Autumn
duration
1 day
I always take the opportunity when I'm on holiday to explore some of the unmissable sites of the Gard Département with my family or friends! You don't always have to go a long way to be amazed. Today I'm heading to the Pont du Gard, my favourite place to spend a family day together!
Off we go, on our way to explore an architectural masterpiece from antiquity : the Pont du Gard ! The children are beside themselves with excitement! We've hardly parked the car in the big on-site car park when they're running off towards the ticket office !
After finding out about the different possibilities for the visit, we opt for the "Pass Aqueduc", including not only access to all the cultural areas of the site, but also a guided visit to the water supply system, at the top of the Pont du Gard. We arrange to meet the guide at 11.00am!
After a few minutes' walk, the moment arrives at last! Here we are, right next to the 2000-year-old aqueduct! At 49 metres high, it is the highest bridge that the Romans ever built. Magnificent and magical!
Le Pont du Gard, © Gard Tourisme
11.00am – time to get a bit higher! The guide joins us on the right bank, at the entrance to the water supply system. The grille is unlocked before the impatient eyes of our children, and then we can get to the 3rd level of the Pont and see the ancient aqueduct from the inside!
We are 48 metres up in the air, overlooking the valley of the River Gardon.
Definitely time for a photo! The guide is really interesting, and explains the aqueduct's history to us. It was built by the Romans in 50AD, meaning that water could be brought from the source of the River Eure near Uzès to the town of Nîmes, to supply fountains, baths, gardens and private houses, and so on.
Traversée de la canalisation, © Yann de Fareins
Le Pont du Gard, ©A. Colombaud
Did you know ?
Along an average slope of 25cm per kilometre, among the gentlest ever created at that time, the aqueduct brought 30,000 to 40,000 m³ of running water each day from a spring near Uzès over a distance of 50 kilometres to Nîmes.
Once the guided tour finishes, we go back and carry on visiting the museum area, on our own this time
As we walk around the themed area laid out for us, there is a wealth of information that we can investigate at our own pace.
It's a real dive into history: lights, sounds, models, visual presentations and other exhibits create a timeless atmosphere. The most impressive thing, though, is the life-size reconstruction of the building site. Coming face to face with these enormous rocks lifted using wooden scaffolding and looking at the techniques used with tools from the period really makes you realise the enormous expertise of these men, who built it in just 5 years! It still surprises specialists today!
Le Musée, © J.L. Mabit
Quotation
"One of the French monuments you have to see at least once in your life." Besvergotenard's opinion on Tripadvisor.
Espace Ludo du Pont du Gard © ADT Gard
Once we'd found out everything we wanted to in the Museum, we went on to the Espace Ludo, the big games area for children aged 5 to 12!
The children dressed up as a vegetable seller, a Gallo-Roman schoolboy, or an archaeologist, and found out about life and everyday objects from Roman times. Through the numerous interactive exhibits, they learned how to tame the water, and understood the difficulties that arose in designing and building a hydraulic construction like an aqueduct
2.00pm: time to find a nice, shady spot to set up the picnic. We head towards Mémoires de Garrigue, a 15-hectare site with olive trees, vines and dry-stone walls, typical features of the regional landscape... We'll enjoy the lovely scents of the heathland...
Une expo à ciel ouvert, © Pont du Gard
Une expo à ciel ouvert, © Pont du Gard
Our favourite
Every evening in summer, as night falls, the monument is bathed in light, offering visitors a moment for contemplation. It uses perspectives and colours to bring out the beauty of the stone giant's architecture.
The Pont du Gard Aqueduct is one of the finest Roman constructions in the region. A grand monument in an exceptional natural setting!
3.30pm Time for a cool break! On to the banks of the River Gardon!
On the program : swimming and diving in exceptional surroundings, at the foot of the imposing stone structure! An unforgettable time!
Baignade aux pieds du Pont du Gard, © Yann de Fareins
Baignade dans le Gardon, © Vanessa Derand
Don't miss
Hire a canoe to go and explore the Gardon Gorges before going under the monumental Pont du Gard! Exceptional routes in the protected part of the Gardon Gorges site.
End of the day: so, the cherry on the cake – to finish off the day, we suggest to the children that we stop on the way back to go to the Haribo Sweets Museum which is nearby! General euphoria!
Le Musée du Bonbon Haribo, © Gard Tourisme
Regional Committee for Tourism and Leisure Occitanie
Others websites
HOW TO GET THERE
The Pont du Gard is 27km from Nîmes and 21km from Avignon.
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