Avignon, France Part II

Our afternoon tour in Avignon was inspired by a recommendation from Kimberley and Nate who had recently spent their honeymoon in France and also visited Avignon and the Pont du Gard - one of the wonders of Antiquity.  It is the finest remaining example of an ancient aqueduct and was built almost 2000 years ago by the Romans. This architectural gem, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is in a beautiful, unspoilt, natural setting.  What a great recommendation this was....these pictures will tell the story.  The olive tree featured in one of the pictures is over 1000 years old!  Only half the life of the aqueduct.

The bridge has three tiers of arches made from Shelly limestone and stands 160 ft high. The structure's precise construction allowed an average gradient of 0.39 in 598 ft.  

Pictures with proof that "we were really there" also give you a wonderful perspective of the size of this structure.  Bob and Dave are actually standing on an 18th Century addition  to the aqueduct that allowed for foot and animal cart passage across the river.  The picture with the reflection of the aqueduct in the water does not show this newer addition and so is purely from the Roman times.

The River Gardon was serene and calm and reflected 

a perfect mirror image of all 3 tiers of the towering Pont de Gard

 The uppermost tier carried the water from a spring to the town 50 miles away.

Proof that the blogger herself was there too.

On warmer days the waters are full of swimmers and small boaters.

Kimberley and Nate enjoyed such a day as it was in the upper 90's, low100's when they were there

This was our last tour and the end of our journey in France but I couldn't sign off without putting in some iconic pictures of idyllic french cafes, shops and  other sites.

Blocks of nougat

Waiting area at the Museum recently built for the Pont de Gard exhibit

Whimsical faucet at the receiving end of the water from the Roman aqueduct

Good bye to our river cruise ship...tomorrow (or the middle of the night in my book) at 3:00AM we will be picked up by bus and transported to Marseilles for our flights home.  It has been a wonderful, educational and historical adventure.  Thank you for joining us.