**Pont du Gard Overview** – Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge. – It stands 48.8m (160ft) high with three tiers of arches made from Shelly limestone. – The aqueduct carried an estimated 40,000m³ (8,800,000impgal; 11,000,000USgal) of water daily over 50km (31mi) to Nemausus (Nîmes). – Lack of maintenance after the 4th century led to clogging by mineral deposits and debris, stopping the flow of water. – The aqueduct’s stone blocks were precisely cut to fit together without mortar. **Pont du Gard Construction** – Pont du Gard is 49m (161ft) high and 274m (899ft) long. – Width varies from 9m (30ft) at the bottom to 3m (9.8ft) at the top. – Built on three levels with a water conduit at the top. – Stone extracted from a local quarry of Estel. – Builders left inscriptions on stonework for guidance. **Pont du Gard History and Preservation** – After the Roman Empire collapsed, Pont du Gard remained largely intact with a secondary function as a toll bridge. – Renovations between the 18th and 21st centuries culminated in the opening of a new visitor center in 2000. – Pont du Gard is now one of France’s most popular tourist attractions. – Recognized for human creative genius and cultural significance. – Napoleon III’s patronage in the 1850s was crucial for its restoration. **Pont du Gard Water Supply and Maintenance** – The aqueduct supplied Nîmes with water from Fontaine d’Eure near Uzès. – Traces of a tiled roof, Corinthian columns, and a fresco decorated with fish and dolphins were discovered at the castellum divisorum. – Deposits of calcareous sinter reduced the flow of the aqueduct over time. – The aqueduct faced challenges from dissolved calcium carbonate leached out of the limestone. – The water arrived in the castellum divisorum at Nîmes after nearly 27 hours of travel. **Pont du Gard Recognition and Tourism** – Added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list in 1985. – Popular tourist attraction for centuries. – Associated with French monarchs seeking ties to Roman imperial power. – The aqueduct is a symbol of Roman engineering excellence. – Pont du Gard has inspired various artistic and literary works.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_du_Gard